Read Online Since You've Been Gone by Carlene Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

affinity with animals,” Betty said.
    Rebecca picked up an abandoned half of buttered toast and smiled. “Hear that, Sean? You’ve made a couple of friends. Walt, please sit down and finish your breakfast before it gets cold.”
    Walt obeyed, banging into the table again.
    â€œSo if you won’t go to bed like a good girl, what’s on your agenda today?” Betty asked.
    â€œFrank said I could drive mother’s car instead of renting another one.”
    â€œMissus told me so this morning.” After all these years, Betty refused to call Suzanne “Mrs. Hardison.” She’d gone from “Mrs. Ryan” to “Missus.” “Keys are on the Peg-Board in the pantry. Missus doesn’t drive much anymore. Hasn’t had her car out for weeks, in fact.”
    Rebecca was both saddened and relieved to hear this. Suzanne used to love driving as much as Patrick did and got a new, fast car every two years. But now that she was drinking heavily, her decision to abandon driving was for the best.
    â€œYou leavin’ right away, honey?”
    â€œYes. Uncle Bill doesn’t believe I should visit Molly this morning. There’s a crowd and the press.” Betty shook her head and clucked disapprovingly. “I think I’ll go see Aunt Esther.”
    Betty’s face fell. “Oh, that poor dear. ‘Bout broke myheart when I heard about her cancer. But I thought you weren’t supposed to know.”
    â€œYou didn’t think Molly would keep it from me, did you? I also need to see if Happy Tracks will take Sean in today since it’s an emergency. He got soaked last night, and Mother wants him to have a bath immediately.”
    â€œI could bathe him,” Walt said.
    â€œHe needs some clipping done. That’s usually a two- to three-person ordeal. Thanks for offering, though. He’d probably prefer a bath from you.”
    â€œI told you Walt has a way about him,” Betty said sagely.
    â€œApparently. He convinced you to marry him.”
    Betty’s cheeks pinked. “You and your teasin’. You keep under the speed limit today and pull right off the road if you feel dizzy or sick. Walt’ll come pick you up.”
    In the garage Rebecca found a red Thunderbird with every imaginable option. It was three years old but the odometer showed only a little over 4,000 miles. Betty wasn’t exaggerating—Suzanne certainly hadn’t done much driving lately. Sean hopped onto the passenger’s seat and she backed out of the driveway.
    Since she was a child Rebecca had called Esther Hardison aunt, although she was Frank’s aunt and no blood relation to any of the Ryans. After the death of his parents when he was twelve, Frank’s Uncle Ben and his wife Esther had taken him in. Later, Rebecca, Jonnie, and Molly had learned to love her and feel as if they were truly related. Even after Rebecca had moved to New Orleans, she still spoke to Esther once a month on the phone, and twice Esther had come down for Mardi Gras.
    Esther still lived five miles out of town on a ten-acre piece of land called Whispering Willows Nursery. At one time most of the ten acres had been used for growing flowers, shrubs, and trees. Now the widowed Esther had reduced the business by half, keeping a staff of only two.
    A large white sign with WHISPERING WILLOWS NURSERY written in green script sat beside the highway. Rebeccaturned off onto a narrow asphalt road. Green fields spread on either side and in a minute she saw Esther’s sprawling, white two-story nineteenth-century house, which sported a wraparound porch and a glass cupola that reflected the sun. For as long as Rebecca could remember, Esther had been threatening to sell the five-bedroom house that was far too large for one person, but Rebecca knew she never would. Esther had come here as a bride and had lived alone for the past ten years since her husband died.
    Rebecca pulled up in front of