Chasing Sunsets by Eva Marie Everson Read Free Book Online Page A

you remember Eliana?”
    “Of course I do.” I smiled at the thought of the housekeeper and her raven-haired daughter. “Remember when Rosa and I pretended we were sisters as though there wasn’t a difference to be found?”
    Dad’s eyes met mine. “There wasn’t. I always taught you girls never to look down on anyone because of their station in life.”
    “And we haven’t. Well, maybe not all of us . . .”
    Dad grimaced. “Jayme-Leigh. If that girl weren’t so smart and such a good doctor, I’d swear she wasn’t mine.” He chuckled as though only to himself.
    I smiled at him. “So, back to Eliana.”
    “She passed away recently.”
    “Oh, Dad. I didn’t know . . .”
    “Rosa called. Her mother still went to the property every week to clean it—did you know that?”
    “No.”
    “I’ve paid her year-round whether we were there or not. A house has a way of getting dusty and moldy when its owner isn’t around.”
    I forced a smile. “So then? Why do you want me to leave mine?”
    “I need to hire someone else now. I want you to take care of it for me.”
    I blinked. “But you and Anise go for part of the summer. Why not do it then?”
    “There are some things I need to take care of here before I can go.”
    “What kind of things?”
    “Work related, Kimberly. Not for you to worry about.”
    “If they are work related, why not let Jayme-Leigh take care of them?”
    He shook his head. “These are things I have to handle, Kim.” He placed his hands on his hips. “Look, sweetheart. I need you to do this for me, okay?” He sighed. “I’ve always been able to rely on you, haven’t I?”
    “Of course but . . .” I put my fists on my hips. “This really has nothing to do with Eliana, does it? It has more to do with getting me to Cedar Key. Away from here.”
    “Let’s face it, Boo. Remember last year when the boys spent part of their summer with Charlie? You were like a caged animal. You drove us all a little crazy and yourself even more.”
    That much was true.
    “And it’s only going to be worse this year,” he said.
    “And you think that by doing this little thing for you—finding a replacement for Eliana—I won’t worry about my sons?”
    Dad shook his head. “Oh no. You’ll still worry, but . . .” He winked at me. “Have you forgotten the magic of Cedar Key?”
    I took several deep breaths, thought about the question, and answered it honestly within my own heart before answering my father. “Yes, Dad. I have.” I looked at my sandaled feet, wiggled my toes. “But I haven’t forgotten that summer. Have you?”
    “No, Boo. I haven’t forgotten. But maybe it’s time to build some new memories.” When I didn’t answer, he added, “If the house goes too long without someone to keep it up, no telling what it’ll look like by the time Anise and I get there in July.” He sighed for added drama.
    “It won’t be that bad.” We stared at each other until my resolve broke. “Okay, Dad. I’ll go to Cedar Key; I’ll find a replacement for Eliana. But then I’m coming straight home.”
    Dad chuckled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and steered me toward the door and dinner. “Promise me one thing, Boo.”
    “What’s that?”
    “That if you want to stay, you will.”
    I stopped long enough to kiss his cheek. “I promise, Dad. But I won’t want to stay, so don’t be disappointed.”
    Dad smiled. “We’ll see. Like I said, there’s magic along the marshes of Cedar Key. You just need to be reminded.”

5
    On the way home I told the boys we’d spend the next day doing anything they wanted. I’d barely gotten the words out of my mouth before they yelled, “Wet ’n Wild!”
    I groaned. “Wouldn’t you guys rather stay home? Sleep late? Go to the pool and read a good book?”
    “Oh, come on, Mom,” Chase said from the backseat. “You know you love Wet ’n Wild. You love anything that has to do with water.”
    I smiled. “It’s true.”
    I