1. That's What Friends Are For by Annette Broadrick Read Free Book Online Page B

that almost frightened her. She didn't hke the emotional, out-of-control-person Brad seemed to bring forth in her with no apparent effort.
    What a lucky escape she'd had, discovering what an adverse effect Brad had on her.
    Later Gregory drove her home, walked her to the door and refused to come inside with her.
    "It's late, love, and I have a full day's work on my desk tomorrow before I can even leave for St. Louis."
    "Will I see you before you go?"
    "I really don't think so, although there's nothing I'd like more than to spend tomorrow with you. However, I don't see how I can possibly get away, not when I'm going to be gone for a week on our honeymoon."
    He leaned down and kissed her. Stepping back, he smiled and said, "If I don't stop that, I'll never get away from you tonight. Sleep well, my love." Gregory waited until she went inside and locked the door, then walked to his car. He glanced at the house next door.
    Penny had brushed his questions aside regarding Brad Crawford. But there was something there and Gregory knew it. He'd sensed Brad's carefully concealed emotions the night before and earlier this evening. His light, casual air had been very well done.
    Gregory hadn't been misled. He'd made a career studying human behavior. The man was in love with Penny.
    The question was, how did Penny feel about Brad? And how would her feelings for Brad affect her marriage to Gregory?
    Gregory drove back to town in deep thought.

Chapter 4

    P enny slept restlessly that night. Her dreams were all mixed up. There seemed to be two men wandering through them—one calm and filled with authority, the other laughing and teasing her.
    Scraps of conversation danced in her head. She heard Brad asking, "Come to New York with me... come with me... with me... me..."
    Gregory appeared. He paced before her as she sat at the witness stand. He kept demanding, over and over, "What is your relationship to this man?'' He would point to a cage in the corner of the room. When Penny looked inside the cage Brad sat there—a ten-year-old Brad with his baseball cap and ragged sneakers on.
    No matter what she tried to say, Gregory continued to ask, "What is your relationship to this man?"
    "Penny, you're going to be late for church if you don't get up soon, dear," Helen called through her closed door.
    Penny groaned and pulled her pillow over her head, trying to drown out her mother's voice and the bright sunlight that streamed through her window.
    What had happened to the night's rest she'd come to take for granted over the years? Penny felt as though she'd been up all night in some philosophical debate. Bits of her dreams came back to her, but they didn't make sense. Why would she have dreamed of a young Brad in a cage?
    She forced herself up, trying to get her eyelids to stay open. Having Brad home was having a definite effect on her. She wished she could understand it. For the past three years she had built a life for herself, on her own, without Brad's influence.
    Within a day of his return, she'd reverted to allowing him to influence her. Take yesterday, for example. They'd played in the park like a couple of kids. You enjoyed it, though, didn't you, the little voice inside of her said.
    Of course I enjoyed it.
    Then what are you complaining about?
    She really wasn't sure. There seemed something rather childish about enjoying herself, but she couldn't quite decide what it was.
    Penny wandered into her bathroom and turned on the shower. Her mother had been right. If she didn't hurry, she'd be late for church.
    By the time she was dressed and grabbed some toast and coffee. Penny was late for the church service. She waited outside the sanctuary doors until after the opening prayer, then slipped into the pew where her family generally sat.
    While she hastily thumbed through the hymnal for the first selection she glanced around her. Gregory had become a member of the church and, unless he was out of town, he usually attended Sunday services, but she