The Fountain of Infinite Wishes (Dare River Book 5) by Ava Miles Read Free Book Online Page B

married,” Shelby told her, swatting at the mosquitos biting her ankles. “We waited a spell. In fact, we waited until all of y’all got married.”
    “I appreciate that,” J.P. said, “although y’all didn’t have to wait for my wedding.”
    “You deserved it,” Sadie said. “Please don’t be mad, Susannah. I would hate that most of all.”
    “Well, I am,” Susannah said, biting her lip. “And hurt too. This whole thing hurts me. Dredging up the past. Hearing you’ve gone along with them, J.P.”
    Their brother raised his brow. “They were brave to come and talk to me about it. They could have done it behind my back after speaking with you, but they didn’t. Their hearts are in the right place, Susannah. In the end, that’s why I’ve given them my support.” He paused for a long moment. “Our daddy might have up and left us,” he finally continued, “but we stuck together and kept close. I’m not going to let this tear us apart. Are you?”
    Tears popped into Shelby’s eyes, and she noticed both of her sisters seemed choked up as well.
    “You know I love y’all,” Susannah said. “I just wish…y’all could have let this be. It’s going to stir up so much hurt.”
    J.P. herded them all into a group hug. “All the more reason we face it head on so we can heal the rest of the way.”
    “I don’t want to be wondering about Daddy on my wedding day,” Sadie said.
    “I’m sick of leaving a big blank whenever I have to fill out my father’s medical history at the doctor’s office,” Shelby added.
    “When Tammy and I have children of our own,” J.P. said, squeezing them tight, “I don’t want to get all upset whenever they ask where their original grandpa ran off to and why he’s not around.”
    They all squeezed one another and pretty much sniffled, causing J.P. to pull out a few tissues from his pocket, the ones he kept for his women and the children.
    “All right,” Susannah finally said in a quiet voice as they eased back, their arms still wrapped around each other. “Tell me what you’ve learned.”
    As Shelby explained everything they’d talked about with Vander, both in the meeting and afterward, she could feel the muscles in her sister’s back bunch up beneath her hand. Saying the words out loud somehow made it all worse, and Shelby felt like she was coming apart again. Where in the world could Daddy be? How could a person disappear without leaving a footprint in an age when everything was traceable by Social Security numbers or driver’s licenses?
    “So you’re going to have this Vander keep looking?” Susannah asked after a spell.
    “Yes,” Sadie said. “I don’t know what more he can find out, but there are other ways for him to search. He’s going to meet with us again on Monday.”
    “What time?” Susannah asked.
    “Why?” Shelby asked, shocked by the thought that her sister might join them.
    “I want to pray, is all,” Susannah said. “We’re all going to need a lot of prayers to get through this.”
    “Amen,” J.P. said.
    The breeze blew through the trees, and Shelby shivered. Sometimes she felt something spiritual in these woods, and right now that sensation was stronger than ever.
    “What do we tell Mama?” Susannah asked. “If I noticed something was up, so will she.”
    That was the God’s honest truth. “I keep praying and asking if we’re right to keep it from her, and I just don’t know,” Shelby said.
    “What do you think, J.P.?” Susannah asked.
    Their brother stayed silent for a long time, like he was prone to do when he was gathering his thoughts. “If she asks, we tell her. I have this feeling, though…”
    “What?” Sadie asked anxiously.
    He lifted his shoulder. “I don’t think she’s going to ask.”
    “That makes it easier, then,” Shelby said. From a ways down the path, Rye shouted at them to come back to the house.  
    As they all looked in that direction, Sadie heaved out a sigh and said, “Does it? I’ll