Sisters by Design, books 1-3 by Sharon Srock

Author:Sharon Srock
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sharon Srock
Published: 2018-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

RANDY PAUSED OUTSIDE the kitchen door, knees trembling, cut to the quick by Eli’s whispered prayer. She braced her hand on the doorjamb, balanced the weight of the world on her shoulders, and took a step into the room.

“It’s not you, Eli.”

“Randy.” Eli turned and took a step toward her.

Randy stopped him with a shake of her head. She held up his keys and laid them on the table before wrapping her arms around her chest. “Would you go if I asked you to?”

Eli looked from her to the keys and back but made no move to pick them up. He crossed his own arms and waited.

“I didn’t think so.” The words were hoarse. Randy cut a wide path around him and moved to the coffee pot. Every muscle in her body ached from the effort it took not to throw herself into his arms. She picked up the pot and poured hot coffee into the second mug. Her hands shook, and the lip of the pot clattered on the edge of the ceramic cup.

“Randy?”

She pulled in a ragged breath and turned to lean against the counter. Her gaze met his over the rim of the cup. The confusion in his expression was too painful to look at. She jerked her eyes away and tried to postpone the inevitable.

“Where’s Astor?” she asked.

“Still at Terri’s. I called her when I got your message. It was so late, she offered to keep her until noon. I was beat. And I wanted to talk to you.”

The hurt in his voice threatened to choke her. She closed her eyes. “You said you didn’t find Celeste?”

“I found where she was but got no information about where she is. The housekeeper said they were honeymooning in Europe.”

Randy stared into the depths of the cup. “How nice for them. What happens now?”

“I’m going to hire a private investigator. I’m going to take care of my granddaughter.” He set his cup aside. “I’m supposed to get married in a few weeks.”

Randy risked another look in his direction. His expression had hardened. Mouth in a tight line, his blue eyes, normally filled with warmth, were glacial. She turned to dump the coffee into the sink. Her stomach churned in fiery waves. The additional acid wasn’t helping. “And that brings us right back around, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does.” He moved to stand next to her, but he didn’t touch her. “You’re stalling.”

Randy closed her eyes and clenched her hands. His nearness hurt. She’d never been any good at good-byes. Father give me the right words. The prayer landed with a thud at her feet. Guess I’m on my own. Randy took a deep breath and twisted the ring on her finger. “I love you.” The whispered words seemed to hang in the space between them. Three words intended to bring hope and joy, today they shredded her heart. The ring slipped over her knuckle, and she clasped it tightly, wanting...hoping to burn the imprint of it into her skin.

“Randy, don’t...”

She reached over, took Eli’s hand, and folded his fist around the ring.

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