Triple Love Score Read Online Free Page B

warm played out in full high definition and Dolby sound. The sweeping views of the frozen world and James Earl Jones’ heartfelt commentary swallowed Miranda whole; mesmerized, the scene held her transfixed.
    “Hello,” said a voice that was clearly not her father’s.
    Miranda looked down. A short girl about six or seven with a chin-length brown bob sat on the chair, a bottle of Coke balanced between her knees. Her eyes were the most stunning shade of green. “Who are you?” the little girl asked.
    “Hello,” Miranda said. “I’m Miranda. I live here. Well,used to. My parents live here.”
    “I’m Lynn. They said you were coming soon.”
    The screen changed to a scene where a polar bar is beaten back by a walrus. Lynn and Miranda turned in unison to stare at the screen. When the polar bear finally stalked off, leaving the walrus pups unharmed, they turned back to each other. “Is my dad around?” Miranda asked.
    “Yeah, he’s outside with my dad. Golf.”
    “Oh, golf. Your dad likes golf, too?”
    “Just started. Right now he says he is trying to find his Zen with the clubs and just enjoys the walk. I think that means he sucks.”
    Miranda smiled at this girl, liking her spark. “I just can’t get the hang of it. Does your mom golf, too?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “She hasn’t tried yet?”
    “No, I don’t know. I don’t know her that well. She isn’t around.”
    “Oh,” Miranda said, the sting of her own childhood hitting her. “I can understand that. My mom passed away when I was twelve.” She regretted saying this immediately. But before she could take it back, the girl spoke.
    “I’m sorry,” Lynn said. “That’s really bad. My mom isn’t dead, though. Almost though I think, but I’m not supposed to know that.”
    “Oh, oh—” Miranda said. She remembered the limbo of her mother’s illness and how hard they tried to hide it at first; her heart ached for this cute button of a girl.
    “No, it’s okay. I just don’t know how you say it. It’s not like I don’t know who she is. It’s more like she doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t come around. It’s just me and my dad.”
    “Oh,” Miranda said, desperately wanting some other adult to stop this conversation. “Does your dad work with my dad?”
    “I don’t think so. He said Grandma and Grandpa Cramer wanted us to come here. Something about family friends from way back.”
    “Cramers? Your grandparents are the Cramers?”
    “Yup, me, too. Lynn Louise Cramer.”
    “Louise was my mother’s name. Your grandmother was my mom’s best friend.”
    “Oh,” Lynn said, shooting a glance toward the door. Miranda could tell that now Lynn clearly wanted someone to jump in on this conversation, too.
    They both heard the back door close and the stamping of feet to warm up.
    Stanton’s voice boomed out. “I’m just going upstairs to check on Avery and see when Miranda is due.”
    “Sure, sure,” the other man said. “I’ll go watch more nature with Lynn.”
    The light from the rest of the house framed him as he entered the darkened den.
    “Scott,” she said, pulling herself up straighter.
    “Hey,” he said. “They said you would be here later.”
    “It’s been a long time,” she said. She made a sweeping gesture with her hands to encompass the whole of the room. Lynn didn’t notice; she turned back to her video. Butterflies migrated and filled the screen. A soft music to echo what their wings would sound like filled the room.
    Miranda hopped up the two stairs to exit the den, but Scott still stood in the doorway. She moved to the left to get past him, just as he moved to his right. They collided. She could smell his cologne, still Old Spice of all things. Neither moved for a very long minute.
    “Ah,” he gasped. “I can explain.”
    “Explain, really? I don’t think that is even possible,” she said, ducking under his arm.
    Grabbing her bag from the hallway, she took the stairs to the second floor two at a