Lost Cause by Janice Kay Johnson

Author:Janice Kay Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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mowed my lawn the last month to save me having to get my mower fixed before spring. And I think he fertilized with a weed-and-feed. I noticed some granules clinging to the grass, so I peeked in his garbage can.

Which I know is awful of me,” she added hastily. “But there were a couple of empty bags.”

“He’s probably been dying to get his hands on your lawn. So to speak.”

Suzanne rolled her eyes. “Which makes me feel guilty and inadequate, but thankful.”

“I don’t actually have a lawn to take care of, and I’m starting to be glad.”

“Oh, but gardening is such fun! Well.” She held out a hand. “Rebecca, thank you. Both for today, and for being understanding about our last appointment.”

“How could I help it? Having your long-lost brother show up was pretty amazing.”

Her face softened. “It was. I’d lost hope… A couple of times when he and Carrie and I were hanging out, I’ve had this wave of disbelief. All those years of wondering, of missing them, and here we are together.”

She shook her head. “This has been the most incredible year.”

“And it may get more incredible yet,” Rebecca warned.

She left Suzanne standing on her doorstep with a dazed expression, probably imagining school lunches and Christmas morning and a small hand in hers.

Rebecca got into her car and started down the street, glancing in the rearview mirror when she reached the end of the block.

156

LOST CAUSE

Had she missed anything in her desire to approve Suzanne? She really, truly, didn’t think so. Which meant she’d been unbelievably lucky.

Way luckier than she deserved.

GARY SAUNTERED UP to the house at four o’clock, from the porch able to see his sister sitting in her favorite chair in the living room staring straight ahead as if she were watching TV. He craned his neck. Nope. The television wasn’t on. What in hell was she doing? So far as he could tell from here, even her hands were idle. She never sat without knitting.

Then it hit him. Oh, crap. The interview hadn’t gone well.

He was surprised by the rage that filled his chest.

Damn it, how could Rebecca have failed to see how just plain nice Suzanne was? Was she blind? Or had she decided, in some labyrinthine way, that she couldn’t approve Suzanne because she’d been prejudiced by dating him?

He took a deep breath and opened the door. “Hey.”

She looked up, her eyes glassy.

“Are you okay?” Stupid-ass question; of course she wasn’t okay!

But she was nodding. “Yes. I’m fine. Oh, Gary.” Her eyes abruptly filled with tears. “I’m going to have a child of my own. Soon!” She hugged herself. “Maybe even before Christmas. I’m…what’s that old-fashioned term? Pole-axed. That’s it.” Her voice was gaining speed, animation. “I don’t know why a pole is being

JANICE KAY JOHNSON

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axed, but that’s me. I think I’m in shock.” She swiped at her tears, but she was smiling, too.

His rage fled, leaving him weak and—hell, kind of shaky. He sank onto the couch and said stupidly, “She approved you? Just like that?”

“Yes! Oh, Gary!” Suzanne said again.

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