Being Emma Read Online Free Page A

other and shrugged.
They’d find out eventually if anything was happening. Grandma
Jeanne up in Sonoma would probably learn anything first, if there
was anything to learn.
     
    * * *
     
    Janie had
walked over to Colt and Mandy’s house. Her brother and
sister-in-law had a house on the property about a half-mile away.
She needed the walk out in the cool air to clear her head. She was
still mad at Craig, but knew he had a point too. Maybe she was sticking her nose in where it
didn’t belong. But Diane was her best friend. Where was the line
between helping and interfering anyway?
    Walking up the driveway, she heard a coyote
howl in the distance. Looking out at the land, the sun had set
leaving traces of orange and pink on the horizon. The fresh smell
of sagebrush filled her nose with the aromas of home. She loved
this land, like nothing else. These were her roots, her life and
her future. Future? What would that be, she wondered… Before she
could think any deeper, Colt flipped on the outside porch light and
opened the front door to her.
    “We heard someone out here. Why didn’t you
let us know you were coming, sis? We could have sent the dogs out
to keep you company.”
    She laughed as their two big labs came
running down the steps to greet her. They jumped up on her stomach
and demanded attention.
    “Down, boys.” Looking up at Colt, she smiled.
“I was at Mom and Dad’s for dinner and just thought I’d drop by to
see you before leaving.”
    “Well, come on in. The kids are still up and
will be thrilled to see their aunt.” She gave her big brother a hug
and kissed his cheek. Good-looking guy with black, wavy hair… He
looked so much like their mother and had married the love of his
life, Mandy.
    Janie walked in with the dogs and Mandy waved
at her from the kitchen where she was cleaning up after dinner. She
was so lovely and nice. It was obvious they loved each other. And
the results of that love came rushing at her from all corners of
the family room.
    “Auntie Janie! Auntie Janie!” She heard their
excited little voices and saw flushed faces. Sammy, their three
year old, managed to make it to her ahead of his twin sisters, Lucy
and Olivia. Sammy grabbed her around her legs and looked up at her.
She gazed at his sweet face and then lifted him up.
    “You’re getting so big, Sammy…” He had a
heart-shaped face with auburn hair like his mother. Janie gave him
a kiss on the cheek and he kissed her cheek in return. The little
girls, with dark hair like their father, had grabbed her legs now
and caused her to wobble. Colt took Sammy from her, so she could
lift up the girls. They squealed delightedly.
    “Have you been good girls?”
    “Yes, Auntie Janie….” She gave them kisses as
well. They squirmed so much that she thought to put them down
before they fell out of her arms.
    Mandy came over – She’d been trying to get
pajamas on them, but they were evading her.
    “Hi Mandy. How are you?” Mandy gave her a
quick smile and then caught one of the girls.
    “Janie. Great to see you… Come on in. I’m
just trying to dress them for bed. Lucy, quit moving.” Colt
laughed.
    “It’s like this every night. You’d think
that, after a while, the girls would catch on that their mother is
serious about pajamas.” That got Janie laughing too.
    “Here, Mandy. Let me help.” Janie caught
Olivia and put her pink, Care Bear pajamas on her.
    She smiled. “Thanks. Usually Colt catches
them for me.” Olivia was squirming and not being cooperative.
“Livy, let Aunt Janie help you.”
    “Noooo….” She wailed. “I don’t want to go to
bed.” That set off Lucy. With both little girls wailing, Sammy put
his hands over his ears. Little sisters were sometimes hard to
take.
    Janie had thought that the noise level at
dinner had been high, but this house had the ranch house beat by
many decibels. These kids could make noise. She looked at Colt who
just shrugged. He was used to it.
    Mandy finally got the twins