Kaleidoscope Summer (Samantha's Story) Read Online Free Page A

trailed t he divine whiffs coming fro m the kitchen . I inhaled the fragrance— I talian . Logan sat at the table chatting with Maggie as she prepared dinner. What a treasure it must be to have a brother or a sister . “Smells good in here.” Maggie stood , stirring a pot on a black - and - white porcelain stove. The antique appliance had two oven s, and a curved warming compartment on top . “Wow, what a great stove.”
    Maggie laid the wooden spoon dripp ing with white sauce on a plate . She remembered to face me so I could lip-read . “It’s original to the house , although I don’t cook often. W hen I do , the smoke alarm likes to buzz in with an opin ion.” Her animated movements suggested she’d giggled at her own joke . “Logan picked up dinner and brought it over. I’m merely reheating it .”
    I turned to Logan. “ Fettuccine Alfredo is one of my favorites.” My closed grin widen ed when he smiled back. “Do you have my keys? I need Goldie’s food from the car.”
    “T he entry table .” He pointed toward the front hall.
    Maggie tapped my shoulder . “Logan brought in Goldi e’s things . I filled her bowls—they’ re on the patio outside your room. That little girl of your s is adorable.”
    “ I don’t know what I’d do without her . Now, what can I do to help?”
    “It’s under control—y ou just relax and take it easy.”
    I gave up at h er no-nonsense, don’t -argue- with -me attitude and carefully lowered myself onto a chair across from Logan.
    “Feeling better ?” He tipped a coffee mug to his lips .
    “Much. R est was exactly what I needed .” I f eyes truly reflected the soul, I hoped mine weren’t broadcasting the perp lexity storming my insides . U nanswered questio ns were never far from my thoughts.
    “Shall we go informal?” M aggie piled pasta and sauce onto three p lates and brought them to the t a b le. She returned to the stove and grabbed a basket fille d with toasted garlic bread and joined us.
    “Do you plan to be in town long? ” Maggie wound the pasta around her fork.
    “T he p rivate school where I work has been experiencing funding issu es, which enabled me to take a month-long leave of absence.” Not only did I hold the position of administrator— I had started the school . I looked at Logan. “ Are you on duty tonight?”
    He n odded as Maggie touch ed my hand to get my attention . “I own Magnolia’s Antiques , two doors down from th e bookshop . In a day or two, you might want to ride into town with me and see Anne’s shop — if you have the keys.”
    “ I do. Anne’s attorney sen t them . Originally , I planned to stay in the apa rtment above her s hop.” Why had Anne chosen to own a bookshop? “Did Anne love books, or did she open a b ookshop for… for some other reason? ”
    M aggie pushed her plate forward and rested her arms on the table . “Bo oks were her passion. Maybe it was the writer in her—she dreamed of being an author someday .”
    The more Maggie talked about Anne , the more I realized the strong bond of friendship they’d shared . “Anne mentioned you in her emails, but I didn’t realize you were so close. ”
    “ Anne and I were great friends . I wish you could have gotten t o know her.” Sadness replaced the sparkle in her eyes as she patted a stray tear. “I miss her.”
    For a brief second , a flash of jealousy clouded my thoughts. I should have been the one to know Anne—she was my birth mother.
    Logan rose abruptly , as though reading my emotions . “ I’ll take Sam into the front room where she’ll be more comfortable . ”
    With my arm locked in his for support , again . I hope d he would n’t notice the way my breathing reacted to his touch as he led the way to a n antique velvet-tufted sofa .
    A fire crackled in the fireplace , lighting the room with a gentle glow. My words took on a will all their own. “My father’s sister, my Aunt Gwen, considered Anne a less t han desirable person .” I could