Sweet Laurel Falls Read Online Free Page A

number several times, but had always hung up.
    She had been a link to a place and a past he had chosen to
leave behind, and he’d ultimately decided it was in both their best interests if
he tried to move on and gave her the chance to do the same.
    That she had been pregnant and alone had never once occurred to
him. Lord, he’d been an idiot.
    Everything was so damn tangled, he didn’t know what to do—which
was the whole reason he had agreed to give Sage a ride back to Hope’s Crossing
to talk to Maura before he flew back to San Francisco.
    “Look, we’re all a little emotional about this tonight. I
didn’t realize you were unaware I was bringing Sage back to town.”
    That little tidbit also appeared to be news to Maura. “You rode
here with him?” she asked her daughter. “Is something wrong with the Honda?”
    “It hasn’t been starting the last week or so. I think it just
needs a new battery, but I figured I could drive the pickup while I was home and
catch a ride back to school with one of my friends after the break. I can deal
with the Honda before school starts next semester.”
    “You should have called me. I could have driven to Boulder to
pick you up.”
    “Sorry, Mom. My car troubles just didn’t seem all that
important in light of…everything else.”
    “I guess that’s understandable.” Maura forced a smile, but he
could clearly see the bone-deep weariness beneath it. What had happened to the
vibrant, alive girl who’d always made him laugh, even when they were both
dealing with family chaos and pain?
    “So what now?” she asked. Though she looked at her daughter, he
picked up the subtext of the question, directed at him. What else are you planning to do to screw up my life?
    “I think you should get back to your book club Christmas party
for now. I’m really sorry we interrupted it.”
    “Between Ruth and Claire and your grandmother, I’m sure
everything will be fine,” Maura assured her.
    Much to his astonished dismay, tears filled Sage’s eyes. “But I
know how much you always look forward to the party and the fun you have throwing
it for your friends. It’s always the highlight of your Christmas. If anything,
you needed it more than ever this year, and now I’ve ruined everything for
you.”
    Maura gave him a harsh look, as if this rapid-fire emotional
outburst were his fault, then she stepped forward to
wrap Sage in her arms.
    “It’s only a party,” she said. “No big deal. They can all carry
on just fine without me. And if you want the truth, I almost canceled it this
year. I haven’t really been in the mood for Christmas.”
    This information only seemed to make Sage sniffle harder, and
he watched helplessly while Maura comforted her. Judging by the mood swings and
the emotional outbursts, apparently he had a hell of a lot to learn about having
a nineteen-year-old daughter.
    “You’re exhausted, honey. I’m sure you’ve been studying hard
for finals.”
    “I haven’t been able to sleep much since the lecture,” she
admitted, resting her darker head on her mother’s shoulder. He had a feeling the
bond between them would survive the secret Maura had never told her daughter. As
he saw the two of them together, something sharp and achy twisted in his
gut.
    He had an almost-grown daughter he suddenly felt responsible
for, and he had no idea what he was supposed to do about it.
    “Why don’t you take my car home and go back to the house to get
some rest,” Maura said. “I’ll catch a ride with your grandmother or with Claire.
We can talk more in the morning when we’re both rested and…more calm.”
    “I’ll take her home,” Jack offered quietly.
    “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want to put you to any more trouble.
You’ve done enough by bringing her all this way from Boulder. I’m sure you need
to get back to…wherever you came from.”
    In a rush to send him on his way, was she? “Actually, I’m
planning to stay in town a few days.”
    “Why?” she