Breaking News by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online

besides.”
    â€œLet’s forget I said it, then, okay? It’s not a nice word, any of it. And for the record, I heard it in a teen horror movie. One that Laura Leighton starred in.”
    â€œFigures,” Sophie said. “She’s the worst actress in Hollywood. I can’t believe they’re making another part of those stupid vampire flicks. Abby told me that she refused to cover anything even remotely connected to her or her movies. I think it has something to do with Chris.”
    â€œWhen did she tell you that?” Toots asked. Her daughter called her at least three times a week since they’d returned to Charleston. She’d never mentioned this to her, but Toots figured that just because she was her mother didn’t mean she told her everything. It was only fair that she saved a few tidbits for her three godmothers.
    â€œLast time I spoke with her. She didn’t say anything specific about Chris, but I could tell from the tone of her voice. She is so massively in love with him, I would bet you my last dollar that something major is about to happen between the two of them.”
    â€œOh, that would be lovely. Just think of the beautiful children they’ll have,” Mavis gushed. “I can’t wait to be a grand-godmother.”
    â€œIs there such a thing?” Ida asked.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. We’ll make it ‘such a thing,’ ” Toots said. “Is this a gut feeling you’re having or just godmother intuition?”
    â€œBoth,” Sophie said succinctly.
    Toots had high hopes that the two of them would acknowledge their feelings for one another. It had been quite obvious for the past two years. When they were in the same room together, the air around them was electric. You could practically feel the sensuous magnetism that passed between them. They’d had several dates, but Abby kept the details to herself. Chris wasn’t so reluctant. He’d hinted for the past several months that Abby meant much more to him than she knew. When authorities had cast him as a person of interest in Laura Leighton’s disappearance, Abby had been an emotional wreck, though she didn’t come right out and say so. Toots knew. When Chris and Laura were located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range during a blizzard, holed up on Mammoth Mountain, in a cabin owned by Joshua Kline, a friend of Chris’s, the relief on her daughter’s face when she learned Chris was safe, and that he was not romantically involved with the B-grade actress, was obvious.
    â€œLet’s keep this to ourselves for now. I wouldn’t want to spoil any good news they might share with us. When the time is right, it will happen. Until then, I’m content to let Abby run the paper while Chris looks out for her. Now”—Toots stood up—“Bernice, you and I have a date with your physical therapist. I’m going to run upstairs and change first. I’ll just be a few minutes.”
    â€œMy appointment is at noon, Toots. I really don’t want to arrive earlier than I have to. It’s not fun at all,” Bernice stated dryly.
    â€œShe wants to get to the hospital early so she can catch a glimpse of Dr. Pecker. . . . I mean Dr. Becker. Am I right, Tootsie?” Sophie teased.
    Toots couldn’t help but laugh. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling him that? And for the record, Bernice’s therapist called yesterday and said her day was open, and I could bring her in at any time I wanted. So there. Does that answer your question?”
    Sophie stood up and stretched, a sneaky grin on her face. “Sure. Bernice, whatever you do, keep her away from this good-looking doctor. She swore there would never be a husband number nine. If she continues to hang around that hospital, Dr. Becker and his pecker are in deep doo-doo.”
    â€œSophia Manchester, I ought to kick your skinny tail! I am not interested in Dr.