Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark Read Free Book Online

continuing quest to land some new gigs. She could actually feel the enthusiasm and affection that her fans had for her as they supported and consoled her. They believed in her even when she herself had doubts.
    Since posting the picture of the first wedding cake she’d made for A Little Rain Must Fall star Glenna Brooks’s marriage on Christmas Eve, and after some of the specifics about the part Piper had played in the capture of another Little Rain star’s murderer appeared in the press, Piper’s Facebook-friend base had grown even larger. She had started to share some of her mother’s recipes from The Icing on the Cupcake, the family bakery. That, too, had received a warm welcome, and recently Piper had created an Icing on the Cupcake fan page on Facebook. On both pages Piper took pains to point out that it was her mother who ran the bakery and that Piper was taking on wedding-cake assignments only between acting jobs.
    She had just returned from Los Angeles, where last month she’d completed her second wedding cake. The initial contract for a large cake had ended up being substantially downsized when the bride and groom decided they wanted a small and very private ceremony instead of the one they had previously planned. A big wedding seemed inappropriate when death had come to people surrounding the bride.
    While Piper was in the City of Angels, her agent, Gabe Leonard, had sent her on an audition for a dog-food commercial. Though she was sure she’d blown the callback audition, she had amazingly gotten the part. Getting that part had been a much-needed morale booster. If it ran often enough, the commercial would also be a welcome boost to her bank account. Her financial situation was embarrassing.
    Deciding she would accept Brad O’Hara as a friend on Facebook because he was an actual friend of Kathy and Dan’s, Piper clicked on Brad’s profile picture, instantly enlarging it as his Facebook page came up on the screen. Brad had chosen to post a Fabio-type picture of himself. Suntanned, shirt off, hair tousled as he gazed confidently into the camera.
    Piper squinted to get a closer look. Nothing covered the tattoo on his forearm. A woman’s face was drawn in dark, indelible ink. Tears fell from the woman’s eyes.

Chapter 14
    A t the last minute, Roz Golubock had called Nora to decline the dinner-party invitation. She was just too tired. Instead she would eat at home by herself.
    After supper Roz carefully wrapped the barely touched chicken and stowed it in the refrigerator. She loaded the dishwasher with a single plate, glass, fork, knife, and spoon. She hand-washed the pots that had held the uneaten brown rice and brussels sprouts. Finally, scrubbing the white sink until it sparkled, Roz looked forward to the next day.
    Tuesdays she went to the Women’s Exchange, where she worked as a volunteer. People consigned or donated their furniture, ceramics, glassware, china, artwork, books, and clothing, which were pounced on by bargain hunters. Profits went to supporting the arts in the form of grants and scholarship programs. To Roz it was a win-win-win. She got to be around beautiful and interesting things, socialize with nice people, and raise money for wonderful causes. She loved it.
    Switching off the light in her tiny kitchen, Roz thought she might watch some television before heading up to bed. Though she was very tired, she dreaded climbing the dark stairs by herself. For the last several nights, she’d been restless. Usually a sound sleeper, she kept waking up, listening for any noise.
    Before she drew the drapes in the living room, Roz looked out the sliding glass door at the Gulf of Mexico. Lightning zigzagged through the sky. She thought of Sam whenever there was a storm. They used to sit together out on the lanai and wonder at the jagged electric bolts that shattered the darkness. Even when there was no rain or wind onshore, there could be lightning shows out over the Gulf. Tonight, though, there were