Read Online Paisley's Pattern by LoRee Peery - Free Book Online

how much time it takes, but I have to come up with a price and tag it. Mark Waverly left a good collection of sale-worthy books.”
    Rob gazed at her until she disappeared from sight. With a headshake, he picked up the water bottle. He finished the water, replaced his goggles, and turned on the grinder wheel.
    A while later, a second visitor stepped through the door.
    “Hey, Oren. Is it time for you to be off work already?”
    “I’m one of the bosses. Once in a blue moon I take off without explanation,” his brother said with a grin.
    Rob straightened his back, squared his shoulders, and mimed greasing his hair and adjusting a tie. Then he smoothed imaginary lapels. “Glad to know you get some perks.”
    Banter with a newfound friend, brother or not, made him feel good. “What’s up?”
    “I wouldn’t know how to work whenever you feel like it. Think it’d be too tempting to turn lazy. I’ve risen to the sound of an alarm clock six days of the week for a long time now.”
    “Being my own boss does take discipline. If I want to pay rent and shovel food in my face, I have to look on clients as my bosses. In other words, if I don’t work, I don’t eat.”
    Oren laid a note on the scarred wooden surface next to Rob’s hand. “Here’s the address of the clinic I just came from. I let them stick my arm. It’s not overly painful and the tests are on me. They’re waiting for your DNA so we can make our connection all legal.”
     
    ~*~
     
    No breeze stirred, birds rustled in the bushes, and children laughed at play in nearby yards. A perfect evening for eating outside. Whoever planned the placement of the deck on Aunt Rainbow’s house knew what they were doing. A huge maple tree shaded most of the table from the waning sun’s rays. Paisley left the sliding door open so she could bring the food from the kitchen and the deck overlooking the deep backyard.
    She positioned the patio chairs without disturbing the red-tinted house and olive and gold finches peeping at the thistle feeder.
    “Rumor has it, I’m the queen of jiggle,” Edna Mae said as she rounded the corner of the house with a gelled concoction. “You want this out here yet, or should I put it in the fridge?”
    “Hi, you two. We’re ready, now. Bring it on up and I’ll get the potato salad.” Paisley soaked in her fill of Rob. His hair was damp and curling on his nape.
    “Hey,” Rob said, arms outstretched in offering. “She baked dessert, too.”
    Paisley swallowed and grabbed the wall to combat a wave of dizziness. She and Rob would have shared many patio dinners like this, alone, if she had stayed out West.
    A dark cloud covered the bright depth of Rob’s bluish-brown eyes, as though he’d shared the same mental scene as Paisley.
    She took the icy stainless bowl from his hand then swung back for the warm cake pan and set it on a side bench.
    “Slide in here, Edna Mae. Thanks for coming and bringing your food. Take a seat, Rob.”
    “Oh,” Edna Mae huffed. “I always contribute. We walked, though, so I’m thankful Rob was along to do the carrying.”
    “That’s a yummy smelling dessert. Cinnamon is good for a body. But you didn’t have to bring two things.”
    Edna Mae fluffed her hair and beamed. “Had some raisins that were drying so I plumped them up for spice bars. No big deal.”
    “Well, thanks. They both look delicious.”
    The older woman preened.
    “Would you please say the blessing, Rob?” Paisley didn’t lower her head or close her eyes with the others. And she heard nothing except the “amen” because she concentrated on tracing every line and feature of his beloved face. She loved him. Plain and simple.
    She sat bolt upright. She still loved Rob.
    Was it God’s plan for them to start over here, so far away from all they had both known? What else could it be? Without her call to the middle of the country, the discovery of the photographs of Precious and Mark Waverly would have carried no impact, only curiosity,