A Life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine Read Free Book Online Page B

just a
few months ago, when they’d been here for a barbecue.  He turned the picture
face down and returned his focus to the computer screen.
    Sometimes
it’s completely out of our control.
    Leah
shifted and made herself more comfortable snuggled up with TJ in their
king-sized bed.  He absently stroked her arm as he stared sightlessly at the
ceiling.  She opened her mouth, hesitated, then resolutely closed her eyes.
    And
sometimes it’s a conscious decision, to throw away everything known and safe
and secure, and face the new day knowing only one thing:  today will be
different from yesterday.
    Manny
stood in her empty, freshly painted living room and turned in a slow circle as
she admired their hard work.  She made a conscious effort to breathe calmly
before, with a final deep breath, she turned off the lights and left the room.
     

Episode 2
Day 1
    Manny
finished pinning her mousy hair into her habitual bun and scowled at her
shapeless sweats and t-shirt.  She wasn’t a clotheshorse by any stretch of the
imagination, but she had to admit she couldn’t wait to start replenishing her wardrobe. 
For now, all she could do was shake her head.  She grabbed her duffel bag and
backpack and headed to the living room.  She’d just placed her bag on the
living room floor when the doorbell rang.
    “I’ll
get it!” Daisy called and hurried to the door.
    Manny’s
stomach curled with nerves as she finished stuffing her laptop into her
backpack then glanced at Daisy and Zeke as they walked into the room.
    “Ready?”
Zeke asked, rubbing his hands together.  He looked attractively scruffy with
his tousled black hair and five o’clock shadow and for a split second Manny
wondered if Rebecca was right, and she’d lost her mind.
    Chickening
out?
    She
glanced at Harvey then met Zeke’s eyes.  She frowned slightly at his
half-amused, half-expectant expression.  She suddenly realized he was convinced
she was about to tell him she’d decided to stay.
    ...never.
    Good
girl.
    She
put her hands on her hips and glanced around.  “I think I’ve covered
everything.  Daisy, you have enough money to pay the bills until Rebecca sells
the house...”  She glanced back at Zeke and nodded.  “Yeah.  Yeah, I’m ready.”
    Zeke
smiled and nodded back.  “So where are we going first?”
    Manny
reached into her backpack and pulled out a small zip-lock bag filled with
folded slips of paper. 
    “You
can have the honour of deciding,” she said as she opened the bag and held it
out to him.
    Zeke
stared, eyebrows raised.  “What the hell is this?”
    “Our
itinerary.  Well, mine anyway.  If there are any places you’d like to see we
can just add them in.”  She shook the baggie invitingly.  “Pick one.”
    Zeke
stared at her in stunned disbelief.  “Are you nuts ?” he exclaimed.  “We
could be criss-crossing the continent a hundred times!”
    Manny
nodded with a bright smile.  “Exactly.  Pick one.”
    Zeke
looked at Daisy who only shrugged helplessly.
    “Don’t
look at me,” she said.  “I don’t know where the hell this idea came from.”
    Zeke
shook his head, but his lips quirked into a reluctant smile.  He reached into
the baggie and pulled out one of the pieces of paper.  He unfolded it and said,
“‘San Francisco/San Jose – we have to see the Winchester House.’”
    “Oh,
awesome!” Daisy said. “I wish I could go with you to that one!”
    “Too
bad you can’t get away,” Manny said wistfully.
    “Yeah,
well, Hub would throw a fit,” she said drily.  “He had a fit when I told him I
was coming over this morning to see you on your way.”
    Daisy
and Manny exchanged a silent look that spoke volumes.  Zeke raised an intrigued
eyebrow but said nothing.
    “But
you’ll join us sometimes?” Manny asked a little wistfully.
    Daisy
nodded.  “Whenever I can.  Wherever I can.  And if you need me – I’ll be
there.”
    Manny’s
eyes filled with tears.  “I know,” she said, and