Ties That Bind by Marie Bostwick Read Free Book Online Page B

think?”
    She climbed out of the car, looked left and right, and then sneezed vigorously.
    â€œI know. Pretty nice, huh? Look at this yard. Plenty of room to play out here.”
    She sneezed again and started pacing back and forth across the snowy lawn, tramping down a path. I laughed. She does this every time. Just as Clementine found her spot, I heard the sound of footsteps followed by a yelp of surprise and a crash.
    Turning, I spotted a tall, blond woman sprawled on the sidewalk. A splash of red against the white snow startled me, making me think she’d been seriously injured. But when I ran to her side, I saw a broken casserole dish lying on the sidewalk. The red gore was only spilled tomato sauce.
    I squatted down next to the woman. “Bet that hurt. Anything broken?”
    â€œNo,” she replied and then looked down. “Nothing besides my dish. My pride is a little bruised, though.”
    While the woman climbed off the ground, Clementine arrived on the scene, sniffed the ground, and began wolfing down the spilled casserole.
    â€œClementine!” I scolded. “Stop that!”
    â€œIt’s okay. It was supposed to be dinner for our new minister.” The woman shrugged. “Somebody might as well enjoy it.”
    â€œOh! Then you must be Margaret,” I said with a smile, extending my hand.
    She frowned and pressed her lips together. “Margot,” she corrected me and shook my hand. “Margot Matthews.”
    I smacked myself on the forehead. “That’s right! Margot. We’ve been expecting you.”
    Margot’s eyes went wide. She blinked twice, looked at me, then Clementine, then back to me. “You were? I mean … Yes. You were.”
    â€œAre you all right?” I asked, wondering if she’d hit her head when she fell.
    â€œOh, yes. I’m fine.” She pressed her lips together again, looking down as she patted Clementine on the head. “I just didn’t realize that Reverend Clarkson had a dog.” She paused, then looked at me with a deliberate smile. “Or a wife.”
    I grinned, finally understanding her reaction. “I don’t,” I said with a laugh. “I mean, I’m Reverend Clarkson. Reverend Philippa Clarkson. And this is Clementine,” I said, looking down at Clemmie, who had finished her snack and was sitting on her haunches, licking the last traces of tomato sauce from her muzzle. “She’s big enough to be a horse, but she’s actually an English mastiff. Both of us are unmarried. Well … I’m a widow.”
    Margot’s eyes grew even wider. “Philippa Clarkson? Not Philip? You’re our new interim minister?”
    â€œThat’s what the contract said. I hope that’s still okay with everyone.”
    Margot frowned again, but only for a moment. “Of course,” she said firmly. “Why shouldn’t it be?”
    She put out her hand for me to shake again. “It’s nice to meet you, Reverend. Welcome to New Bern. I’m sure you’ll be meeting everyone soon, but with Christmas so close, I’m all that was available in the way of a welcoming committee. But I’m afraid I’m not doing a very good job,” she said, looking down at the broken dish.
    â€œThat’s all right. I had a cheeseburger on the road. But I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea about now, and a briefing about the church and town. Do you have time?”
    â€œOf course, Reverend. Happy to.”
    â€œPlease, call me Philippa. I know I have to get used to the title eventually, but every time someone says ‘Reverend Clarkson,’ I start looking for my dad.”
    â€œAll right, Philippa,” she said with a smile. “I can do that.”

7
Margot
    C lementine padded into the kitchen, flopped down next to the stove, and went immediately to sleep, snoring and twitching her feet as she dreamed. Philippa opened cupboards, scavenging for a teapot,