Double Identity by Diane Burke Read Free Book Online

from her lips. The questions had to be asked. But did he have to ask them right now?
    He felt her eyes on him, studying him, choosing her words before answering. “My dad’s an artist. He hand carves furniture, animal lawn ornaments, unique wooden birdhouses, all sorts of things. He’d travel across the country from one craft fair to another selling his wares.”
    “You traveled with him?”
    She blinked with surprise and then grinned. “Of course. I literally grew up on the craft circuit. We’d frequent many of the larger annual fairs. After a couple of years, it was like a family reunion meeting up again with the friends we knew from the years before.”
    Cain took the box from her hands and studied the intricate design carved into the lid. “This is beautiful.”
    Sophie beamed with pride. “Thank you.”
    He handed it back. “What about school?”
    “I was homeschooled. Dad used to say I’d get more of an education touring the United States than I would ever get in an overcrowded classroom.”
    Cain digested the information and wondered if he should take a chance and push for more. Treading as carefully as he could, he asked, “Have you always traveled with your dad? I understand you had to when you were a kid. But you’re not a kid anymore, Sophie. Did you ever want to do something else? Something on your own, maybe?”
    Sophie shrugged. “Sure. Doesn’t every teenager long for the day they can leave home and set out on their own? I wasn’t any different.”
    Cain gave her a questioning look but remained silent.
    “Around my eighteenth birthday, my dad got sick. We thought he’d had a heart attack but it was just a really bad respiratory infection causing muscle spasms in his chest. But it scared me silly. Dad had never been sick before. I realized not only was he the only family I had, I was the only family he had, too. It had been the two of us for so many years and if I left—”
    She stared off into space, lost in thoughts of long ago.
    “I couldn’t leave. He needed me. Besides, I did do something on my own.” Her smile widened and it lit up her face. “I became an artist myself.”
    “Wood carving?” Cain couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.
    Sophie shook her head. “No. When I was little, I used to try and make things out of mud pies. Dad sensed I had a drop of creativity of my own. He surprised me with clay and a small kiln.”
    “You sculpt?”
    Sophie nodded. “Don’t look so surprised.”
    “I’m not…I mean, I am but…”
    “Remind me to show you some of my work. Maybe I’ll even let you try it sometime. There’s something awesome about feeling a slab of clay ooze through your fingers. Kneading it. Molding it into something unique and beautiful.”
    Unique and beautiful.
    His thoughts exactly as he stared into her upturned face.
    “Sometimes I think God gifts the sculptor with just a tiny bit of insight into what it must have been like for Him when He created us out of dust,” Sophie said.
    “I thought you didn’t believe in God.” Cain grinned at her.
    “I believe in God. I’m just not on speaking terms with Him right now.”
    “Really? Do you think that’s wise? Who shut the door? You or Him?”
    Sophie chewed on her lower lip and lowered her head.
    Not wanting her to slip back into a morose mood, Cain gripped her elbow and steered her toward the kitchen. “C’mon, let me help you clean up this mess. Find me a broom and I’ll sweep up. But don’t you dare tell Holly I had anything to do with housework. She’s been after me for years to clean up after myself at the house, and I’ll never hear the end of it if she learns I actually know how to use a broom.”
    Cain followed Sophie from room to room as she surveyed the damage to her home and belongings. Her shoulders sagged and each step seemed difficult for her. But she didn’t cry anymore.
    Thank you, Lord, for small favors. You know how a woman’s tears make me feel so helpless. And that leads to