Behind the Pine Curtain Read Online Free

arrival, and she had no time for nervousness.
    The front door opened immediately. John Lawrence hadn’t changed much in fifteen years, although his hair was no longer the salt and pepper she remembered. It was an attractive shade of white, and she recognized his wife, Mary standing behind him. She had aged more, and she looked nearly ten years his senior now. They both waved, and her uneasiness fled. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
    Grabbing the one bag she had on the back seat, she flung the strap over her shoulder and walked up. She stopped, smelling a fragrance in the air that brought back many memories. Jasmine. She smiled slightly, then walked up, hand outstretched to greet them.
    “Jacqueline Keys, my God, look at you.”
    “Mrs. Lawrence, how are you?”
    “Call me Mary, dear. I’m so glad you came.”
    “Thank you for having me on so short notice. The motel was . . . well, a rat trap may be too kind a word.”
    They laughed and drew her inside their home. It was spacious, but still unpretentious and very homey. She’d always liked them. They never quite seemed to fit in with her parents’ normal circle of friends. This house wasn’t a showcase for their wealth, it was simply their home. She never could have said that about her own home growing up.
    “When I called you, I was afraid you would turn me down. In fact, I expected it,” John Lawrence said.
    “ To be honest with you, I’m not certain why I agreed to come. I don’t feel that I owe them anything.”
    “I understand. But we have time to talk later. Let’s get you settled, and we’ll have dinner.”
    Mary gave her a quick tour of the house, and Jacqueline was thankful that her room was on the opposite end from theirs. At least she wouldn’t feel in the way and would have some privacy. She tossed her one bag on the bed and turned, finding Mary watching her.

    “Is that all you brought?”
    “I’ve got another bag in the car with my suit, but I’ll get that later.”
    Mary glanced once over her shoulder, then walked closer. “I know this must be very hard for you, Jacqueline. But we both felt like you had a right to be here, if you wanted. Of course, after all that happened all those years ago, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d chosen not to come here. You may not believe this, but it wasn’t your father’s idea to send you away. Your mother just . . . well, she went out of her mind over it all. She blew it all out of proportion, thinking the entire town was laughing at her. Truth is, most people didn’t really care. When word got out that she’d sent you away, well, most just felt sorry for her.”
    “Does she know I’m here?”
    Mary shook her head. “John didn’t think it was a good idea to tell her.”
    “How is she, Mary? Is she well enough to attend the funeral?”
    “No. She’s had two surgeries already. From what I understand, she’ll be in the hospital for another week or so, until they move her home. Even then, she’ll need a nurse to care for her for months yet.”
    Jacqueline tried to muster up sympathy, or some emotion, but nothing would come. Her mother was but a stranger to her, and she couldn’t find it in her heart to feel sorry for her.
    “What hospital is she in?”
    “She’s here in Pine Springs.”
    Jacqueline’s eyebrows shot up. “Pine Springs has a hospital?”
    “Oh, yes. Over on the west side of town, things have grown quite a lot.”

    Jacqueline frowned. “They have a hospital but no motel?” She watched as a slight blush colored Mary’s face.
    “Actually, John may have omitted a few things. There is a fairly new motel on the west side.”
    “And he sent me to the old Pine Springs Motel?”
    Mary smiled. “He really wanted you to stay with us. He didn’t want you to feel like an outsider, and that’s exactly what you’d have been if you’d stayed at the motel. It wouldn’t take long for word to spread.”
    “So, the town’s grown, but gossip still flies?”
    “Jacqueline, your