Read Online The Black Sheep's Redemption by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online

Was it the same man?
    She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. And somehow, she knew someone was here in this church…watching her.
    * * *
    Charles glanced at the woman beside him as his mind spun with ideas to help her. He was having a hard time staying focused on the sermon. A problem he had developed shortly after Kathleen left him. If it wasn’t for the children, he wasn’t sure he’d even bother to attend. Might as well figure out a way to help Demi in the meantime.
    She seemed so fragile, so needy and yet he’d seen strength in her when her first instinct had been to protect the children from the dog—or protect him from whatever was in her closet.
    Those were things he wasn’t likely to forget any time soon.
    And the children had been asking about her this morning as he got them ready for church. They’d already fallen in love with their new nanny. Charles knew that if she decided to quit because of all the things that were happening to her—things that were happening because she was involved with him and his family—the children would be heartbroken.
    A little voice in the back of his head said he would be, too.
    Then he’d seen Burke say something to her at the start of the service and figured it wasn’t good. She’d looked spooked, then worried, but her expression had smoothed as the music had started.
    Whatever had been bothering her at the beginning of the service seemed to slide from her shoulders and her mood lightened.
    Was she a believer?
    He made a mental note to ask her. Then scoffed at himself. She had amnesia. How would she know?
    Charles leaned back and relaxed, glad to be in the company of his family. They shielded him from the dark looks the good people of Fitzgerald Bay shot him even in the church.
    Movement from behind the pulpit grabbed his attention. Long heavy blue velvet curtains hung behind the pastor. One fluttered.
    Then stopped.
    Charles frowned as he watched for more movement. He looked for the air conditioning vent, but didn’t see one.
    Nothing else happened over the next several minutes and he started to relax.
    When the congregation erupted in laughter, Charles jerked. He’d been so preoccupied with the movement of the curtains, he’d missed the joke.
    He tuned back in.
    Pastor Larch said, “And now we have a video that will show you a little bit of what our young people will be doing on their mission trip to the mountains of North Carolina.”
    The lights dimmed.
    The curtains parted and the music started.
    As the curtains pulled apart, Charles gaped at the words that were revealed on the lighted screen.
    YOU DON’T BELONG HERE.
    Beside him, Demi jerked and gasped.
    The congregation muttered and pointed.
    Aiden Fitzgerald popped to his feet as did Ryan, Owen and Keira. “Turn the lights back on!” Aiden shouted.
    The sanctuary lit up.
    Aiden, followed by several other members of the Fitzgerald Bay Police Department and leaders of the church, strode to the screen.
    Charles joined them, heart thudding, listening to their speculation even as he studied the message.
    Was it meant for him?
    “Don’t touch anything,” he heard his father order.
    Keira said, “Everyone back up, please. Can you all please return to your seats?”
    But all Charles could do was stare. And it became very real to him that there were people in this town who not only thought he was a murderer, but hated him. Hated him enough to attack him in his own church. Hated him enough to vandalize his home and terrorize his family.
    Anger bubbled just beneath the surface and he turned. He’d get his kids and get out. Turning, he saw Demi staring at the words, her face pale, her eyes wide. Scared.
    His gut clenched. Would she now tell him that she no longer wanted anything to do with him? With his children?
    The thought stabbed him in the heart.
    “Demi?”
    She turned her gaze on him, shook her head and walked toward the back of the church.
    Ryan Fitzgerald,