Read Online No Time to Cry by Lurlene McDaniel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lurlene McDaniel
Ads: Link
should share her.”
He pulled her into his arms, and they clung to each other with a soft and quiet tenderness. Dawn had the feeling that Sandy was somehow in the room with them, holding them in arms big enough for them both.
* * * * *
She opened the gift from Brent the night before he left, and she was crazy about the book bag and sweatshirt bearing the emblem of his college, West Virginia Tech. After he left for home, Dawn moped around, but by Christmas morning, she woke up excited about the holiday ahead of her.
All the time they were opening gifts that morning Rob seemed distracted. He left early to pick up Katie so he could bring her back for Christmas dinner. “We’re going to open our presents to each other together,” he explained, grabbing his keys and darting out the door.
When Katie and Rob came back, they walked in through the kitchen, where Dawn was helping her mom and dad prepare Christmas dinner. “Just in time to peel potatoes,” Mrs. Rochelle announced.
Dawn took one look at Katie and knew something was going on. Katie’s face looked radiant. Dawn looked at her brother, who appeared equally happy. “Okay, you guys, what’s up? You both look like you’re ready to burst.” Her parents stopped their work and came over to investigate.
Katie glanced at Rob, and he nodded. She held out her hand. “Rob asked me to marry him, and I said yes,” Katie announced. From her finger, a diamond glittered.
Thirteen
“E NGAGED! You mean your brother went and got engaged? Does that mean he’s definitely not going to wait for me?” Rhonda asked. Rhonda and Dawn were sitting in Dawn’s bedroom the day after Christmas, checking over her gifts, when Dawn broke the big news.
“I know it’s hard to accept, Rhonda, but you’ll just have to. You’re a big girl now.” Dawn kept a straight face as she spoke. Rhonda’s hopeless crush on Dawn’s older brother had long been a standing joke between them.
“I’m wounded.” Rhonda flopped dramatically on the bed. “But if it can’t be me, then I’m glad it’s Katie.”
“Me, too.” Dawn shifted onto the bed and sat cross-legged. The news had really lifted her spirits, especially since she’d been missing Sandy so much. The terrible sadness of the one was offset by the joy of the other. Marriage meant a new beginning, and Dawn was thrilled about the engagement.
“The wedding was all we talked about yesterday. Me and Mom and Katie spent the afternoon making plans and lists. It’s going to be so much fun, because this time things are just right.”
“In other words, you mean Darcy, the snob, isn’t his fiancée.”
“That’s not nice,” Dawn scolded.
“You never liked Darcy, and you know it.”
“She just wasn’t the one for Rob.” Dawn also knew that Darcy had never cared much for her. Nothing had ever been said outright, but deep down. Dawn had always suspected that Rob had broken his engagement to Darcy because she couldn’t accept Dawn’s illness.
“So when’s the wedding?” Rhonda wanted to know.
“At the end of June. And they’re holding the reception in the conservatory gardens.”
“Oh, that’s
soooo
romantic.”
“Everything’s romantic to you.”
“I guess you’ll be in the wedding.”
“Katie’s asked me to be the Maid of Honor.” Dawn beamed a smile.
“June’s six months away. It seems like
forever
,” Rhonda lamented.
“Katie and Mom say there are a million things to do. Katie has to shop for a gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses. She and Rob have to make out a guest list, reserve the church, hire a caterer, decide where to go on their honeymoon, and find an apartment.”
“A honeymoon. How romantic.” Rhonda was beginning to sound like a broken record. “I
will
be invited, won’t I?” She sat up and leaned into Dawn’s face.
“I doubt they’ll want you on their honeymoon.”
“Very funny.” Rhonda scooted backward. “I mean, I want to come to the wedding.”
“How could we
He pulled her into his arms, and they clung to each other with a soft and quiet tenderness. Dawn had the feeling that Sandy was somehow in the room with them, holding them in arms big enough for them both.
* * * * *
She opened the gift from Brent the night before he left, and she was crazy about the book bag and sweatshirt bearing the emblem of his college, West Virginia Tech. After he left for home, Dawn moped around, but by Christmas morning, she woke up excited about the holiday ahead of her.
All the time they were opening gifts that morning Rob seemed distracted. He left early to pick up Katie so he could bring her back for Christmas dinner. “We’re going to open our presents to each other together,” he explained, grabbing his keys and darting out the door.
When Katie and Rob came back, they walked in through the kitchen, where Dawn was helping her mom and dad prepare Christmas dinner. “Just in time to peel potatoes,” Mrs. Rochelle announced.
Dawn took one look at Katie and knew something was going on. Katie’s face looked radiant. Dawn looked at her brother, who appeared equally happy. “Okay, you guys, what’s up? You both look like you’re ready to burst.” Her parents stopped their work and came over to investigate.
Katie glanced at Rob, and he nodded. She held out her hand. “Rob asked me to marry him, and I said yes,” Katie announced. From her finger, a diamond glittered.
Thirteen
“E NGAGED! You mean your brother went and got engaged? Does that mean he’s definitely not going to wait for me?” Rhonda asked. Rhonda and Dawn were sitting in Dawn’s bedroom the day after Christmas, checking over her gifts, when Dawn broke the big news.
“I know it’s hard to accept, Rhonda, but you’ll just have to. You’re a big girl now.” Dawn kept a straight face as she spoke. Rhonda’s hopeless crush on Dawn’s older brother had long been a standing joke between them.
“I’m wounded.” Rhonda flopped dramatically on the bed. “But if it can’t be me, then I’m glad it’s Katie.”
“Me, too.” Dawn shifted onto the bed and sat cross-legged. The news had really lifted her spirits, especially since she’d been missing Sandy so much. The terrible sadness of the one was offset by the joy of the other. Marriage meant a new beginning, and Dawn was thrilled about the engagement.
“The wedding was all we talked about yesterday. Me and Mom and Katie spent the afternoon making plans and lists. It’s going to be so much fun, because this time things are just right.”
“In other words, you mean Darcy, the snob, isn’t his fiancée.”
“That’s not nice,” Dawn scolded.
“You never liked Darcy, and you know it.”
“She just wasn’t the one for Rob.” Dawn also knew that Darcy had never cared much for her. Nothing had ever been said outright, but deep down. Dawn had always suspected that Rob had broken his engagement to Darcy because she couldn’t accept Dawn’s illness.
“So when’s the wedding?” Rhonda wanted to know.
“At the end of June. And they’re holding the reception in the conservatory gardens.”
“Oh, that’s
soooo
romantic.”
“Everything’s romantic to you.”
“I guess you’ll be in the wedding.”
“Katie’s asked me to be the Maid of Honor.” Dawn beamed a smile.
“June’s six months away. It seems like
forever
,” Rhonda lamented.
“Katie and Mom say there are a million things to do. Katie has to shop for a gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses. She and Rob have to make out a guest list, reserve the church, hire a caterer, decide where to go on their honeymoon, and find an apartment.”
“A honeymoon. How romantic.” Rhonda was beginning to sound like a broken record. “I
will
be invited, won’t I?” She sat up and leaned into Dawn’s face.
“I doubt they’ll want you on their honeymoon.”
“Very funny.” Rhonda scooted backward. “I mean, I want to come to the wedding.”
“How could we
Similar Books
