Burden of Poof by Julie Anne Lindsey

Author:Julie Anne Lindsey [Lindsey, Julie Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cozy Queen Publishing LLC

Chapter Fifteen

I started my day early the next morning, after getting very little sleep. I couldn’t shake the fact that Mason had been parked outside my house because he’d been worried about me. Anyone who’d come from Cleveland law enforcement and spent time undercover in the FBI probably wasn’t scared of much. So if he was worried, I was worried.

I dressed in white capri pants and an apricot peasant blouse, then cuddled Clyde for as long as I could. After what happened at the shop yesterday, I wasn’t ready to bring him with me again just yet. If whoever had smashed my cupcake hurt Clyde to punish me, I’d never forgive myself. So, I kissed his head once more, stuffed him into his carrier, then carried him outside because I definitely wasn’t going to leave him alone all day either.

We were going to my parents’ place for breakfast, and Clyde would hang out with them today, like the grand-fur-baby he was.

I turned left out of the driveway and motored up the street, away from the bulk of houses and along the wildflower fields on my left, until my childhood home appeared in the distance. I took my time on the long gravel lane to their place, passing under an arching wooden sign carved with the farm’s name, and feeling lighter by the moment.

Dad waved as I approached, a water hose in one hand. His jeans were belted above his waist, and his plaid button-up shirt was open, revealing a white T-shirt underneath. His boots were caked in mud, and his ballcap announced he’d Rather Be Fishing.

He extinguished the spray when I shifted into park, then came to meet me at the car.

“Hey, Daddy,” I said, wrapping him in a hug. “How are you?”

“Better now. How are you doing?” He peeled the cap from his head, then screwed it back on a few times until he was satisfied.

“Better now,” I echoed with a smile.

Dad was tall and broad, but trim from working the land and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. His skin was tan from long days in the sun. His hair and eyes were brown from genetics. The former growing slowly thinner, and the latter perpetually wide with wonder. He and Mama were the happiest people I knew, and I loved that.

Despite my unfortunate marriage, I hoped to find the kind of relationship he and Mama had one day, but for the moment, I’d be happy with breakfast.

“You hungry?” Daddy asked, as if reading my mind. “Your mama’s inside fixing something to eat. We’re going to sit on the patio.”

“Sounds good. I’ll wash up, then see if I can help.”

Dad kissed my head before turning back to his watering hose.

I lifted Clyde’s carrier from the passenger seat and inhaled the familiar, spirit-lifting scent of flowers on a hot humid breeze.

“Mama,” I called, passing through the screen door, then pausing to catch it before it snapped shut on a rusted spring as old as time. “Daddy said you’re making breakfast.”

I crossed the

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.