One Day in Apple Grove Read Online Free Page A

voice had her looking over her shoulder at the F1. She had made a huge mistake that could have ended badly. Desperately trying not to think of another car, another accident that ended with her mother lying in a hospital bed, she wrapped her arms around her waist, determined to focus on the trill of songbirds and the cloudless spring sky. She succeeded until Bob called her name.
    She drew in a deep breath and turned around. She hoped the repair wouldn’t cut too deeply into her savings, but had no idea how much it would cost to special order paint. Maybe they wouldn’t have to repaint the whole door, but what she knew about removing paint would fill a thimble.
    “Your dad agreed it would be best to fix it right away. Can’t take a chance that the metal will rust.”
    Before she could ask if she was supposed to walk to Mr. Weatherbee’s farm, Bob added, “Grace is coming to pick you up. Your dad said you could drop her at the shop and drive the car until the truck’s finished.”
    “Is my dad—”
    “He’s in the middle of a nasty plumbing repair—his words—so he’ll stop by on his way back through town.” She nodded and Bob added, “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of his baby and fix her right up.”
    “I’ll let you get started.” She walked over to the truck and grabbed her toolbox. “I’ll start walking back to town and meet Grace halfway.”
    He nodded, but his attention was already focused on the pickup.
    Birds swooped low in the field, keeping her company as she trudged toward town.
    Grace must have left the moment their father called. Caitlin waved to get her sister’s attention. Her sister slowed down and Cait got in. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
    Grace nodded and drove toward Bob’s.
    “Why aren’t you going back to town?”
    Grace was frowning as she pulled into the parking lot, waved to Bob, and signaled. “I am,” her sister told her. “What I’m not going to do is pull a U-turn in the middle of the road. Besides, I imagine the supplies you came back to get for Mr. Weatherbee’s barn are still in the truck.”
    “It must be tough,” Caitlin grumbled.
    “What?”
    “Being the perfect little sister,” Cait added.
    Grace’s hands tightened on the wheel, but she didn’t say anything.
    Caitlin was grateful that the ride back to town was a short one. When her sister pulled up out front and parked, Grace tossed Cait the keys without a word, slamming the driver’s side door and then the front door to the shop.
    Wonder how long she’ll be giving me the silent treatment this time.
    ***
    A few hours later, she packed up her tools, highly satisfied with the way the rebuild of Mr. Weatherbee’s barn turned out. She was just finishing loading up the car when her favorite customer came walking toward her with a bit of metal and glass dangling from his hand.
    “Thought you might like to hang this one with the others.”
    Cait’s heart turned over when she saw the lovely wind chime he held out to her. “It’s so beautiful.” Her eyes lit up as she reached for the intricate twist of copper, silver, and green sea glass. “I love it!”
    The wizened old man’s face wrinkled up as he smiled, and she gave in to the urge and wrapped her arms around his neck before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
    “Well now,” he said, patting her back and clearing his throat. “I’d say Joe Mulcahy raised three wonderful young women who aren’t afraid to work with their hands—or get dirty.”
    “He’d be pleased to hear it,” she said, thinking about this morning.
    “Don’t you fret about that F1, Caitlin.” Her gaze shot up to his, and from the look on his face, he knew the whole sorry story. His words confirmed it. “The hardest lessons are often the only ones we take to heart.” With a nudge to her shoulders, he urged her toward her car. “I’m sure Grace has a full schedule for you. Best be getting to it.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Weatherbee.”
    “Drive safely, you hear?”
    “Yes,