Hometown Star Read Online Free

aunt in the kitchen, flipping pancakes, making Star a special malted milk, and wiping her face with a wet dishrag. Good memories. Patsy, the ultimate caregiver.
    When they’d been here, life had a routine. They had bedtimes, regular meals, and clean clothes to wear. They were never late for school. Their homework was done. And best of all, Star didn’t have to be the mother. Sometimes it had been hard to give up that control. Star smiled. She’d gotten into it with Patsy more than once over parenting issues.
    “Miss you, Pats,” Star said, wishing she’d had the chance to say goodbye. Star’s heart broke all over again when she thought of Patsy dying here alone. No one should have to die alone. Star prayed the heart attack had been swift, Patsy’s suffering minimal.
    The hum of a vehicle coming up the drive pulled Star from the box of Tupperware she loaded. She peered out the broken front window, recognizing the O’Brien truck.
    Cade.
    And he had Finn with him.
    Star tensed. Old habits died hard. What did Cade want? After her earlier trip down memory lane, she didn’t know how much more she could take today. She met Cade and Finn at the door, feeling more like she was preparing for battle than greeting neighbors.
    “Hi, Star,” Finn called on his way up the steps, Cade right behind him.
    “What brings you two here?” she asked with wary curiosity.
    “We brought you dinner,” Finn said, and Star noticed the foil–covered dish in Cade’s hands.
    “Trudy insisted,” Cade said.
    “How thoughtful,” Star replied, warmed by Trudy’s gesture.
    Cade had obviously showered, changing into clean jeans and black T–shirt with O’Brien Charters written in neat script across his chest. Star couldn’t help but remember what he looked like under that T–shirt, all hard muscle and tanned skin. So good looking. Such a jerk.
    “We were hoping the chicken potpie could act as a peace offering for Finn being in the house when you arrived,” Cade told her. “I hope he didn’t scare you.”
    “Just a little.” Star smiled. Heaven help her, she could smell the chicken potpie and her stomach responded. She took the casserole dish from Cade, the ceramic still warm in her hands. “Thanks. Come over any time, Finn, if it means I get a home cooked meal.”
    Finn smiled, revealing a missing front tooth.
    “He won’t be bothering you again.” Cade leveled a stern look on his son. “Right, Finn?”
    “But Star said I could come over.” Finn’s lower lip jutted out.
    “With your dad’s permission,” Star said the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them. No matter how much she disliked Cade, she didn’t want to mess with the way he parented.
    “Can I bring Emma?” Finn asked.
    “Sure.”
    “And Snowbell?” Finn said.
    “Snowbell?” Star asked.
    “Our kitten,” Finn told her proudly.
    “Ah,” Star said. “Sure, bring her over. I love kittens. I always wanted a cat but was never allowed to have one. We never stayed any place long enough to have a pet.”
    Star stole a look at Cade. His mouth had tightened into a frown, and she wondered what he had to frown about. In her eyes, he’d had it all when they’d been kids, parents who loved and cared for him, a big, beautiful house, money. Did he even appreciate any of it? He’d been born lucky, while she’d had to scratch and claw her way out of dysfunction and poverty.
    “We should be going.” Cade placed a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Come on, Finn.”
    “Bye, Star,” Finn said before turning to follow his dad.
    “Get in the truck,” Cade said to his son.
    Finn did as his father asked, then Cade wheeled around walking back to her.
    Again, Star braced herself, for what? A confrontation? A mean remark? Ridiculous. They were adults now.
    “I owe you an apology,” Cade said from the base of the porch steps, those blue eyes of his glittering. “It’s not you, Star. It’s never been you.”
    Before Star could process the words, he turned