A Bridge to Dreams Read Online Free Page B

Frank, the eldest and the one who’d led all family discussions since her father’s death when she was still in elementary school. He had obviously sounded the alarm for the others the instant he’d realized that she was going ahead with her vacation. They had arrived on her doorstep within fifteen minutes of each other. Not one of them had been surprised to find the others there. Unity was a Chambers motto, especially where their baby sister was concerned. Maybe it would have been better if she’d been a gloriously tall, assertive redhead, instead of a barely over five-foot shrimp. Maybe then, they’d understand that she was way past due to take charge of her own social life.
    â€œI did cancel the trip,” she admitted.
    â€œThen what are you going to do?” asked Peter.
    â€œStay right here,” she said.
    The cheerful tone was obviously a mistake. Jared regarded her suspiciously. “I don’t get it. I thought you’d be upset about this.”
    â€œShe was upset,” Daniel confirmed. “When I was here last Saturday, she was moping around.”
    â€œYeah,” Kevin agreed. “When I called on Sunday, she sounded real depressed.”
    Karyn rolled her eyes as they continued to discuss her recent moods as if she’d left the room and they all had degrees in psychology. Eventually, they’d get back to her. They always did. It was Frank who finally turned to her again and said, “Okay, sis, what happened to perk you up?”
    She shrugged with exaggerated innocence. “Nothing happened. I’m just resigned to my fate, if you must know. What’s wrong with that?” Resignation was so far removed from the tingles that swept through her every time she thought of Brad Willis, it was all Karyn could do to keep a sappy, lovesick grin off her face.
    â€œNothing,” Timothy interceded quickly. If Timothy had had half a chance to go to an Ivy League college, he’d have been a perfect diplomat. He was wasting his skills as a transit worker, handing out transfers and reminding tourists which stop was closest to Ghirardelli Square. By the time he worked his way through college at night, he’d probably be too old to go traipsing around the globe for the State Department.
    â€œI’m sure Karyn can find lots of things to do right here in San Francisco,” he said.
    â€œWell, of course, she can,” Jared grumbled. “For one thing this apartment needs to be painted. Why don’t we all come over tomorrow night and help? I can get the paint on sale.”
    â€œNo way,” Karyn said adamantly. Six startled faces stared at her, stunned by her sharp tone. She backed off at once. She did not want to arouse their suspicions. “I mean, I can paint this place myself. Besides, I do not intend tospend my vacation working around the apartment. That’s not a vacation—that’s drudgery.” At that moment, an untimely recollection of Cinderella flitted through Karyn’s head, along with an even clearer image of the prince. He looked so much like Brad, she almost smiled.
    â€œThen what are you going to do?” Frank said, clearly bewildered. His last vacation had been spent taking apart their mother’s shuddering, fifteen-year-old washing machine and putting it back together. He’d actually enjoyed it. Their mother had been thrilled. The incident had convinced Karyn it was past time for Frank and his girlfriend of five years to get married. Now was not the time, though, to plague him about it.
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe sleep in a little.” She came dangerously close to blushing at that one. She raced on, “Go to a couple of museums. I’ll just play it by ear. That’s what a vacation is all about.”
    She hoped she sounded noble, self-sacrificing and just sufficiently contented that they’d leave her alone for the next week instead of setting out to keep her company. It would