Read Online The Last Oracle by Delia Colvin - Free Book Online Page B

adjusted the flame under the red teapot. “No reason to avoid talking about it. We decided it was time to stop the search.”
    “Stop! Why?” Valeria asked, going to her friend in the kitchen.
    Camille drew a deep breath. “I realized I was putting Ava and Lars in the same position I was in. Ava’s been away from him for almost thirty years.”
    “Hey, I told you that was probably what keeps our marriage so hot.”
    Camille steeled herself against the kitchen island. “It isn’t fair.”
    Ava shrugged nonchalantly as Camille continued, “Anyway, if we haven’t found him by now…” her voice trailed off and she busied herself by grabbing a mug and pouring herself some tea. Valeria patted Camille’s back sympathetically.
    “I’m sorry.”
    Shaking her head, Camille pushed the grief aside. “I’m not allowing anything to lessen your happiness. So no more talk of that!”
    “Well, I am so glad that both of you are here! Thank you!” Valeria hugged Camille and Ava and took her tea in to sit with them for a few more minutes. They spoke of a recent battle between Daphne and Tavish that had them all in hysterics. When her tea was gone, she rose and hugged them both before heading off to bed, although she was far too excited to think about sleep. But as soon as the lights were out, Valeria was so comfortable, she drifted off.

CHAPTER 4
    The morning sun filtered through the forest’s old growth, leaving beams of interrupted sunlight in the bedroom Valeria so loved. She immediately felt the thrill of what the day meant. Within minutes, Camille and Ava came in and jumped on the bed with her, laughing joyfully as they sang, “You’re getting married today!”
    Camille opened the windows to the cottage and a fresh breeze moved through, bringing the scent of jasmine and the trilling of birds from the trees outside. It looked like the perfect day for a wedding.
    “Ava’s going to run your bath. I’ll make your coffee.”
    Ava added, “It’s better that way. Nobody likes my coffee.”
    “I remember!” Valeria laughed joyfully.
    She went into the walk-in closet and looked at the items that were hanging on her side of the closet. Valeria pulled out turquoise sweat pants and a matching hoodie that zipped down the front, and saw the matching flip-flops.
    The bath began to run and she wondered how much time they would have at their beloved cottage, or if they were immediately returning to Africa. Although, after the lion episode—followed by the bodyguard episode—she doubted they would. But it didn’t matter because, after today, she would be married to the man she loved with all of her heart. And she would always hold this special gift—the gift of a wedding at their home, with the people who she loved the most—as a dream come true.
    Camille came up and handed Valeria her coffee in her favorite mug. Valeria sipped it, relishing its perfect blend of cream, coffee, and hazelnut. Then Camille slung her arm over Valeria’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve taken care of your trousseau.”
    “Trousseau?” Valeria hadn’t thought about a trousseau, or even a wedding gown! She looked at Camille in sudden horror. “I just realized I left my wedding gown—”
    Ava came out of the bathroom and interrupted Val’s moment of panic. “Yeah, well, it was pretty well trashed anyway.”
    Camille raised a calming hand as Valeria began to hyperventilate. “Well, don’t worry about that. It’s all handled. You don’t have to worry about a thing today!”
    Ava didn’t get upset about clothes. She ordered sportswear online from REI or L.L Bean. But this was the wedding gown that Valeria and Alex had picked out for their wedding over four months ago. Valeria didn’t want Camille to know that she was upset—especially with all of the wonderful things that were happening today. There certainly was no time to travel into Trento and pick up some silky, lacy thing. Attempting to calm herself, she remembered that even if