For Her Honor by Elayne Disano Read Free Book Online

news and the maids beginning their routine room cleaning outside. They helped drown out her thoughts, but were not loud enough to erase the shame she felt for something she hadn’t done. Even Preston was a distant memory while he spent the next several years in an Ohio prison. She may not have embezzled one dime, but her relationship and engagement to someone who had was scandal enough for those within the tight circle her parents and sister traveled in.
    It was almost ten , and Karen saw no reason to move. The Do Not Disturb sign was on the door, so she could have lain here as long as she wanted, even though she should have gotten her ass up and done something. It was probably going to be another scorcher, so she soaked up as much of the room A/C she was paying for. There was a coffeemaker and a mini fridge in the room, so she decided to get up and make a pot. Once it brewed, she fixed herself a cup, then got back in bed and searched for the remote. No sooner had she settled than her cell phone rang. It was a blocked number. Suspicious, Karen answered. “Hello?”
    “Karen?”
    “Yes?”
    “Hi, it’s Eva Lawson. We met in Clarks. I own the card shop in town.”
    Karen sat up and put her coffee on the night table. “Yes. Hi, Eva. What’s up?”
    “Do you have time to swing by today so we can talk more?”
    Okay, so Karen wouldn’t have to keep her ass in bed all day. “Absolutely. What time?”
    “Ho w about one? I’m not at the store today, so it’ll be at my home office. I’ll give you the address.”
    Karen scrambled for her purse to yank out her day planner. Flipping to a page, she slid the pencil out and wrote down the address. “Got it. Thanks.”
    “ I’ll see you then.”
    ~~~***~~~
    It was the most charming house Karen had ever seen.
    The pretty, little Victorian came into view as she pulled onto the street and counted the house numbers. Eva’s was on her mailbox, which was almost an exact replica of the house. Parking her Focus on the street, she got out and looked around the neighborhood. It was pretty empty since it was midday, when most people were at work, nor were there any children enjoying the last bit of summer. The surroundings were peaceful and serene, the July heat washing a thin haze over the clear, sunny sky. It was a far cry from city living, where everything was constant movement and noise. The only sounds were that of birds and passing cars.
    And a chainsaw.
    The revving seemed to be coming from the direction of Eva’s back yard. Karen approached the front walkway, noticing a maroon Jeep in the driveway and a motorcycle parked adjacent to it. She immediately thought of that mysterious biker, but remembered that Eva’s husband was one himself. She knocked instead of ringing the doorbell, and it was answered immediately. “Karen, hi. Come on in.”
    Eva Lawson had to be the lov eliest pregnant woman on the planet. Unlike those reality show housewives who caked on the makeup, false eyelashes, sky high heels and a spandex mini to show off their baby bump, Eva looked as if the last thing she did was fuss. Her blue eyes negated the need for any other makeup while her dark hair was piled loosely on top of her head. She wore a pair of silver hoop earrings, a pale peach strapless maxi dress and tan flip-flops. A silver charm bracelet hung from her wrist. She looked effortlessly put together, yet fresh and stylish for working at home. “Thanks. Your house is so charming.”
    Ev a smiled, a hand casually rubbing her baby bump. “I’ll give you a quick tour before you leave. You, um….want something to drink? I have water, iced tea…..”
    “Iced tea is fine.”
    Eva walked away while Karen looked aro und. Old houses had lots of character and were reflective of the people who live in them. She wondered about this Eva and her ‘big biker’ – and hoped the woman would see Karen’s own character and not the person internally struggling with the recent uprising in her life.
    “Here