Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter Read Free Book Online

with anything?” Hope said to Michael. He crossed his arms across his chest and shrugged. She looked at Austin. “What about my father?” She could barely get the question out and her voice cracked.
    â€œYou can call your grandmother if you’d like,” Austin said. “Or just about anybody in Leavenworth. They’ll tell you I am who I say I am.”
    â€œWhat about my father?” Hope asked again. “Is he with her?”
    Michael stepped in front of her as if trying to block out the sight of Austin. “Don’t get worked up. This guy could be lying.”
    â€œI don’t know anything about your father,” Austin said. “But Yvette does. She won’t share the details with me, so you’ll have to ask her yourself.”
    â€œHave you talked to Joy or Faith yet?”
    â€œNo, you’re the first.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYvette thought as the middle child you’d be most likely to persuade the other two.”
    â€œShe was wrong,” Hope said. “They never listen to me.” They’d flat out rejected her again. But would they reject an invitation from their estranged grandmother? Could Hope be getting her Christmas wish after all? From the back room came a very long and very loud howl.
    Hope looked at Austin. He held eye contact. The dog continued to howl. “Is my grandmother allergic to dogs?” she asked.
    â€œNo,” Austin said. “I don’t think so.”
    The dog howled again. Hope smiled. “Good. Put me down for a plus one.”
    A smile crept over Austin’s face, the kind of smile that made a girl almost swoon. “You got it,” he said.
    â€œBut we have tickets to Hawaii,” Michael said.
    â€œYou have tickets to Hawaii,” Hope said.
    Michael stared at her. Then pointed at her. Then shifted his weight. Then shook his head as if shaking her off. “We’re done,” he said. “Completely over.”
    Oh, thank God. “Peace on earth,” Hope said, and flashed him a smile. He narrowed his eyes, then turned and walked out the door, out of her life. She wished him well and mentally tossed him a fishing pole.

CHAPTER 6
    â€œYou can’t seriously tell me you’re getting into a truck with a total stranger and that slobbery beast and taking off for Leavenworth instead of coming to Hawaii with me?” So much for getting rid of him that easy. Michael cut her off just as she was about to climb into the passenger side of Austin’s red pickup. The beast was already in the truck along with Austin.
    â€œI’ve taken precautions,” Hope said. She’d taken a picture of his driver’s license and had posted it on all her social media sites in case he was a serial killer. Austin didn’t put up an argument. Most serial killers probably would. She’d also called Yvette Garland and confirmed Austin was her neighbor and she had sent him. It was probably the shortest conversation of her life, and Hope now had more questions than ever. She had to meet this woman, she had to find out what happened to her father.
    â€œIf you do this, we’re over,” Michael said.
    â€œYou already ended it ten minutes ago,” Hope pointed out.
    â€œI was hurt. I’m giving you a second chance.”
    â€œNo thank you,” Hope said.
    â€œI mean it. We’re done.”
    â€œI understand.” She wasn’t smiling, was she? She would have to be careful not to show her relief.
    Michael shifted, thoroughly flummoxed. “I’m just trying to get through to you.”
    â€œShe’s my grandmother.”
    â€œWho abandoned you.”
    â€œMy father abandoned me. I can’t blame that on her.”
    â€œYou’re being manipulated.”
    â€œI’m going to Leavenworth to meet my grandmother.”
    â€œIf you make it there alive,” Michael said.
    â€œIf he says or does anything weird, I’ll ditch