Love Comes Home Read Online Free Page A

one when he gets home,” Mike said.
    “Maybe,” Kate said. “The guys at work think there’ll be a rush on new cars. That they’re sure to sell lots of car dealer ads.”
    “Everybody wants new everything,” Evie put in. “We’ve had to do without so long. It’s wonderful having silk stockings again.” Evie lifted the hem of her skirt to admire her stockings.
    “Yes, indeed.” Mike eyed her legs a minute, then looked back at the car. “Can I drive? I haven’t been behind the wheel since the Germans captured me.”
    Kate handed him the key and crawled in the backseat. She’d hoped they could talk on the long drive to Rosey Corner. She had a million questions about the war, but once out on the open road, Mike rolled down his window and asked Evie to do the same. He must have forgotten how Evie hated her hair blowing in her face. Kate expected her to tell him that, but instead she cranked down the window without a word.
    The wind whipping through the windows made talking all but impossible. Mike didn’t seem to care as he mashed down on the accelerator. Kate grabbed the armrest on the door and bit her lip to keep from telling him to slow down. They made it to Rosey Corner in record time.
    When they pulled into the yard, Tori came out the door with Samantha riding on her hip. Kate blew out a breath of relief when she saw Tori smiling. Ever since Sammy died, Tori dissolved into tears over everything. She had a right, but Kate hadn’t wanted tears to spoil Mike’s homecoming. Kate’s relief was short-lived. Instead of Tori breaking down, Mike climbed up the porch steps, took one look at Samantha, and tears started coursing down his cheeks.
    Kate had never seen Mike cry, but his tears shouldn’t have surprised her. Samantha, with her daddy’s red hair and freckles, had to make Mike remember Sammy, a kid he watched grow up in the church. It didn’t matter that Sammy had been gone over a year now. For Mike, it had to be like just showing up at the funeral.
    Beside Mike, Evie looked bewildered, with tears brimming in her eyes too, whether for Sammy or Mike or herself, Kate couldn’t be sure. Tears came easy to Evie. And to Tori too. But then Tori did the unexpected. She didn’t cry as she handed Samantha to Mike. The child had seen so many tears in her two years that she wasn’t a bit bothered by Mike’s. She was more interested in the shiny buttons on his jacket.
    “Button.” She touched the button and flashed such a smile at Mike that he laughed.
    He held Samantha closer. “Yes, indeed. Button.” He rubbed his cheeks on his shoulders to wipe away his tears. “I can see you’ve inherited the Merritt girls’ charm.”
    “Mike!” Lorena’s long legs flashed as she raced across the yard, home from school, and practically leaped up the porch steps.
    He stared at her. “Lorena?”
    Kate had to smile at the look on his face. Lorena wasn’t the little girl he’d last seen. Kate couldn’t wait until Jay got home to see how his little “sister” had grown up. She’d sent him pictures, but pictures didn’t do Lorena justice.
    “Lonie.” Samantha held her hands out toward Lorena.
    Lorena’s smile slid off her face as she took Samantha. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying? Has somebody else died?” She looked from Mike to Kate. “I don’t want anybody else to die.”
    “A man can shed a few tears when he comes home and meets his niece for the first time, can’t he?” Mike swiped the last of his tears off his cheeks. “If you really are Lorena Birdsong, come here and give me a hug.”
    “It’s me.” Lorena’s smile exploded back across her face. She handed Samantha to Tori and threw her arms around Mike. “Maybe I should ask if it’s really you, Mike Champion.”
    “In the flesh.” Mike pushed Lorena back to look her up and down. No tears now. “I can’t believe how tall you are.” He glanced around at the others. “I can believe how good it feels to be here on this front