No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) Read Online Free Page A

more.”
    “Honey, I had no idea . I don’t want you to hurt. What can I do?” 
    “Nothing . It’s all up to me. I have to let the emotional baggage with Lee go. Then I can move on to better times. It’s too painful to remember.”  She ran a hand through her hair. “In my own defense, I must wish him well. Now, do you understand?”
    “Yes, I think I do . And you’re right, he isn’t worth hurting over.”  Nana sipped the wine. “I’m proud of you for the way you’ve handled what's happened to you. But, like I said, one day a good man will come into your life. He won’t care about your condition. He’ll love you for being you.”
    Grace frowned and shook her head . “I’ve given up on the idea of another man. I had a lot of time to think while I was in the rehab center. It’s just me. No one else. And that’s how it has to be.”  She set the glass on the coffee table. “I wouldn’t want to burden anyone with my physical problems. I still might end up in a wheelchair. I couldn’t put that responsibility on someone else.”  Grace focused blindly on the yellow-orange flames dancing high in the fireplace. A life alone. As much as she knew that was her future, she couldn’t escape the emptiness inside.
    “Honey, you can’t think that way . They said you'd never walk again. Now look at you. You've come so far. You’re a success story, an inspiration to other people who have this disease. You have to stay positive.”    
    “It’s okay . I am positive. I’m being realistic about my life. I’m thirty-six and have to face facts. I can’t work as a make-up artist anymore. My career is over.”  She sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but marriage is the last thing on my mind. I know I can’t be a normal wife—a man doesn’t want to tie himself to an invalid.”  She sighed.
    “Anyway, I can live my life without a man and I’ll find something else to do. ”  Grace had to say these things to convince herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want someone in her life. It was that physically she wasn’t good enough to keep them happy. Plus she was considered one hundred percent disabled—that wasn’t much to offer anyone.
    Nana sat on the sofa beside her and held her hands . Moisture shimmered in her warm brown eyes when she squeezed Grace’s fingers. “You know this will always be your home. You’ll never have to worry about a place to live.”  
    She gazed deep into Nana’s eyes and saw the unconditional love shining back . She couldn’t stay upset with her. “I know. Thank you...I...I love you.”  She lay down on the sofa, resting her head in Nana’s lap like she had as a child.
    Nana stroked a hand through Grace’s hair . “You’re bone tired and heart sick. You haven’t had time to adjust to what's happened to you.”  She continued caressing her hair. “Rest, child. You’ll find yourself.” 
    Grace knew Nana would help her make things right . She snuggled against Nana. For the first time in ages, she felt safe and loved. She finally relaxed and felt on the verge of falling asleep.
    “Sleep, baby, you’re plumb worn out physically and emotionally. ”  Nana sighed. “Love heals. One day soon, a good man will come into your life and he’ll help you put all this behind you.” 
    As Grace drifted off to sleep she thought she heard Nana murmur, “And I know just the man.”    

 
    C hapter Two
     
     
     
     
    A child’s laughter tugged Grace from a deep sleep . Must be dreaming . She rolled over and ploughed through the cobwebs in her brain. Gradually, she lifted an eyelid and squinted against the harsh morning light. Bright sun came through the lace curtains, creating squiggly designs across the bed. With a deep sigh, she pushed out from under the comforter’s warmth and the residue of last night’s pain pill. Innocent giggles came from the front of the house. She hadn’t imagined it. There was a child outside her bedroom window.
    With