Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11 Read Online Free

mom and I went to look for dresses after we found the paper —”
    “ Dresses! Really ? ”
    “ I found the dress. I have to order it now if it ’ ll be here in time .”
    She could hear the grin in his voice as he said, “ Order it .”
    “ Cheri. She should be here. She should give her opinion .”
    “ Call her .”
    Relief flooded Willow ’ s voice. “ I ’ m really glad you said that because your mother is calling her as we speak .”
    “ Y ou know me too well already. I should be afraid .”
    “ I just got a thumbs - up from your mom. I think that means Cheri ’ s coming .”
    “ I wish I could be there .”
    “ I ’ ll bring a picture home, ” she promised.
    “ I ’ ll be waiting for it .”
    Silence hung between them for a few minutes. “ Hey , Willow? ”
    “ Yes? ”
    “ Are you in your dressing room? ”
    She thought she knew what was coming next. “ Yep .”
    “ Can you take a picture of your reflection in the mirror and send it? ”
    “ I can do better than that. I ’ ll get your mom to take one .”
    “ Don ’ t, ” he protested. “ She won ’ t understand .”
    For several minutes, Willow tried to get a picture of the dress but failed to get a good one. “ Well, that ’ s the best I can do. Your mom ’ s calling. I need to go .”
    “ Bye .” Chad clicked open the picture and smiled. “ I can ’ t wait to see it in person, ” he murmured to himself.
     

     
     
    Steven Solari ’ s pocket buzzed. He glanced at the name on the phone and answered . “ Yes .”
    “ I thought you would want to know ; there ’ s a party going on in a bridal boutique on Oakland .”
    “ Bridal? ”
    “ I got a picture. I ’ m sending it .”
    The picture on the screen alarmed him. “ Who ’ s the one holding the sides? ”
    “ Kari .”
    “ What! ” Blood rushed to Solari ’ s temples as he drew rapid breaths.
    “ The owner of that store. Don ’ t know her last name but she ’ s Kari something .”
    “ Why is she trying on wedding dresses? ” Solari swore. “ That cop! It ’ s gotta be that cop .”
    Tyler didn ’ t like the sound of Solari ’ s voice. “ What do I do? ”
    “ Nothing. Make sure she gets home ok , and see if she buys it or if she ’ s just looking for something else for that ball. This has color on it so maybe —”
    “ Yes sir .”
    Steve stared at the phone in his hands. Tyler had disconnected the call before he could hear any more. Steve grinned. Tyler knew that to stay in Steve ’ s good graces he had to follow orders and hear nothing he wasn ’ t intended to hear.

Chapter Seventy- Seven
     
     
    Friday Willow awoke to a house all to herself again and enough work to keep her busy for weeks. She hadn ’ t felt so wonderful in ages. Seedlings sprouted in the greenhouse, chicks grew in the barn, and invitations blossomed under her fingertips.
    Several hours into her day ’ s work, she pulled out her mother ’ s journals to make sure she hadn ’ t missed anything during her week of company. Her mother ’ s February lists were now incomplete with the work in the greenhouse , and she ’ d missed the hallway scrubbing but otherwise, she was almost caught up and it felt good. By Monday, she ’ d be on track again.
    Chad found her upstairs hanging clothes in the hallway just before lunch. She stood in the middle, pulling the lines through the pulleys as she hung her sheets, towels, skirts, jeans, and personal items. “ Hey, grab some pins and go to work! ”
    Without thinking, he reached into her apron pocket, pulled out a handful of clothespins, and then stared at them for a minute. Had it really only been a few months since he ’ d helped her bring in her clothes and felt too awkward to put her clothespins in her apron? “ So, what ’ s on today ’ s agenda? ”
    “ I thought I ’ d finish hanging these , and while they dr y , I’ll take a walk upstream. It ’ s always so pretty this time of year , and I haven ’ t had a chance with