Deception Read Online Free

would be finished and she could go home. She would smile when she talked about going home, about you. She loves you mucho . Miss Jamie didn’t smile much lately.”
    The rocks in Patti’s stomach grew larger.
    “She want me to go with them, but I don’t know. Not after I hear her tell Sabrina about the snow and the winters. They sound very bad.”
    “They can get nasty.”
    “Where is your luggage? Your things? I will take them up to the guest room.”
    “The airlines lost it. From now on, I’ll only take carry-on luggage. I guess I better go shopping.”
    Anna tapped her chin and frowned. “Not necessary. You look same size as Miss Jamie so you can wear her clothes. She not mind. Very nice of you to fly down to help Sabrina. God bless you, such a good woman.”
    Patti bit her lip, shamed by Anna’s words. She didn’t feel like a good woman, and she was sure God hadn’t been pleased with her attitude when she’d first learned about Sabrina.
    She’d come down out of guilt, not love. But now that she was here, she was so glad she’d made the right decision. “I didn’t know I had a niece. Did Jamie tell you why she never told me about Sabrina?”
    “She say you very busy. No need her interrupting your life.”
    Patti stared at Anna.
    Why would Jamie say such a thing? Jamie knew she’d never be too busy to spend time with her niece, no matter what the situation between the two of them.
    Something was wrong.
    Patti bit her lip and moved over to where Sabrina sat in front of a huge Victorian-style doll house. It was obvious Jamie had spared no money when she’d purchased it. It was as elegant as the house she stood in at the moment.
    Sabrina looked up at Patti. “Want to play with me?”
    “I do.” She eased herself down on the floor, wishing she were a bit more limber. She needed to get back to exercising regularly.
     
     
     
     

6
     
    Patti sat on the most comfortable sofa she’d ever experienced. Money might not be able to buy love, but it sure could buy comfort.
    Across the room, Sabrina still played with the huge doll house, oblivious to the adults in the room.
    Anna had to know more about Jamie’s comings and goings.
    “Jamie may have told you not to talk about her private concerns, but I think this constitutes an emergency.”
    Instead of answering, Anna turned on the baby monitor sitting on the coffee table and stood. “I take you up to your room. You must be very tired.”
    Anna walked over to Sabrina. “I be back in a few minutes, sweet baby. Then, we make dinner and eat.”
    “I’m not a baby. I’m a big girl. Aunt Patti said so.” Sabrina waved goodbye to Patti and moved to the rocking chair with her baby doll.
    Anna led the way down the hall. At the end of the hall, she pointed at a door. “This is the guest room, you can sleep there. Jamie is your sister. You go in her room, borrow clothes, do whatever you want.”
    “Thanks, Anna.” Patti patted Anna’s shoulder. “I know you must be worried, but Jamie has always been irresponsible. I’m sure she’s fine.”
    Anna looked at Patti with sorrow in her eyes. “No, she is not fine. Miss Jamie never leave Sabrina like this. And she would always call once a day when she was gone, sometimes two times in a day. Something is very wrong.” Anna’s lips thinned. “Miss Jamie is not irresponsible. It has been a long time since you see her. You do not know Miss Jamie, now.”
    Patti’s stomach clenched. She didn’t want to acknowledge the truth in Anna’s words, but she was right. She had no idea what kind of mother Jamie was. Who was she to make the judgment Jamie was a bad mother?
    Patti fought the overwhelming urge to explain to Anna it wasn’t her fault.
    Jamie was the one who betrayed Patti, not the other way around. Her twin walked out of her life.
    Instead, she agreed with her sister’s biggest fan. “I suppose you’re right, Anna.”
    Anna nodded, satisfied, and scurried back to Sabrina.
    Patti stood in front of the