Only Through Love: A Cane River Romance Novella Read Online Free

mystery now.
She doesn’t talk much, hardly smiles. I can’t tell what’s going on in her
head.”
                “I
think I know what you mean.” He worked with a lot of kids at the juvenile
justice center like that. They kept everything close to the vest. Some acted
that way out of fear, others because they wanted the upper hand in every
conversation. Some were perfect little con artists who spent all their time
trying to sniff out your weaknesses. If he were better at his job, he’d be able
to tell them apart.
                “Charlotte
Bronte said the human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence
sealed.” Alice glanced at him. “I don’t want you to think I have to know
everything in her head. Not at all. It’s just so out of character for her to
keep her thoughts to herself.” 
                “She
hasn’t said anything at all?”
                “She
did, finally. Just today.”  Her voice was muted, solemn. “She’s not going back
to school.”
                He
leaned against the counter. “Did she flunk out?”
                “I
don’t think so. I mean, I’m not sure. She’s real smart and has never struggled
at all.”
                “But
sometimes smart kids have school problems, too.” He was quoting directly from a
pamphlet at the center.
                “Maybe
so. But it seemed more than that. Like broken heart.”
                “Ending
a dating relationship can be as traumatic as a divorce.” That was straight from
Romantic Loss, chapter five of his senior year’s psychology book on Grief and
Coping.
                “But
she seems like she needs money, too, which is odd.” She shot him a look. “I’m
not gossiping. I’m just trying to figure out what’s happened, and since you
have all that experience…”
                He
skipped over her compliment. “You’re a good friend. She’s lucky to have you.”
                 “I
just can’t figure it out. Sometimes I think it’s money but I know she has a
college fund because I offered to pay her tuition. I didn’t want her to go into
debt.” She was speaking to herself now.
                “Very
kind of you,” he murmured. A lot of the time, people could arrive at the right
conclusion on their own. They just needed a listening ear, which was good for
him because he didn’t know the answers.
                “I
thought it was because this spring her parents moved to Florida to be close to
her grandparents, who are getting frail.” Alice patted Aurora’s little bottom while
she talked. “She didn’t seem upset about it at all last year. She seemed ready
to be out on her own.”
                “Senior
year can be a time fraught with change and some people dig in their heels, not
wanting to let go of their life as a student. They’ll miss their friends and
their social lives.”
                “No,
it really seems like something awful happened and she’s hiding it. Even at
church, she’s so different. She always sat with us, but now she usually comes a
little late and sits way in the back.” She glared at the desk, as if it were
personally responsible for the changes in Charlie’s personality. “Oh, never
mind. I’m just talking myself in circles. I’m sure she’ll come around
eventually and share whatever happened.” She looked up. “You’re right. It’s
probably nothing.”
                Austin
wanted to point out that he’d never said it was nothing, but he nodded, as
usual. Someone had once told him he had a gift for listening. That person had
been wrong. He had a gift for not knowing quite what to say.
                “Look
at me! Such manners. You come into my store and I talk your ear off.” Alice
shifted the baby around and suddenly Aurora’s dark little eyes peered up at
him. “Did you need anything