craftfield 01 - secrets untold by brooklyn shivers Read Free Book Online

messages. Pursing her lips, she tapped out a text and sent it to both of them.
    "Ready to go?" Amanda asked.
    She nodded.
    On the way to Amanda's loft, Lily stared out the window as the city shifted to suburbs and streets with oak, maple, and pine trees. Mozart's Magic Flute was twirling through the car's speakers. Her friend didn't press her to talk, and she appreciated it. The soup was making her feel sleepy and she felt drained, like someone had drugged her. 
    They parked and entered the loft. The scent of oranges and cleaner filled the air.
    "Do you need anything? I can ask my doctor to send a script of valium to help you sleep."
    "No thanks." She really wanted to give her mom one last hug. Had she before she left the shop? Had she even said goodbye? "I'll just crash for a bit."
    "Okay. Let me know if you need anything."
    She nodded, swallowing past the rawness in her throat. After trudging upstairs, she climbed onto the bed, tucking the extra pillow to her chest and holding onto it like it would keep her soul from spinning away into outer space. She let the tears flow then. Big drops hit the blanket until she finally fell asleep.

Chapter Eight
     
    The scent of coffee tickled Lily's nose, and she rolled over. The silk sheets twisted with her movements. Wait. She didn't have expensive bedding. Blinking, she fought the fog clouding her mind. Amanda's. Mom!
    Fresh tears clouded her vision and she squeezed her eyes shut, pushing down the blackness until it settled like a boulder pressing onto her chest. She tossed the cover aside and went into the guest bathroom. She let the shower’s water pour over her, lessening the tension building between her shoulder blades. Tears flowed freely. She’d never be able to hug her mom again or debate which flavor ice cream was the best. Or gorge on chocolate at the latest Sci-Fi movie with her mom. She was alone. Forever. How could she ever move forward again?
    An hour later, she pushed down her sadness and dressed in clothes Amanda had laid out on the bed for her and padded downstairs. Inhaling, she smelled pancakes and bacon cooking.
    “Morning.” Amanda flipped over a pancake. “Hungry?”
    “Not really. I’ll just have some juice or a coffee.”
    Her friend waved her spatula. “You will eat or I’ll strap you to a chair until you do.”
    Lily slid onto the bar stool and leaned her elbows on the counter. ”Fine, but no bacon. You burn it anyway.”
    “Bacon is supposed to be crispy. Not the flimsy pieces you like.” She turned back to the sizzling pan and lifted a pancake, adding it to a cooling stack. Then she handed Lily a glass of orange juice, a mug of steaming coffee, and a bottle of syrup. “How many do you want of each?”
    “One of each.” She wasn’t sure she could even eat that much.
    Amanda filled her order and pushed the full plate toward her. “Eat. Don’t make me say it again.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” She drizzled the maple over the food and took a tentative bite, unsure of how her stomach would react. Despite her stomach rumbling and the smell of the food, Lily barely tasted it. But with her friend checking her plate every few seconds, she forced the bites down.
    “Have you heard from your aunts?” Amanda heaped another stack of pancakes on her own plate.
    A sinking sensation hit Lily’s gut, like the ground was pulling away fast. She swallowed down her bite of food. “No. I need to borrow a charger for my cell.”
    “I’ve got a drawer of them under the cabinet.” She pointed with her fork.
    “Thanks. And for the food too.”
    “Any time.” Amanda stood and stretched. “But you can thank me by helping to clean the kitchen.”
    Lily laughed and the release of the tension swelling up inside her eased some. After they ate, they washed the dishes and Lily wiped off the counter. “What do you have planned today?” The idea of being alone with her thoughts bombarding her terrified her. She didn’t want to think any more. Or cry. She just wanted