Laura Jo Phillips by Berta's Choice Read Free Book Online Page A

pointing out the fact that Berta thought all children were adorable.  “Although I must say, I think my sons are more adorable.”
    Berta laughed, turning back to the window to see Sergio Farnswaite struggle to the back of the car with his second load of luggage.  “When are you going to tell Jackson, Clark and Rob your news?”
    Hope gasped and Berta turned to look at her.  The expression of surprise on the other woman’s face made her smile.  “You didn’t know?”
    “No,” Hope said, her hands going to her flat stomach.  “I wondered yesterday, but it’s far too soon to know for sure.”
    “Well, I know for sure, and if you ask Jareth, I’m sure he’d be happy to confirm it for you.”
    “Yes, I think that I will,” Hope said, her turquoise eyes shining with happiness.  “Berta, how did you know?”
    “Remember that sweater I’ve been making for you?”
    “Yes, of course,” Hope said.
    “I finished it this morning.  As soon as it was done, I knew that...well, I just knew.”
    “Knew what?” Hope pressed.
    “Are you sure you want to know?” Berta asked, a smile playing around her lips.
    “Of course I want to know,” Hope replied.
    “Okay, I knew that you are pregnant with three little girls,” Berta said with a grin. 
    “Girls?” Hope asked.  “Really?  Are you sure?”
    “Positive,” Berta replied.  “You’re going to have your hands full with three boys toddling around and three baby girls, but you’ll be happy.”
    Hope smiled, picturing it in her mind.  She could hardly wait to tell the guys.  She frowned.  “What did the sweater you made have to do with it?”
    “When I finished the sweaters for Aisling and Karma, I suddenly knew things about them,” Berta said.  “It didn’t happen until I tied off the last stitch.  Then I had sort of a waking dream that lasted for just a few moments.  I thought they were just dreams, at first.  An old woman’s passing fancy.  It was hard to imagine that Aisling was really a warrior, and the Gryphons’ Arima.  I also saw Karma following her destiny on a different world, and finding her happiness there.  Now we know those things to be true.  When I finished your sweater this morning, I knew about your daughters.”
    “Didn’t you make a sweater for Lariah before you made mine?”
    “Yes, but hers was an experiment,” Berta said.  “I made Aisling, Karma and you sweaters that matched the colors of your eyes.  And I got visions, or whatever you want to call them, of each of you when I was finished.”
    “Lariah’s sweater was lavender, wasn’t it?” Hope asked.
    “Yes, and her eyes are green,” Berta said.  “I got no visions at all when I finished her sweater.”
    “That’s interesting,” Hope said.  “Also sort of scary.”
    “Yes, very,” Berta replied.  “That’s why it took me so long to finish your sweater.  I was afraid of seeing something bad.  Then I decided that if something bad was going to happen, it would be better to know about it in case there was a way to prevent it.”
    The rear door of the car opened and Sergio Farnswaite entered, slamming the door shut behind him.  He was huffing and puffing in a most annoying manner, but Berta wasn’t fooled.  He was trying to attract either sympathy, attention, or both.  She reached over and hit the button to raise the privacy window between the front and rear seats.
    Hope shook her head slightly, but she was smiling as she started the ground-car.  She drove slowly across the airfield, thinking of the things Berta had told her.  She couldn’t wait to tell the guys, but first she wanted to take Berta’s advice and ask Jareth to confirm it. 
    “Berta, now that Jareth has healed all signs of aging, have you thought about contacting the Falcorans?” Hope asked, finally giving in to her curiosity after weeks of holding her tongue.
    “I’ve considered it, yes,” Berta said, not ready to reveal that she considered it nearly every moment