Read Online What Lies Within by Karen Ball - Free Book Online

leafy branches, was the kitten.
    This time, Kyla didn’t hesitate. She reached down, cupped the tiny animal in her hands, and drew it close. She tucked it inside her suit jacket, nestling it next to her racing heart, and made her way back to the car.
    Easing into the driver’s seat, Kyla rubbed the kitten’s fur, doing her best to dry it and warm it at the same time. Its coat was a mixture of black,orange, and white—though the white was more of a dingy gray at the moment. The animal’s shivering body and heart-wrenching squeals tightened Kyla’s throat.
    “I know, little guy. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I left you there …”
    The kitten rested its forehead against her, and the simple trust in that motion nearly undid Kyla. She met her own gaze in the rearview mirror, noted the red-rimmed eyes, the tears streaming down her face. “You look terrible.”
    Funny thing was, she was smiling as she said it.
    Holding the kitten with one hand, she leaned down to pull out the phone book she kept beneath her driver’s seat. It only took a moment to find a nearby animal hospital. A few minutes more to call for directions and let the person on the phone know she was coming in.
    “Is this your pet?”
    The woman’s question stopped Kyla, and she looked down at the bundle now sleeping against her. She couldn’t keep it. Of course she couldn’t. For one thing, she was gone all the time. For another, there was Mason to consider. She didn’t even know if he liked animals. Shouldn’t she ask him first?
    “Ma’am? Is this your pet?”
    Be smart, Kyla
.
    She opened her mouth to answer, and one word jumped out. “Yes.”
    Kyla had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. She tightened her hold on the kitten, and this time her answer came out solid and sure. “Yes, it’s my pet.”
    So it wasn’t smart. So what? This little creature nestled against her seemed to think it belonged to Kyla. And for the life of her, she couldn’t disagree.
    All those years of telling Annot you weren’t an animal person, and now you do this? You’re knocking on crazy’s door, you know
.
    The kitten shifted, rubbing its soft face against her hand and releasing a soul-deep sigh. Kyla’s heart melted.
    Crazy or not, this kitten was exactly where it belonged.
    And if Mason doesn’t agree?
    He would. Of course he would. Because it was important to her. And when someone loved you, they cared about what mattered to you. Right?
    She didn’t give herself time to ponder the answer. She’d faced enough crises for the day.
    It was time to give her heart—and her doubts—a rest. At least for tonight.

SIX   
    “The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.”

A NAIS N IN

“Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”

M ATTHEW 6:32–33
    R afa, if you stare at that doorway any harder, it will melt.”
    Rafe took another sip of his coffee and angled wide-eyed innocence at his sister. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Her eyes scolded. “Do me favor,
porfa
?”
    “Whatever you ask, ’
manita
.”
    “Keep in mind that just because I’m your sister, that doesn’t make me
una cretina
.”
    “I would never call you an idiot.”
    “
Vale
, but you try to treat me like one, hmm?” She waved at the door he’d been staring at. “You tell me you’ve come to work early so you can have everything ready before the first
clienta
comes in. And then you sit there, drinking your coffee, waiting for her to show up. The morning passes, and still you sit there for every break. Watching the door. Hoping. And
tu creo que
I don’t know that’s what you’re doing?” She swatted at his shoulder. “Besides, you know as well as I do it’s still too early for her. She doesn’t usually show until at least early evening.” She