Read Online The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online

how are you two?”
    â€œI’m only okay,” Effie said.
    â€œJust okay?”
    Looking at her brother, Effie frowned. “Zack made me do all my exercises tonight. And that is why I’m in my braces tonight and have to use my crutches.”
    He pressed his hand on her shoulder as he explained. “Effie works with a physical therapist, so every day she has to do exercises to help her limbs grow stronger.”
    â€œThat’s great. I mean, you were walking at Yoder’s when we saw each other yesterday. So that means your therapy must be working, right?”
    Effie nodded. “I’m getting better but the exercises still make me sore and tired.”
    â€œAnd grumpy,” Zack added.
    â€œI wouldn’t be so grumpy if you weren’t being so pushy, Zachary.”
    Leona chuckled. “Effie, I think you’re really blessed to have a bruder who will give you his time to help you do exercises. I don’t have a brother, but I’m imagining most wouldn’t be so nice or so patient.”
    â€œZack’s always helped me. He helps me do everything.”
    â€œThat’s admirable, to be sure.” Leona liked how Effie jumped to her brother’s defense. Looking his way, Leona smiled, and was surprised to notice that he was blushing.
    â€œIt’s nothing. I just help out when I can.”
    â€œZack does everything for everyone. He even does laundry sometimes.”
    â€œWow.” This time she was the one who was trying her best to keep her expression even and not judgmental. But the truth was that she was a little taken aback. She’d never heard of a man doing a household’s laundry.
    If anything, he looked even more uncomfortable. “Effie,there’s Amy. She’s been waving at you for a good five minutes. You should go over and say hi.”
    After gazing at her brother and Leona, her eyes lit up. “All right. See ya, Leona.” She started walking toward a girl about her age who was standing with her parents.
    â€œâ€™Bye, Effie.”
    â€œSorry about that,” Zack said. “I’m pretty sure the last thing you wanted to hear tonight was my life story.”
    â€œI like learning more about you.” Plus, as far as she was concerned, he was going to have to share a whole lot more information for her to have any real idea about his life story.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œYeah. Especially since what I’m learning is that you are a really nice guy. I meant what I said, Zack. I really do think Effie is blessed to have a bruder like you.”
    He still wasn’t meeting her eyes. “Both my parents work, and my brother and sister are busy with their own lives. Someone needed to be around for Effie.”
    â€œThat’s really kind of you. I mean, I bet a lot of people, men or women, wouldn’t want to make that sacrifice.”
    â€œIt’s not a sacrifice,” he protested, his eyes flashing, almost like she’d just offended him. “I enjoy being with Effie. She’s a great kid. I’m glad I can help her out.”
    â€œI’m glad you can, too.”
    His smile warmed. “Leona, have you given any more thought to going to Siesta Key tomorrow?”
    She definitely had. She really did want to go with him. She wanted to get to know him better. But she was also worried that she was about to make a terrible decision and ruin everything she had with Edmund . . . and maybe even life-long friendships with Sara and Mattie. “I don’t know if my girlfriends want to go.”
    â€œEven if they don’t, will you still come?” he interrupted, almost like he was ready to put any excuse to rest. “We wouldn’t even have to stay all day. We could leave around nine and be back by two. I, uh, need to be back in time to get Effie off the bus, anyway.”
    She liked the way he said that. Not like he resented it, more like he wasn’t sure how she would react but he