A Journey by Chance by Sally John Read Free Book Online

much?
    She climbed the back steps and entered the air-conditioned kitchen where a group of women stood talking as they prepared food. Her mother’s voice rose above the others.
    â€œMarsha, you’re just not mean enough. You never have been. I’ll go with you to the florist’s. I’ll be the mean aunt and get this straightened out.”
    The others laughed, but Gina knew her mother was capable of zeroing in on a problem and fixing it, no matter how uncomfortable she might make others feel. It sounded as if they were in the middle of wedding details. Her question about what Brady had meant would have to wait.
    â€œGina!” Lauren’s sister Liz noticed her by the door. “Saw you out there with Brady.”
    Anne turned to her with a grin. “Isn’t he funny? He’ll keep you entertained during all the wedding brouhaha, that’s for sure.”
    Anne was married to Aunt Lottie’s grandson Alec. Gina liked this distant cousin-by-marriage. Anne and Alec Sutton’s wedding was one of those rare Valley Oaks memories she treasured. Anne was a down-to-earth, fun-loving, stay-at-home mom of three. Her dark hair and eyes hinted at her Native American heritage.
    Liz said, “If you want to give up your bridesmaid spot, I’ll walk with Brady. Even though he was years ahead of me in school, I always had the biggest crush on him.”
    â€œProbably still do,” Lauren teased.
    â€œWell, I realize I’m happily married and have a darling baby girl, but Brady Olafsson is still the best-looking guy in town.”
    â€œWe all know he’s the richest anyway.”
    There was laughter and Gina joined in. She doubted the statements were true, but it just felt good to be welcomed into the family. Even as the relative who had traveled the farthest and not visited in 13 years, she wasn’t treated as a stranger. For an only child with no family on her father’s side, it was a pleasant sensation. In spite of small-town nuisances like Brady Olafsson and everyone knowing everything, there was a distinct comfort in belonging.
    Now if she could only figure out how to get out of the bowling excursion.

Seven
    Gina hadn’t been inside a bowling alley since…probably not since she was 15 years old and visiting Valley Oaks.
    It hadn’t changed. Loud laughter, a continuous thumping of balls hitting the wooden lanes, and the crashing of pins echoed off the low ceiling. The scent of French fries mingled with stale air and damp shoe leather. Someone else’s shoes.
    Oooh. She wrinkled her nose, scooted around in the molded plastic chair, and stared at her bare feet in sandals. A clammy rented bowling shoe dangled from her hand.
    â€œHere, Gina.” Lauren sat down beside her and handed her a pair of white athletic socks. “I brought these for us.”
    â€œWhew, thanks! You’re a lifesaver.”
    â€œAre you any good?”
    â€œI doubt it. It’s been a long time.”
    â€œDid you meet everyone? Most of them are in the wedding. A few couldn’t make it, and a few brought spouses. We thought it’d be fun to divide the group in half for two teams. Since there are eight guys and eight gals, we can keep the couples together.”
    Gina leaned over to tie her shoe and mumbled, “Wouldn’t want to split up the couples.”
    She mingled with others, trying to learn the names. Brady seemed to keep his distance, making it easy for her to avoid the richest, most handsome guy in town. She smiled to herself.
    Lauren’s fiancé, Aaron, sought her out. They had met briefly at Aunt Lottie’s dinner, but because he arrived late, his time had been occupied with meeting all the relatives.
    She liked him. He obviously adored Lauren. Like his cousin Brady, he was tall with blue eyes and blond hair. The resemblance ended there. His mannerisms were gentle, an attentive doctor’s personality. He asked her intelligent questions