Baby's Breath (Garden of Love 2)

Author:Wilber, Melanie [Wilber, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-12-21T16:00:00+00:00

***

“I wonder where Brandon is tonight,” Allison said to Josie that evening at youth group.

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Allison asked, tossing her thick braid over her shoulder.

Josie hesitated, feeling surprised Brandon hadn’t talked to Allison about going home. She didn’t feel right telling her anything specific, but she had to say something.

“He went to Eugene for a few days,” she said. “He had some things to take care of down there.”

Allison seemed satisfied with her answer. Josie hated telling half-truths where she wasn’t lying, but not being totally honest either. She took comfort in the thought that Brandon would tell Allison when he returned, and the reason for his absence was for her benefit.

The evening passed quickly, and Josie found Patrick and Tommy waiting in the foyer when she emerged from the gym. She had driven the van to the church, and Faith had already taken it and left with the girls.

“Faith said to tell you thanks,” Patrick said in the car on the way to her apartment. “She needed it more than she thought.”

“I owe you two a lot more than one night out.”

“Why do you always do that?”

Josie looked at her brother. “Do what?”

Patrick sighed. “You don’t owe us anything, Josie, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied, not understanding her brother’s insistence. “If you say so.”

Patrick dropped them off at the front entrance to the apartment building. Jogging alongside Tommy with raindrops beginning to fall around her, she noticed a figure sitting on the bench near the door in the shadows. If Patrick hadn’t been waiting for them to get inside, she might have been nervous. A few more steps lessened her anxiety further, seeing it was a woman.

A suitcase sat at her feet and another smaller bag was on the bench next to her. She had on a velvety black hat. Josie wondered if she might need some help and decided to approach her. Taking a step closer, she stared at the profile in disbelief: short golden-blonde hair, high cheekbones, tiny button nose.

“Natalie?”

Looking up from the electronic reader in her hand, Natalie sprung from the bench. “Josie! You’re here!” she squealed, throwing her arms around her and holding her tight. “I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to sit out here all night or find someone to take pity on a poor homeless girl and let me in.”

“Natalie, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you call to say you were coming?”

“I wanted to surprise you,” Natalie said, her sapphire-blue eyes dancing. “Surprise!”

Patrick came up from behind. He hugged her and repeated Josie’s words. “Why didn’t you call? We could have picked you up at the airport,” he said, sounding like a concerned older brother.

“Well, it was kind of a spur of the moment thing, and I didn’t give it much thought, I guess,” she replied, sounding like the little sister Josie remembered. “Can we go in and I’ll give you all the details? I’m freezing!”

Patrick couldn’t stay. He needed to get home, but Josie and Natalie promised to come over to the house the following evening.

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