Key Of Knowledge Read Online Free Page B

hand on Dana’s, gripped it like a lifeline. “That would be a miracle.”
    â€œI had Mrs. Janesburg for U.S. and world history.” Dana winked at the boy. “I’ve got her number.”
    â€œI’ll leave you in Ms. Steele’s capable hands.” Though her smile remained in place, Joan spoke through gritted teeth.
    Dana leaned forward, spoke to the boy in a conspiratorial whisper. “She still get teary-eyed when she teaches Patrick Henry’s ‘Give me liberty’ spiel?”
    He brightened up considerably. “Yeah. She had to stop and blow her nose.”
    â€œSome things never change. Okay, here’s what you need.”
    Fifteen minutes later, while her son checked out his books with his brand-new library card, the mother stopped back by Dana’s desk. “I just wanted to thank you again. I’m Joanne Reardon, and you’ve just saved my firstborn’s life.”
    â€œOh, Mrs. Janesburg’s tough, but she wouldn’t have killed him.”
    â€œNo. I would have. You got Matt excited about doing this paper, if for no other reason than making him think he’d be pulling one over on his teacher.”
    â€œWhatever works.”
    â€œMy sentiments exactly. Anyway, I appreciate it. You’re wonderful at your job.”
    â€œThanks. Good luck.”
    She was wonderful at her job, Dana concurred. Goddamn it, she was. The evil Joan and her toothy niece were going to be sorry when they didn’t have Dana Steele to kick around anymore.
    AT the end of her shift she tidied her area, gathered up a few books she’d checked out, then hefted her briefcase. Another thing she would miss, Dana thought, was this end-of-the-day routine. The putting everything in order, taking a last look around the stacks, the tables, the sweet little cathedral to books before the walk home.
    She would also miss being just a short, pleasant walk from work to her apartment. It was only one of the reasons she had refused to move in with Flynn when he’d bought his house.
    She could still walk to Indulgence, she reminded herself. If she felt like a two-mile hike. Since that was unlikely to happen, she decided she should appreciate what she had now, while she still had it.
    She liked the predictability of her habitual route home, the things she saw season by season, year by year. Now, with fall in full swing, the streets were full of golden lights that streamed through the blaze of trees. And the surrounding mountains rose up like some fabulous tapestry woven by the gods.
    She could hear kids, freed from school and not yet locked into the homework hour, shouting as they raced around thelittle park between the library and her apartment building. The air was just brisk enough to carry along that spicy scent from the bed of mums planted outside the town hall.
    The big round clock on the square announced it was 4:05.
    She struggled against a wave of resentment when she remembered that, pre-Joan, it would have read 6:35 on her way home.
    Screw it. Just appreciate the extra time, the lovely walk on a sunny afternoon.
    Pumpkins on the porches, goblins hanging from branches though it was weeks before Halloween. Small towns, she mused, prized their holidays. The days were getting shorter, cooler, but were still warm enough, still long enough to bask in.
    The Valley was at its best in autumn, she decided. As close to picture-perfect as Anywhere, America, could get.
    â€œHey, Stretch. Carry those for you?”
    Her pretty bubble of contentment burst. Before she could snarl, Jordan snatched the load of books away, tucked them under his own arm.
    â€œGive me those.”
    â€œI’ve got them. Terrific afternoon, huh? Nothing like the Valley in October.”
    She hated that his words mirrored the ones that had played through her mind. “I thought the name of the tune was ‘Autumn in New York.’ ”
    â€œAnd it’s a good one.” He tipped up the