Leave It to Chance by Sherri Sand Read Free Book Online Page B

hot dogs onto Trevor’s plate.
    “Macaroni and cheese again?” Braden stared at his plate and made no move for his fork.
    “It has hot dogs.” Emory scooted her chair closer to the table.
    The phone rang, and Braden jumped up. “I’ll get it.” He reached for the phone, and Sierra’s hand gripped the serving spoon that hovered over her plate. A few cheesy elbow noodles dripped onto the dish.
    “Hello?” There was a pause and then his chin pulled in and his brow furrowed. “You want to buy Chance?” Clarity swept across his features, and furious brown eyes shot darts at her.
    Sierra took the phone he shoved at her before he pounded up the stairs. “Hello?”
    Pure delight lit Greg Adams’ voice. “We love him! Can I drop the payment by in an hour or so?”
    If Emory and Trevor weren’t looking at her like she’d just slaughtered their best friend, she would be doing cartwheels. “Certainly. That would be fine.”
    A few minutes later, Sierra heard a key in the front door and her mom breezed into the house with a singsong voice. “Who wants blackberry cob- bler?”
    Emory pushed back from the table and ran to her grandmother. “Someone bought Chance!”
    Shock and dismay rushed over Abbey’s features as she clutched the dessert dish. Then she marched toward the kitchen counter shaking her head with Em trailing behind.
    Sierra sighed. “Mom, just say it.”
    “I just don’t know how you can do this to them, after all they’ve been through.”
    “I’m being responsible. Ensuring they have some stability in their lives. Keeping them safe.”
    Abbey set the cobbler down and reached into the cupboard for plates. “It just keeps coming back to that Molly girl, doesn’t it? I should have gotten you into counseling.”
    Sierra started clearing the half-eaten macaroni from the table. “That has nothing to do with me selling Chance.” She pulled some storage containers from a drawer. “If I sell him, there’s no moving in with you and no uprooting the kids again.” She just wanted the day over. Mr. Flannery could get his money tomorrow and tell his poor grandson Ronnie that he’d have to live in the dorm, and she could keep looking for a job.
    Her mom jerked the silverware drawer open, grabbed a knife and started cutting into the golden biscuits covering the cobbler. “Keep the horse, Sierra. Just give it a few more days.”
    “I don’t have a few more days, Mom. I’m being evicted.”
    “I’ll pay for Chance’s expenses. I know the perfect—”
    “I already sold him, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Her mom just never stopped.
    Her mom served the cobbler in silence, her back stiff. Braden slunk downstairs and ate his piece, then returned to his room.
    After the dishes had been washed and the counter wiped—soap, then bleach—her mom kissed the kids, gave her a brief smile, and left.
    Sierra helped the kids get ready for bed earlier than normal. The Adamses would be there any minute, probably with their beaming daughter.
    Covers to his chin, Trevor reached up for a hug. “Can you read me a story?”
    She kissed him. “Not tonight, sweetie.”
    “Pray!” Trevor said.
    Sierra stifled a sigh. Her prayers had dried up to nearly nonexistent since the divorce, but she’d kept the routine for the older kids, and Trevor had adopted it too. “Keep Trevor safe, and help him to sleep well. Amen.”
    His eyes remained pinched shut. “And help us keep Chance. Amen.”
    Her heart broke at the innocent faith that, little by little, would be eroded by unanswered prayers until it would seem pointless to even ask.
    Braden stalled in Trevor’s doorway, both hands pressed against the frame. “Why do we have to go to bed now? It’s only seven forty-five.”
    Sierra flipped the light off. “We have a big day tomorrow.” Delivering a check to Mr. Flannery.
    Emory stood in her pajamas behind Braden. “Excuse me.”
    Braden didn’t move so Emory tried to squeeze past.
    He pressed his hip