Tumbledown Read Online Free Page A

barked excitedly, racing toward Alex, who let out a yelp of her own as thirty-five pounds of wet dog closed in on her.
    “Uh oh, are you gonna get arrested, miss?” Brad asked Sarah in a singsong voice.
    “I doubt it, but you never know.” She winked and steered him over to his mom, who thanked her before wrapping Brad in a thick towel and leading him back to their station wagon.
    With Tilly running rings around her, Alex stooped to collect Sarah’s towel. They met in the middle of the beach, and she draped the towel around Sarah, using it to pull her close, but the romantic gesture was ruined somewhat when Sarah hesitated, crinkling her nose.
    “Alex, what have I told you about rolling around in the drunk tank?”
    Alex grimaced. “It’s not me. I took a shower at the station. It’s the car.” It was only then that Sarah noticed all four of the car’s doors were wide open. “I’m trying to air it out.”
    “Barrel Charlie?” With one hand on Alex’s elbow, Sarah steered her upwind toward a sheltered spot close to the water.
    “Yup.”
    “Oh dear. Well, never mind. Got time for lunch?”
    Alex rustled a paper bag that had been concealed beneath the towel. “I’m all yours for the next hour.”
    Eyeing the familiar blue and white bag hungrily, Sarah wriggled into her shorts before sitting on the sand and pulling Alex down beside her. “If that’s from Barnaby’s, I’m all yours forever.”
    Alex laughed as she handed her a generous greaseproof package. “In which case, it’s a good thing you’re cute and I kinda like you,” she said, unwrapping her own roll.
    Despite being some distance from the coast, Barnaby’s had fresh Maine seafood delivered to its kitchen every morning. The diner was an Avery institution, its lobster and shrimp rolls selling out as fast as they could be prepared.
    Embedding her toes in the warm sand, Sarah took a huge bite of her roll, just as she remembered that she had something vital to tell Alex. Barely able to breathe, let alone speak, she nudged Alex’s shoulder to get her attention.
    Alex turned slightly and her mouth dropped open when she saw how little was left of Sarah’s lunch. “You skip breakfast?” she asked, gesturing at the scant remnants.
    Sarah held up a finger in apology as she finished chewing and swallowed. “No, I just worked up an appetite,” she said with a grin. She nudged Alex again. “Guess what came in the mail this morning.”
    Alex gave an exaggerated sigh. “Don’t tell me Bandit’s been ordering Cat Snax catalogs again.”
    “Nope, although I wouldn’t put it past the thieving little bugger.” The envelope was in the pocket of Sarah’s shorts, and it took a fair amount of contortion to reach it.
    Alex’s eyes widened when she saw the postmark. “Oh hell, that was quick.” She toyed with the seal as she studied Sarah’s face. “I’m guessing from your smile that it’s good news.”
    Sarah nodded, suddenly feeling a little shy. “Yeah, it’s good news,” she said quietly. She nibbled what remained of her roll as Alex read the letter.
    “Holy shit!”
    That was all the warning Sarah had before Alex grabbed her in a hug and covered her face in mayo-flavored kisses. The enthusiasm was so heartfelt that Sarah forgot all about her innate awkwardness when it came to accepting praise.
    “Did all right, didn’t I?”
    “You did more than all right.” Alex looked aghast. “Ninety-six percent is more than all right. God.” She used her thumb to wipe mayo from Sarah’s cheek. “Why do you always sell yourself short?”
    Sarah chewed thoughtfully as she considered the question. “Maybe it’s because I don’t want to get my hopes up,” she ventured at length. She watched Alex’s posture sag as if someone had slapped all the joy out of her, and she immediately regretted having raised the issue.
    “I’m sure we’ll hear something soon,” Alex said.
    No matter how settled they were in Avery and how happy they were in