Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online Page B

sound like he’s coming home anytime soon.”
    â€œThat must be hard on Tristan.”
    â€œYes. But he’s still got family and his school and his friends and sports. And did you know that Lane is Tristan’s Big Brother? They do something together at least once a week. It’s really very sweet.”
    â€œAnd Lane’s been in town for about three years, right?”
    â€œThat sounds about right.”
    Emma didn’t like being suspicious, but she wondered if Lane had anything to do with why Anne had refused to accompany her husband to Florida. Emma had seen the way Anne looked at Lane in the sunroom, the way she’d spoken to him, placed her hands on him…almost as if she was demonstrating ownership. Yes, it probably wouldn’t be too long until Tristan’s Big Brother became his stepfather. And, really, what was wrong with that?

Chapter 5
    After the second night of sharing a room with her mother and the realization that it wasn’t only her dad who snored, Emma started putting together an escape plan. But first she needed to clear it with Nona. “Do you mind if I do some rearranging of the rooms upstairs?” she asked her grandmother as the two of them lingered at the breakfast table. Saundra had already left for an early appointment at work.
    â€œNo, not at all.” Nona reached for her coffee cup. “I hardly make it up the stairs these days. With you and Anne all grown up, I don’t sew. I’d rather knit.”
    So after finishing cleaning up the breakfast dishes and kitchen, and seeing that Nona had taken her pills and was comfortably settled in front of a crackling fire with her knitting and a good book nearby, Emma went back upstairs. Rolling up her sleeves, she went into attack mode, clearing and cleaning and organizing until she started carving a space for herself in Nona’s old sewing room. The hide-a-bed was still sturdy and sound and it actually felt more comfortable than the twin bed she’d been sleeping in.
    She took a break at lunchtime to warm some soup for Nona and herself, explaining her progress as they ate. “I hope you don’t mind that I stored even more things in Poppi’s library.”
    Nona waved her hand. “Poppi would be glad to know you are making yourself at home, Emma. Do as you please.”
    After lunch, Nona retired to her room for a nap and Emma returned to her upstairs project. By the time Saundra came home from work, Emma was just putting the freshly laundered bedding on the sleeper sofa and smiling in satisfaction at her progress. The old sewing room was transformed into a cozy-looking bedroom. All Emma needed to do now was to move her things in and get settled.
    â€œWell, well…” Saundra came into the room and looked around. “It’s not terribly stylish, but it is less crowded than the other bedroom. Want to flip a coin for it? Or should age come before beauty?” She laughed lightly.
    â€œWhat?” Emma blinked. “You want this room?”
    â€œWell, I know how much you and Anne loved that old bedroom,” Saundra said. “I just assumed you’d prefer it to this one. I can easily move my things in here. I don’t mind at all.”
    Emma was dumbstruck. She looked longingly at the freshly made bed then turned back at her mother and sighed. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”
    Saundra ran her hand over the faded blue floral wallpaper. “You know I could get some of my people in here to do a complete makeover. This space could be quite attractive in just a few days.”
    â€œOr you could leave it and call it shabby chic.” Emma shrugged. “I’ll help you move your things in here.” Seeing the spare bedroom, Emma reassured herself it was a fair trade. This room, with its southern exposure and larger closest, really was better than the old sewing room. At least she could have her bed by the window back…as well as her