Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma Read Online Free Page A

her words settled in. “Forty.”
    “Rena, you just turned thirty-eight last month. You speak as if your days on earth are drawing to a close.”
    She paused before saying something she might regret. Truly, if she stayed here—if she remained captive in this overly spacious home in this well-to-do part of town—she might as well see her days come to an end. How could she state such a thing without hurting her brother’s feelings? And what would he say once he heard that she’d already written to the sheriff, offering her services?
    Her brother gave her a sympathetic smile, as if she were a small child in need of a lecture. “Your best days are ahead.”
    As Rena pondered his words, a gripping sensation took hold of her heart. Until this very moment, she’d never contemplated the fact that her best days might be in the future. More often than not, she found herself wondering if any of her tomorrows would be better than her yesterdays.
    Suddenly her emotions got the better of her. “You have no idea what it feels like.” As she turned away from him, Rena shifted her focus to a vase on the mantel of the fireplace and willed the tears not to come.
    “What what feels like?” Reuben stood and took a couple of steps in her direction.
    She refused to look his way; he would worry once he saw the moisture in her eyes. “Knowing that tomorrow will be exactly like today. And yesterday. And all the yesterdays before that.” Her words came out sounding jagged. Cracked.
    “Whatever do you mean?”
    Rena pivoted on her heels and looked him squarely in the eyes, not caring whether he noticed her tears. “You will never understand what it feels like to know that people see you as superfluous.”
    “Superfluous?” He shook his head, clearly confused.
    “Don’t you see?” she whispered. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m the old spinster aunt no one knows what to do with.” Her tears came in earnest now.
    “Spinster aunt?” He raked his fingers through his thinning salt-and-pepper hair and eased his way into his chair. “You speak as if your life is lacking in some way. You’re family, Rena. We’ve never treated you as an outcast or in any way less because of your marital status.”
    “Of course not.” She drew in a deep breath and fought to find the words. “The problem is all mine. I take both the credit and the shame. I’ve settled into my life here, and I’ve enjoyed most of it.”
    “Most of it?”
    “Yes. Reuben, I can’t help but feel…” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I can’t help but feel there’s more for me out there.” Her gaze shifted to the floor. “God has bigger plans for me.”
    “But you give of yourself on behalf of the needy right here in Gulfport. God is already at work in fulfilling His plan for your life. There’s no greater cause than the poor and needy.”
    “Needy. Hmph.” She did her best not to roll her eyes. “I darn socks for the folks at the missions house, yes. And I’ve knitted gloves and scarves for the homeless. Not that our winters are severe enough for them to see much use. What I’m trying to tell you is that I feel a tug on my heart to do more. And this orphanage…”
    “What do you know of young children?”
    “Did I not help you raise Sadie?”
    “Of course. But she’s an only child.” Reuben rummaged through the mail, finally locating the letter, which he picked up. He traced a few lines with his index finger. “Sheriff Wyatt says that there are more than a dozen children at this orphanage. And you’ve no experience with children like this, from difficult environments. Likely some have deep wounds, heavy spiritual needs.”
    “Exactly.” She squared her shoulders. “Which is precisely why I feel led to go.”
    “Did you read the entire letter? Why do you suppose an orphanage would require someone skilled in the art of negotiation? My guess is that it’s because the children are problematic.”
    “They’re in need of love, as all children