Celebration by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

sounding defensive.
    â€œAn old Virginia farmhouse. It must have tons of character. Did you bake cookies and streusel?”
    â€œOf course,” Kristine fibbed. She didn’t even have any flour. How could she bake?
    â€œHow are the kids?”
    â€œTesty. They don’t like it here. They haven’t made really good friends yet. Their educations are too advanced for the school system here. The twins could really have skipped this last year and gone straight to their sophomore year at college. The paperwork was mind-boggling. Logan did some of it back in August. but I can’t find it. The kids are upset over that, too. I think they all sleep through their classes. There is a possibility Logan can get them registered for the next semester if he can come up with the paperwork.”
    Sadie asked, her voice sharp and blunt, “Why are you waiting for Logan? That’s a mother’s job.”
    â€œGoddamn it, Sadie, I’ve been waiting for Logan. I unpacked everything, and there is no box with college papers or anything else. I can’t pull it out of thin air, can I?”
    â€œYou always said your family was your top priority, Kris. I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong here. You sound to me like you’re teetering on the edge. The Kristine Kelly I’ve known for fifteen years is not an insecure twit. The kids must know what Logan did on their behalf. You said Mike was going to VMI and Cala was going to Georgetown. Start there. Call the damn schools, for God’s sake.”
    â€œIt’s Christmas recess right now. I’ll do it the first of the year.” It wasn’t an admission that Logan wasn’t coming back. It truly wasn’t.
    â€œI’ve never heard you like this,” Sadie said. “What’s really bothering you?”
    Kristine sighed. “The not knowing. If Logan called and said he couldn’t make it home until Easter, that would be fine. I could handle that. It’s the not knowing, the worry. What it something did happen, Sadie?”
    â€œIf something happened, you would have heard by now. When he does get home, I’d kick his butt all the way to the state line. That’s if he was my husband. My suggestion to you is shift into neutral, have some intense dialogue with the kids, call the colleges. At least leave your name. I’m sure there’s a skeleton staff in Admissions to take down your information. Then go Christmas shopping. You need to be a good little soldier and . . .”
    â€œI’m going to hang up now, Sadie, before I say something I’ll regret later on. It was nice talking to you. Say hello to Jim. Have a wonderful holiday.”
    Kristine broke the connection so she wouldn’t have to hear her friend’s reply. What did Sadie know? Everyone in the whole world knew Sadie Meyers never had a serious thought in her entire life.
    Kick back, shift into neutral, relax. Easy to say. Not easy to do. It was just that she loved Logan so much. Sometimes in her secret thoughts she realized her love was sickly obsessive. If something happened to Logan, she wouldn’t be able to go on. She would want to die, too. Life without Logan was unthinkable.
    She needed to do something, and she needed to do it now before she fell apart. She was a whirlwind then as she raced about the old farmhouse, dragging out her sewing machine, rummaging in the packing boxes for material. The old treadle Almost smoking, she whipped up new curtains, seat cushions, and place mats. She used up another thirty minutes ironing everything and hanging the curtains, then carried bundles of evergreens into the house to make arrangements, wreaths, and, finally, the centerpiece for the kitchen table. Her hands covered with the pungent resin, Kris stood back to survey her efforts. Next she carried the huge clay pots with their bright red bows and fragrant evergreens all over the house. In a matter of minutes the scent from the greens