Lights and Shadows (Oregon In Love) by Bonnie Blythe Read Free Book Online Page A

black
slacks, she brushed out her hair and headed over to the main house.
Julia found Sara at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal,
engrossed in a book on pregnancy and delivery.
    “I don’t think I’m going to make it through labor,” she
wailed when she saw Julia walk in the back door.
    Julia joined her at the table. “Sure you will. Just think of all
the millions of women before you who’ve gone through it.”
    “How comforting,” Sara said with a wry smile. She rested her chin
in her palm. “I plan to take any and every drug they’ll give me.”
    Julia smiled to conceal the unexpected sadness that descended upon
her. Sara’s quandary was something she was certain she’d never
experience. At one time, having a family had been her heart’s
desire. Now she had a career to take care of. It was enough. Right?
    “Are you okay?”
    She blinked and looked over at Sara. “I’m fine.”
    “You look a little pale this morning.”
    She shrugged. “I did wake up with a bit of a headache. I might have
caught a chill when I was
    with...uh, when it started to rain.”
    Sara grinned. “Let me hear you say it.”
    “You were right.” Her smile felt sincere this time. “I should
have taken an umbrella.”
    “So how did you like the city?”
    “ What I saw of it was interesting and very charming. I
wandered about on foot and then went to a huge bookstore called
Bibliophile’s. Have you heard of it?”
    “ I remember Marc telling us it’s one of the places
where his book will be sold. I guess he goes there quite a bit. Plus
his place is close to the Square. Wouldn't that be something if you
ran into him?”
    Julia laced her fingers together in her lap. She was
still a little annoyed that Sara had tried to set her up. Lying
through her teeth wasn’t an option, so she’d try to downplay the
truth. “Um, actually, I did happen to see him. We coincidentally ran into each other in a coffee shop.”
    Sara arched a brow. “There’s about a million people in the
greater Portland area and you’re telling me it was a coincidence?”
She tapped her fingers on the table. “There’s going to be a book
party for him Friday night. Think you’d be interested in going?
Brian and I wouldn’t miss it.”
    “I haven’t been invited,” Julia said, amazed at her
sister-in-law's tenacity.
    “Sure you have. Our invitation is for the ‘Farris family’.
You’re family.”
    Twisting the silver bracelet around her wrist, Julia looked down to
hide the flash of interest. “I’ll think about it.”
    “You do that.” Sara rose and put her empty cereal bowl in the
sink.
    “Is there anything I can do to help you today?” she asked, glad
Sara didn’t grill her on her time spent with Marc.
    “Yes, the cupboard knobs need polishing and I want the spices
alphabetized.”
    Julia hopped up from her chair.
    Sara put out her hand. “Sit down! I was only kidding! Honestly,
you’re a worse workaholic than your brother.”
    Swallowing a lump in her throat, Julia sank onto the chair. Why am
I acting so stupid?
    Her sister-in-law rejoined her at the table. “Are you sure you’re
feeling okay?”
    Straightening her shoulders, Julia resolved to get a grip on her
wayward emotions. “How’s the baby?” She noticed her voice
sounded a bit thick.
    Sara patted her belly. “He likes to wiggle a lot.”
    “He?”
    With a sheepish smile, she winked. “Or she.”
    “Do you have any names picked out?”
    Sara’s eyes sparkled as she leaned close. “Actually, I was
wondering if it would be all right if we named a girl after you. That
is, your middle name, Nicole. What do you think?”
    Her voice came out in a squeak. “Me?”
    “Oh! I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Sara grabbed for a
box of Kleenex on the counter and pushed a tissue into Julia’s
hands.
    Horrified at the moisture springing unbidden from her eyes, Julia
wondered why she seemed to cry at the littlest thing these days.
“I’m sorry.”
    Sara touched her