Read Online Purling Road - the Complete Second Season: Episodes 1-10 by M L Gardner - Free Book Online Page A

there, anyone was capable of being pushed to the edge—launching from the demands of domestic life into a state of intoxicated detachment. She fought a grin. She could never, in a million years, see herself doing that. But just to be sure, she rested anyway. Better safe than sorry.
    She had a book in her hands, but she wasn’t reading the words. Something nagged. She adjusted her seat, her book and tried again. Worries without form or name tickled at her mind like flies at a picnic. She couldn’t swat them away fast enough to keep her concentration. There were general worries about money that were always there. However, with Jonathan’s fishing tours being successful right out of the gate, she shouldn’t worry too much about that. They’d survive as they always did. Arianna, while sad that her carousing was a one-time event, would settle down in time, and she and Caleb would come together again like they always did. If anything, she was surprised Arianna hadn’t turned up pregnant again. Claire and Aryl? Well, they seemed fine. Growing stronger, actually.
    Maura and Ian? They seemed better than any of them the last time they spoke. Ian was happier than a clam working with Peter, and Maura found all sorts of ways to keep herself busy. Preparing for her grandniece was topping the list lately.
    Tarin and Gordon? They’d been distant since the wedding, but she supposed that could be explained with a honeymoon period—granted, the wedding was eight months ago. Gordon still wasn’t comfortable around the bunch of them, it seemed. Not entirely. Ava always read a bit of tenseness when he was around. Tarin did have that big house to take care of now, and since she had become pregnant within a month of getting married, her terrible morning sickness had kept her mostly out of sight. It was more of a looming feeling that, despite their plans to picnic and garden and tell stories by a backyard fire to pass the summer hours, it wouldn’t be a gentle one.
    It was Saturday, a day for fishing tours and Jonathan always returned home early.
    She smiled as he came through the door holding the mail.
    “We got a letter from the orphanage.”
    Ava could read the nervousness in his voice. If this distant relative, this aunt wanted to claim Eddie, she had every right to do so. She set her book aside and clasped her hands. Jonathan blew the hair that had fallen on his forehead and sat down. Ava cringed. She picked up the smell of fish from across the room. If it got into the fabric, she’d never get it out.
    He tore open the letter, and his eyes flew across the lines. Halfway through the letter, he let out a breath.
    “She doesn’t want him.” He looked up. “We can proceed with the adoption.”
    Ava smiled ear to ear, jumped up, and crossed the room. She hugged him tight, to hell with the fish odor.
    “I never thanked you for reconsidering.”
    “All I had to do was see him,” Ava said against his shoulder. “You were right. He chose you, and who am I to stand in the way?”
    “You did more than that. You opened your heart to the idea and to him.”
    Ava pulled back. “When can we bring him home?”
    “As soon as we can get there. I’ll talk to Aryl and see about wrapping things up early Monday or Tuesday.”
    “And I’ll see if Maura will watch Amy and Jean. I’ll talk to Arianna, too. Maybe she can organize a small welcome home party for him.” They locked eyes grinning.
    “We’d better get to work on Jean’s room and get it ready,” Jonathan said.
    Amy had woken silently, pushed herself up and was staring at them, her wide eyes still tired, creases marking her pink cheek.
    “Amy, sweetheart, you’re going to have a new brother,” Jonathan said, scooping her up. She didn’t understand him, of course, and simply blinked. Ava grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the stairs.
    “Let’s go get started. Oh, this is so much easier than labor,” she said with a giggle.
     
    ***
     
    Ethel shuffled into the kitchen,