Sunflower Lane Read Online Free

roommate who lived there. They were only going to be gone one night, so they arranged for the kids to stay overnight at friends’ houses that evening and during the day. But their commuter plane developed engine trouble. It went down over Saddleback Ridge. There weren’t any survivors.”
    Wes sat back and let out a breath.
    He’d bumped into Trish and Ron in Merck’s Hardware store the last time he’d been home. They’d both looked great—and happy. He hadn’t seen Ethan, but they’d had their twins in tow. The girls had barely been of school age, he remembered. Tiny little puffballs of femininity. Little more than toddlers.
    Ron had mentioned a friendly poker game coming up at Dave Harvey’s home that evening—Dave had been the halfback on the football team in high school and Wes had barely seen anyone from back then in a whole lotta years.
    “Stop by if you have time,” Ron had suggested. “There’ll be tubs of chilled beer. And pizza.”
    He’d been friendly. Like most everyone in Lonesome Way. But Wes hadn’t gone to Dave Harvey’s to play poker. He’d still been grieving back then. It was only two months since Cara had died, and he hadn’t been in the mood for games or laughs or jokes.
    Cara Matthews had been perhaps the toughest DEA agent he’d ever come across—not to mention his partner on more than a dozen cases. She’d actually been more than his partner. She’d been more to him than any other woman he’d ever met.
    Cara had been in her mid-thirties, lean, tough, beautiful in an edgy way. They worked well together. Hell, they did everything well together. And she’d saved his butt more times than he could count. He should have been there to save her. If he hadn’t been tied up in Sierra Leone when she was assigned to a case in Bolivia . . .
    His sister’s voice broke into memories filled with regret.
    “Why don’t I give Annabelle a call and run it by her? She’s been wanting to rent out that cabin for extra income. But it needs some repairs first and she hasn’t been able to afford them. I know the roof needs to be patched. And some kids threw rocks and broke a couple of windows last summer, but the cabin has heat and a stove and a bed—”
    “Now,
that
is an excellent idea.” Gran spoke in her take-charge tone. “Wes, the Harper cabin will be like a five-star country inn compared to what you’re used to—and it’s close by. I bet Annabelle would let you stay there for free, especially if you’re willing to do a little fixing up while you’re in town. She can’t afford to hire anyone. Sophie, why don’t you call her and let her know that Wes is in town and needs a place—”
    “Gran, I’m a big boy,” Wes interrupted before she had him signing a lease. He’d noticed his mother growing quiet during all the talk about Annabelle, and then he remembered why.
    Time to change the subject.
    “I’ll swing by Sunflower Lane and speak to Annabelle myself,” he said easily. “Meantime, fill me in on the Fourth of July parade stuff. I’m sure you’re still in the thick of all the planning for every community event, as usual.”
    “Of course I am, dear. But Sophie and Annabelle Harper happen to be working together on the entertainment committee this year. So if anyone can persuade Annabelle to let you stay in the cabin, it’s your sister.”
    Ava Louise Todd was not a woman easily distracted, especially when she set her mind to something. “I’d feel better if you’d let Sophie call her right now and make all the arrange—”
    “Gran,” Sophie broke in. “Wes has managed to return in one piece from all the hellish places he’s worked these past years, so I’m betting he can negotiate a place to stay with Annabelle Harper all on his own. Why don’t you let Doug help you into the living room while Mom and I clean up?”
    Their mother was already stacking an armload of plates onto the empty casserole platter.
    “I’m fine, Sophie. You all go and visit.” Diana