The Ripple Effect Read Online Free Page A

was a small, fragile girl with clear pale skin and reddish blonde hair. “Like gold,” he’d said. “She was beautiful.”
    Since he’d decided to use his fortnight’s holiday and pursue this quest, he’d never dreamt of such rapid success. He still had four days left. The question was what should he do? Should he ring first or should he go and have a look at the house and see what sort of place it was? Maybe he’d catch a glimpse of the girl. But she may not live at home. Unlikely at her age. She could be anywhere. Anywhere in the world for that matter. His spirits, previously soaring, nosedived.
    Shay sipped the wine and placed the glass on the table by the phone book. If he didn’t contact them he could speculate all he liked and get absolutely nowhere.
    Phoning was probably best but they could easily hang up on him. He hadn’t done this the legit way after all and they’d be within their rights to be angry. But how would they know that?
    Claire wasn’t a child any more. He and his sister had rights too. They’d been separated with no say in the matter.
    Appearing at the door might prove too much of a shock. He knew nothing about them, about their state of health. But, he was a doctor. If one of them had a heart attack he’d be right on hand to save them. Shay laughed softly to himself and shook his head.
    The correct thing to do was write to them and wait for a reply. What if they didn’t reply? How could he wait a second longer with the information staring him in the face. Telephone. Eight-thirty wasn’t too late at night.
    His stomach churned. The red wine sloshed and gurgled. His fingers shook as he grasped the phone in a clammy palm. He took a deep breath and peered at the number, which wavered and blurred on the page, exhaled, blinked, shook his head and tried again.
    “Courage.” he ordered himself. “The worst they can do is hang up.”
    He dialled and barely heard the ringing over the thud of his heart.

Chapter 2
    Joelle started, glanced up and frowned in annoyance when the new bell over the door clanged. That thing was far too loud. Customers got the fright of their lives every time they opened the door. She could see it on their faces—pure shock as though two saucepan lids had crashed together and were about to land on their head. Someone would keel over soon. The woman who’d just left nearly dropped her bunch of roses.
    “We’ll have to change that darn bell,” she muttered to Viv who, back turned, was elbow deep in the greenery ordered for the Lanzini wedding. Joelle frowned.
    “Have they sent the right amount? It looks like an awful lot.” So much that Viv had had to bring two buckets through from the back room because they were overflowing out there.
    “It’s fine. Remember she wants lot of greens on the tables to reflect the bridesmaids’ dresses.” Viv turned and dried her hands on a paper towel. “No accounting for taste but the Lily of the Valley will go well with it. Tracey’s almost made those up.”
    “Okay. I’ll leave it to you but I’ll need Tracey as soon as I’ve got that last order ready for the hospital.” Joelle grinned at Viv. “These darned customers keep interrupting.”
    “Nuisances. Don’t they realise we’ve got work to do?” Viv’s bulky body disappeared through the bead curtain screening the workroom from the shop.
    Still smiling Joelle reached for the order book to check the requirement for the bouquet she was about to assemble. The man hadn’t had much of a clue what he wanted.
    “She loves carnations—pink ones,” he’d said. “Can you do something nice with that? Something cheerful. But add in a few other things as well.”
    Joelle loved carnations too. She loved flowers and she loved arranging them. The myriad colours and delicate shapes, the individuality of plants, their leaves, stems, buds and flowers fascinated her. Especially the incredibly delicate work of the Japanese and Chinese artists whose arrangements transcended the