New Growth (Spook Hills Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

hold this woman with her
troublesome husband and make her life better.   Even though he condoned divorce, he interpreted a marriage commitment as
sacrosanct for the duration of the marital vows.  
    “Susannah should perceive you as a beau ideal or a role model, as well as her mother.   You can and should follow your dreams as long
as you remain committed to Susannah and you make your time with her
special.”  
    Callie’s eyes glistened in the softening light.   She shivered a little, even though the
evening retained the warmth of the day.   Mathew put an arm around her as they turned to meander back down the
hill to the house.   Having her lissome
body snuggled against him created stirrings in his heart and in his groin.   He forced himself to suppress the arousal
caused by her closeness.
    “I’m here for you as a friend, Callie.   Amicus
est tanquam alter idem .”
    “A friend is almost another self,” Callie said, translating
for him.   “You like Latin, don’t you?”
    “Latin is the root of many English words,” Mathew said, “and
I find words fascinating.   I like the way
certain words sound and how my tongue forms them.   I enjoy discovering their
derivations.   Our language is so rich that neglecting words saddens me.”   He paused to open the front door for Callie
but before she could enter the house, the corgis burst inside the way they did,
with a triumphant sense of their significance at any gathering.  
    Enjoyable revelry enhanced their dinner when Mathew opened
three masked bottles of local wine and challenged each person to ascertain the
winery and vintage.   After Rick botched identifying one of his award-winning wines , the meal collapsed in a disarray of
hilarity.  
    Over dessert Ivy and Steve described their adventures in
Norway and then they put on Norwegian music, performing a folk dance learned on
their travels.   A big couple for dancing, Steve towered over everyone at 6’5” with
a solid build.   Ivy stood a graceful six
feet with a curvy figure.   Like Steve, she kept herself trim and in shape. They
ending their dancing by falling into each other’s arms merry with laughter when
they collided during a twirl.
    Mathew found himself fondly watching Callie as his friends
danced and wondered if she ever had opportunities to be as light-hearted as Ivy
this evening.   What that gentle woman
suffered and might still go through with John Henry, he shuddered to
imagine.  
    His dream persisted for finding an intelligent, caring
person to grow with him.   He wanted
intimacy interwoven with love.   Even
though she remained with her husband, Callie reached a little-touched place in
his heart.   Free of John Henry, Callie
could blossom into the fuller woman buried inside of her.   Even if she left him, how long would she need
to heal from the intimidation and verbal abuse of her narcissistic
husband?  

 
 
    On Monday Cruze
woke with a start.   The sun moved high in
the sky, flooding his little house with bright light.   Y esterday
was a worrisome day, and he only found
sleep towards dawn.   For the first time
in his life, his twin brother did not contact him on their birthday.   They were born forty-four years before as
Cristo and Cruze Fuentes.   
    As the first-born Cristo had arrived about fifteen minutes
ahead of him and from that moment, he
became the leader.   Ever since Cruze
remembered, Cristo greeted him on their birthday with a celebratory
salutation.   Yesterday his cell did not ring.   Once his brothers had bought Cruze out of their drug business and
related ventures, they had agreed on no interactions between them until Cristo
and Eduardo found a way to exit what they called Fuentes Enterprises.   Cristo had insisted upon one exception – that
he might still wish his twin brother a happy birthday.   Cruze made sure to charge his phone, and he warmly anticipated his brother’s call.  
    Back when he wanted to
begin a new life, Cristo had grown