Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury Read Free Book Online

dabbed a blob of ketchup off the corner of his mouth. “Yeah. We do.”
    “It’s active, that’s for sure.” Beth didn’t want to push, but since Molly asked . . .
    Bill lifted his hamburger bun and slipped a few potato chips on top of the cooked meat. “I was on their Web site last night. They have a summer adventure program, family activities almost every day for three weeks straight, mission trips and work trips. . . .” He took another bite of his burger and raised his brow.
    “Really?” Beth glanced at Molly. She was picking the sesame seeds from the top of her bun. “I’m not so sure about those trips. So much can go wrong.”
    “Like what?” Bill was ready to take a bite of his burger, but he froze. “I thought it sounded like fun.”
    “Fun? Parasites and malaria and terrorists and violent street gangs?” There was enough to worry about right here in West Palm Beach. Beth shook her head. “No mission trips.”
    “Well . . . maybe you could think about it.” Bill worked his napkin over his mouth again. “They’re taking a work trip to Haiti at the end of summer. It’s for families—even young kids.” Bill set his burger down. “That sort of thing could be life-changing.”
    “In more ways than one.” Beth stirred her fork through her fruit salad.
    The conversation fell flat for a few seconds. Bill leaned back in his seat and looked at Molly. “Did Jack get enough to eat?”
    “I think so. You know Jack.” She gave another nervous laugh. “Can’t sit still for fifteen minutes. Last time we went somewhere with Joey he was up pitching balls before . . .”
    She ran on about Joey and baseball for another minute, but Beth stopped listening. Molly’s excuses for Jack were limitless. No matter how much she tried to explain the situation, the truth was painfully obvious. Jack was uncomfortable around them, uneasy with their faith. Maybe worried that Beth and Bill would try to convert him. Whatever it was, it left a tension denser than the pound cake she served for dessert.
    That night before they turned in, Beth had to wonder. The last thing she wanted was a strained relationship with her sister. When Molly lived across the country, the two sisters shared weekly phone calls and got along great. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea that they spend every weekend getting their families together.
    The smell of cinnamon floated up to their bedroom, but any ambiance it might’ve created was lost. Bill was already snoring. Beth closed her eyes.
God, what about my sister? She needs You, but I don’t know. Maybe I’m not the one to help her. Show me, God . . . please.
Even as her quick prayer came to an end, she had the sinking feeling they were headed for trouble. With the tension that had plagued her sister’s visit that afternoon, not only were weekly visits likely to be a bad idea.
    But maybe it would’ve been better if she and her family had never moved to Florida at all.

Chapter Four
    W endy Porter was stirring the scrambled eggs when Rip came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. She squirmed and clicked off the heat beneath the frying pan. “Rip . . .” The frozen sausages were already heated in the microwave, the orange juice poured, toast buttered and on the table. She turned and faced him. “Mmmm.” He was fresh from the shower, clean shaven. “You smell nice.”
    “Right back at ya.” He nuzzled her neck. “Last night was amazing.” He left a trail of kisses along her collarbone and then straightened to his full height. He wasn’t a tall man—five-ten on a good day. But she was just over five feet in her slippers, and he towered over her. The look in his eyes made her knees tremble. “Talk about your welcome-home parties.”
    “Rip . . . you’re getting me flustered.” She smiled and sidestepped him. The heat in her face was from more than the stove. No matter how charming he was, no matter how much he wanted the celebration to continue, they needed to