A Week From Sunday by Dorothy Garlock Read Free Book Online Page B

someday.” Quinn walked over to the dresser and ran his fingers over the embroidered scarf that lay on it. “She liked to make pretty things.” He hushed abruptly, wondering why he was telling her this.
    “It’s truly a beautiful piece of work,” Adrianna said, and she meant each word.
    “Since she left us,” Quinn said, “I’ve tried to keep the room the way she would. You’ll see the rest of the house is not very well kept. Lola isn’t much of a housekeeper, but she watches over Jesse. I’ve not the time to do much with the rest of the house, but this room is different. I keep the door closed, and Lola knows not to mess it up.”
    “How long has your mother been gone?” Adrianna asked hesitantly.
    “Five years.” His eyes avoided hers. “Some days it seems like it’s been forever, while on others it seem like it just happened.”
    “I understand how you feel. I lost my mother ten years ago and my father a few weeks ago.”
    “No brothers or sisters?”
    “No. I was the only one.” Adrianna’s heart beat loudly in her chest. She stood silently and stared into his gray eyes.
    Quinn looked away. “Lola should have supper on the table in a few minutes. Come on down when you’re ready.”
    After he left, Adrianna went to the window and looked down at the street.
What in the world am I doing here in the home of this strange man?
There was something about him that made her uneasy. She was sure that Lola, the housekeeper, didn’t like her. She would have to be careful not to step on her toes. Quinn would have to tell her exactly what he wanted her to do to earn her room and board.
    She heard voices coming from downstairs and wondered if Quinn Baxter ever talked in a quiet tone. Although his voice was loud, it was not unkind, and she figured he was talking to his younger brother. Well . . . she wouldn’t be here long. She could call the bank and get the money to pay him, but she was sure Richard would find out and come for her. She’d do that as a last resort.
    Adrianna ran her comb through her hair and, on sudden impulse, touched her lips with her Tangee lipstick. With a handkerchief, she blotted some of it off thinking about the bright red Lola was wearing. Her estimation of Quinn had slid down a notch after she met the housekeeper; surely he could have hired someone a little bit more refined to keep his house.
    Dr. Bordeaux had told her about Jesse’s accident. She tried to imagine how difficult it would be at that age to be unable to go to school with other kids. The doctor said that after the accident, Quinn had taken his brother to doctors in Jackson, Mississippi. They had told them there was nothing they could do for him, but they had given him a schedule of exercises that would help. Dr. Bordeaux said Quinn was busy and the housekeeper had been negligent about seeing that the boy did them.
    Adrianna took one last look in the mirror and went down the stairs. As she stood hesitantly, not knowing if she should go to the kitchen or not, Quinn came out into the hall.
    “Annie,” he called. “Come meet Jesse.”
    “My name’s not Annie,” she retorted as she passed him to enter the room. Her eyes focused on the young man on the bed. He was propped up against the headboard. In her peripheral vision, she saw a chair with large wheels that sat in the corner of the room. Books and magazines were scattered on the floor, along with a dirty plate and glass.
    “Jesse,” Quinn said in a quiet voice that Adrianna had never heard him use before. “This is Miss Moore. Her name is Adrianna, but I think we can call her Annie.” He grinned when he saw the frown come over Adrianna’s face. “She’s the one who slid into me on that damn curve at Baker’s Corner. I swear that corner is jinxed.”
    Adrianna stepped closer to the bed and held out her hand. “Hello, Jesse. I see you like to read.”
    “Yeah. What else can a cripple do?” He ignored her hand.
    “Now, Jesse,” Quinn said, but the boy