Grace Valley Trilogy by Robyn Carr

Author:Robyn Carr [CARR, ROBYN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4603-3420-1
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The tiny two-bedroom house that the Mull family rented was not quite upscale enough to be called modest, but it was the finest thing they’d ever had. There was electricity and hot- and cold-running water—luxuries that had sent Jurea into an explosion of excitement. She had never dreamed she could live so well, which was an exhibition of perspective that many an American could use as a lesson.

Charlie MacNeil, the Veterans Administration counselor, had been able to fix Clarence up with a disability pension based on Clarence’s PTSD, clearly a by-product of the war. It was the first time the Mulls had had a regular income. Charlie also managed to get the family furnishings, kitchenware and clothing from the Vietnam Vets charity. And finally, the kids had worked with volunteer tutors all summer so that they could enter school in the fall. It turned out that Jurea and Clarence hadn’t done too badly with their ad hoc home schooling; Clinton was a mere two years behind and Wanda only one.

They had come so far, but as June pulled up to the little house she was reminded that, for Clarence at least, it had been too much, too fast. She hoped against hope that he had come back to the house in town, but his old truck wasn’t parked anywhere in sight. Already disappointed, June went up on the creaky porch, followed by Sadie.

Clinton answered the door, and he beamed when he saw her. “Dr. Hudson, I’ll be danged! What are you doing here?”

“I hope I’m not interrupting dinner or anything,” she said. “I was looking for your mom.”

“Ma ain’t here, but come on in and sit. Say hello to Wanda.”

“Can Sadie come in, Clinton? She’s well behaved.”

“Sure. We’ve been talking about getting us a dog. Come ahead.”

He turned to lead the way into the house. Her powers of observation kicked in and she studied his gait. He had a prosthetic leg and foot made necessary by the below-the-knee amputation done in the spring. He did well on it; his stride was strong and even.

Clinton led her into the kitchen where Wanda sat at the table with her schoolbooks out. There was bread, cookies and chips open on the counter as though they’d had a cold supper while they did their homework. Wanda smiled at June, but her expression beamed with delight when she saw Sadie. She immediately kneeled on the floor so she could pet her. Here was a girl who could do with a pet, June thought.

“How’s school going, Wanda?” she asked.

“It’s going a little fast for me, but Clinton gets most of it and helps me. I got to try harder than most, you know.”

“But do you like it?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am, it’s the best thing. I even have a friend to listen to CDs with.”

“Wanda’s in love with the Backstreet Boys,” Clinton teased, grinning.

“Am not!” she protested, coloring a little.

“Sit a spell, Dr. Hudson. Have a cookie with us,” he invited, grabbing the package and unceremoniously plopping it on the table.

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