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 Did you know her very well? Kathryn took the apple and bit into it.
She hummed with delight and he didn t hide his smile.
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The Prodigal Daughter
 She served me breakfast every morning. She was a wonderful lady.
Kathryn nodded, and turned when they reached the end of the back of the house. She
walked easily in her bare feet, which grossly contradicted the image he d made of her.
 Sounds like you re really going to miss her. Kathryn stopped in her tracks, when the
truck Mattie pointed out to her earlier, pulled into the circular drive.
Blue eyes locked with blue eyes, frowns appearing on each of their faces.
Andy almost ran into her, she stopped so quickly. He noticed her entire body tense
when Kari pulled into her driveway. He was almost relieved to see Paul Reece pull in behind
her.
 Kari has lived in this house with her mom all her life, Andy leaned forward and
whispered in her ear.
A tingling wave washed through her when his breath tickled her neck. If Kari s face
weren t staring back at her through that windshield across the yard, she would have turned
her face to his.
 Angela wasn t sick. She wasn t planning on dying. She was yanked out from under
all of us. He nodded toward the truck and she stepped to the side.
No man had ever seduced her beyond rational thought before. She was the seductress.
She blew out a breath, and gave her head a quick shake.
 I have manners, sheriff. I get the hint.
He had to give her credit. Barefoot and all, she strutted across the yard and straight up
to Kari s truck.
Kari and Paul got out of their cars and shut doors simultaneously.
 I ll start coffee, Kari said, and hurried up to her house with her head down.
Kathryn looked from Paul to the sheriff. She shrugged.  I guess that s an invitation.
The inside of the house was so clean Kathryn swore the natural wooden baseboards
would pass the white glove treatment. Everything was simple, and more than half of the
furniture was old. Kari quickly pulled a can of coffee out of her freezer, and had the coffee
maker brewing in seconds.
 I want you to stay here with me, Kari said without preamble, as soon as Kathryn was
in the kitchen.
Lorie O Clare 26
Chapter Five
 I know you have your life to get back to, Kari added quickly, and looked like she was
trying to remember where things were in her own kitchen.  After you left, Paul told me there
were more letters from Mom.
Kari s face lit with an excitement that Kathryn hadn t seen since she d arrived in town.
 I have a motel room.
 There are terms to reading each letter. Paul has to follow them. Kari turned, and her
ankle length dress swooshed around her. She neatly placed four coffee cups in a row in front
of the coffee maker.  If you agree to stay the night, Paul can read the next letter.
 How many letters are there? Kathryn asked, and Kari looked up at Paul.
 According to the terms of the will, I can t tell you that. Paul leaned in the doorway
with his arms crossed against his chest.
 You can t tell us that, Kathryn repeated.
 What harm will there be in spending the night here? Andy placed his large hands on
the back of the kitchen chair closest to him.
She glanced at the simple wallpaper, the collection of silver spoons hanging in a simple
wooden case. As plain as the place was, there was a good feeling here. People had been
happy here, truly happy.  I guess there s no harm.
 Is that a yes? Paul lifted his briefcase on to the table.
 Yes, I ll stay the night.
 Thank you, Kari s voice sounded off kilter as she turned to pour coffee.
Paul opened his briefcase and pulled out a legal sized envelope. As plain and
unadorned as it was, Kathryn got a knot in her stomach staring at it. She watched Paul s clean,
well-manicured hands slide a folded letter, swooping faded handwriting covering the yellow
legal pad paper out of the envelope.
 Kathryn, I realize it must be a sacrifice for you to agree to stay the night in our home.
Paul began reading the letter after the four of them sat down at the table with coffee.  I guess
you might be quite the city girl, dressed all fancy. You re living the life I dreamed of having
once. But there s something to the life Kari and I have here. Even if you just take a peek at it, I
hope you see that we have a wonderful life.
 Kari, more than likely, your sister isn t showing the proper respect toward my death
that you would like to see. Cut her some slack, dear. I m sure she is very happy with her life,
and she can t mourn someone she never knew.
Kathryn looked down at her hands when she thought about the life she had right now.
Yeah right. She was just so damn happy. It was just as well that the mother she never knew
died without knowing what her prodigal daughter was like. She didn t notice the curious
glances everyone at the table gave her.
 Darling, you must show her around the house. Tell her the history of our family. It s
her family too, even though most everyone is dead. Kathryn, I m sure you ve thought about
calling your dad and ringing his neck for not telling you about us. I ask you, please don t do
that yet. Stay in the house for three days with Kari. If you can do that, I ll explain more after
that time.
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The Prodigal Daughter
Paul laid the letter in his briefcase and looked up at Kari.  That s it.
 I have to stay here for three days? I thought you said I had to stay the night. Kathryn [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]