Read Online Undone (A Country Roads Novel) by Shannon Richard - Free Book Online Page A

you and Brendan?” Tara asked, raising her perfectly plucked eyebrows.
    “Nothing,” Paige said a little too quickly, her voice going up an octave. She was lucky she hadn’t taken another sip; otherwise she would have started choking again.
    “Right,” Tara said slowly.
    “There isn’t. He’s just helped me out with my car a couple of times.”
    “Mmm-hmm.”
    Paige looked down to her coffee cup, tracing the purple rim with her fingertip. She was trying not to debate the mystery that was Brendan King, but it was useless. He’d told her that it was just a matter of time. What was just a matter of time was still uncertain, but Paige had a feeling that she knew exactly what that what was, and it scared the crap out of her.
    “Oh no,” Tara whispered.
    “What?” Paige asked, looking up to see a clearly infuriated Verna advancing on them.
    “You did this,” Verna screamed above the banging, pointing a gnarled bony finger at Paige. “You come in here and disrupt everything with your radical ideas. I’ve got my eye on you,” she said, squinting at Paige before she stormed out of the room.
    “What was that?” Paige asked, looking over at Tara, who was laughing so hard she was snorting.
    “I’ve never seen her get so worked up,” Tara said, wiping the tears from under her eyes.
    “What’s so radical about getting rid of carpet?” Paige asked, confused.
    Tara snorted again and Paige couldn’t help but start laughing too.
    “I should get to work,” Paige said, standing up and grabbing her purse. “Thanks again,” she said, holding up her coffee cup and walking toward the door.
    “Hold up,” Tara said before she had left. “We’re going to go to lunch today. The other girls are dying to meet you.”
    “What other girls?”
    “The other girls who do the side jobs around here. We’ll leave at one.”
    “Alright.” Paige nodded and headed up the stairs.
    *  *  *
    Four hours later, Paige was taking pictures that she’d found on the Internet and placing them into the tribute program. She wanted to see how easy it was to replace the stock pictures. She set up a memorial slide with pictures from The Flintstones . Fred had died in a tragic hang-gliding accident involving a pterodactyl.
    “You ready?” Tara asked from the doorway.
    “Yeah,” Paige said, standing up and stretching. “I’m starving.” Apparently killing off beloved cartoon characters worked up an appetite in a person.
    “Good.” Tara grinned. “It’s always best to go to Lula Mae’s when you’re hungry.”
    “Isn’t that who made those scones?” Paige asked as she followed Tara down the stairs.
    “Yes. But you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
    *  *  *
    Café Lula was on the beach. It was a renovated cottage painted in bright colors. The door was turquoise, the shutters yellow, the eaves and roof lilac, and the building itself salmon. A large green sign that read C AFÉ L ULA in big, black letters hung from the overhang above the door.
    Paige followed Tara up the green steps and through the front door. A bell rang as they entered. The inside of the shop had the same bright colors as the outside. The hardwood floors were blond, the walls were turquoise, and the doors and windows were yellow. The tables and chairs that were scattered around the café were all painted in a variety of colors. And the entire shop smelled like apples baked with vanilla and cinnamon.
    “Wow,” Paige said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “That smells incredible.”
    “Why, thank you.”
    Paige opened her eyes to see a woman coming from around the corner. She had white hair cut in choppy layers all around her head and framing her face. She was ample everywhere, but it worked with her kind face and bright blue eyes.
    “Lula Mae, this is Paige. Paige, Lula Mae.”
    “A pleasure,” Lula Mae said, sticking out her hand.
    “I had some of your scones,” Paige said, shaking her hand. “They were amazing.”
    “I’d like to take