Saving Sara (Redemption #1) by Nicola Marsh Read Free Book Online Page A

cookies and a slice of cake on his plate, garnering a raised eyebrow fr om Jake.
    “You’re welcome,” Cilla said. “Your uncle Jake used to eat that much, you know.”
    “Not anymore.” Olly crammed a cookie into his mouth and demolished it in a few chews. “Now he only eats yucky black stuff wrapped around rice.”
    Jake laughed. “We had sushi last night for dinner.”
    “It’s horrible,” Olly said, a second before he took a giant bite of brownie.
    “I agree,” Cilla said, stifling a laugh at the solemnity of Olly’s expression as he chewed like a maniac. “I’m not a fan of Japanese food either.”
    When his mouth was empty, Olly took a sip of lemonade and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “What’s your favorite food?”
    “Steak and barbecued corn, followed by apple pie and ice cream,” Cilla said, increasingly charmed by the little boy.
    It had been so long since she’d had anything to do with kids beyond the youth group in town that she’d forgotten their innocence and copious questions.
    “That sounds amazing,” Olly said, reaching for another cookie.
    “It is,” Jake added, relaxing for the first time since he’d arrived as Cilla watched him settle into the chair and nibble at a cookie. “I remember Aunt Cilla used to make the best apple pie ever.”
    “Can you make it for me tonight?” Olly pressed his hands together in prayer pose. “Pleeeeease.”
    Jake stiffened. “Olly, your aunt has made all these yummy treats for us. She’s probably tired.”
    Cilla hadn’t made an apple pie in years but she found herself softening, responding to the plea in Olly’s eyes and the concerned look in Jake’s.
    There was a lot of tension between Jake and Olly, and she wondered about the cause. Jake seemed uncomfortable with Olly, out of his depth, like he didn’t know what to do or say. She hoped she could help with whatever had brought him all the way out here when they talked later tonight.
    “I’ll make you a deal. If you eat all your veggies with dinner tonight, I’ll whip up an apple crumble, which is like a pie but without all the pastry.” Also took half the work, something Cilla remembered from the pies she had toiled over, not that Vernon had ever appreciated it. “How does that sound?”
    “Awesome,” Olly said, before his face crumpled a little. “But what kind of veggies? Mom knows I like orange ones more than green.”
    Cilla’s heart broke a little at the audible quiver in Olly’s voice. He must miss Rose. For his sake, she hoped Jake looking after him was only temporary and he’d be back with Rose ASAP. If anyone knew a child needed its mother, she did. Pity Tam didn’t share the same philosophy.
    Cilla missed Tam something fierce.
    “In that case, how does carrot and pumpkin sound and we give broccoli a miss?”
    Olly’s smile radiated pure joy. “You’re nice.”
    “She sure is,” Jake said, looking at her like she’d handed him the keys to a new Mustang. “Aunt Cilla is the best.”
    She felt another blush flush her cheeks. “If you’re trying to butter me up for something, Jake, stop right there. I’m not as gullible as I used to be.”
    “You were never gullible,” he said, patting her hand. “Kind and generous, definitely. And you still are.”
    Oddly flustered by his praise, she pushed back from the table and stood. “I better go pick some carrots and a pumpkin from the garden.”
    Olly’s forehead crinkled in consternation. “But you get carrots and pumpkin from the grocer’s?”
    “They originally come from a garden,” she said. “Would you like to help?”
    “Yeah.” Olly stood so fast his chair toppled and she grabbed it before it hit the floor. “Let’s go.”
    Olly didn’t look at Jake once, and it saddened her to see their fractured relationship.
    “Jake, you up for a bout of vegetable gathering?” Only when Cilla mentioned his name did Olly glance his way, and even then only for a second.
    Jake shook his head. “Thanks, but