Last Dance Read Online Free

everyone of that unpleasant time.”
    “I’ll stay out of her way.”
    “I’m afraid that won’t be enough.”
    My stomach clenched. “What do you mean?”
    “If you love your sisters, make sure they have a happy birthday.”
    “How?” I asked icily.
    She met my gaze squarely. “Don’t come to their party.”

I couldn’t talk about Mom’s request, not even to Nona. My heart ached too much, and talking about it wouldn’t solve anything. Besides, Mom was right. Although I’d never met Leanna, she would recognize me as the “freak” who predicted her brother’s death. I’d warned him not to drive on prom night, but he’d just laughed about it with his pals. Only no one was laughing when he died in a fiery crash. Instead they pointed fingers of blame at me, as if knowing made me guilty.
    And I loved my sisters too much to ruin their birthday.
    How am I going to tell them I can’t go to their party? I thought, blinking back tears. Say I have a date? Fake a contagious illness? Or just blow them off like I don’t care? Lying is horrible, I hate it! But what other choice do I have? My lie will be like a secret birthday gift to my sisters, so they can keep believing Mom is perfect and I’m the screw up.
    It was so hard, wanting to do the right thing yet not sure what would hurt my sisters more. Finally, I made what seemed like the hardest decision of my life. Before I chickened out, I went to my computer, logged online, then typed a short email:
    Amy and Ashley,
    Something came up and I can’t make your party. Sorry.
    Happy birthday. Love Sabine.
    Then I hit “Send.”
    After that, I kept too busy for thinking, feeling, hurting. Since Nona wouldn’t let me back in her office, I tackled housework. Then I stayed up past midnight embroidering a pillowcase with delicate pink roses. The next morning, after washing and folding four loads of laundry, I shrugged into my jacket and went outside to gather eggs.
    A sliver of sunshine broke through the gray sky, then disappeared behind puffy white clouds. The ground was damp with dew and fallen leaves crinkled under my boots. I tightened my jacket, rubbing my chilled hands together.
    The basket was nearly full with brown speckled eggs when I heard a motor rumble and saw Dominic by the barn starting up his truck. His secondhand Ford had some dents, but was dependable. Dominic had proven himself dependable too. He’d helped me out of a few tough situations, and I was learning to trust him. Still we weren’t exactly friends, more like reluctant allies.
    Penny-Love practically drooled over Dominic, flirting outrageously when he was around. He was good-looking, I guess, if you went for the surly, mysterious type. But I didn’t. I’d already found the perfect guy. Josh was tall, athletic, and so considerate he volunteered regularly at hospitals. How could I not fall for someone who made sick kids laugh by pulling stuffed rabbits out of bedpans? Josh embraced humanity, while Dominic avoided people, preferring to work outdoors with animals.
    “Hey, wait!” I called to Dominic, setting my basket on the porch as I rushed over to his open truck window. “We need to talk about Nona.”
    “When I get back,” Dominic said briskly.
    “How long will that be?”
    “Don’t know.” He had an irritating habit of speaking in short sentences—when he bothered to speak at all.
    “You’re planning on being gone awhile or you wouldn’t have packed.” I pointed to the worn brown suitcase on his passenger seat. “Where are you going?”
    “Astoria.”
    “Oregon? But that’s over five hundred miles away.” I narrowed my gaze. “Does this have something to do with Nona’s remedy book?”
    He shrugged. “Depends.”
    “Depends on what?”
    “If I find it.”
    “We’re supposed to work together. You can’t just leave without telling me anything. And who will take care of the livestock while you’re gone?”
    “It’s been arranged.”
    His calm tone infuriated me.