Tiger Moths by Sandra Grice Read Free Book Online Page B

much about the deception of feelings. So, for the moment, that was all she allowed herself to say.
    He kissed her sweetly on the forehead, squeezed her hand goodbye, and walked away. She did not want to, but her eyes followed him to the door. She watched his confident walk, his dark skin and jet black hair cut close like she liked a man’s hair. She could see his muscular arms even through his shirt, and knew he had the legs to match. She resisted the urge to run after him, to toss aside her studies and be with him. Oh, how much she yearned to throw herself in his arms. But her will to stay strong finally won as the door closed behind him, echoing through the empty library.

     
    The night was a long but very productive one. Dale finally found the linchpin case law she had been looking for. It was the clincher; she knew no other team would find it. She knew because no one worked harder than she did. She knew, too, that hard work was her way to success. Mom, Dad, thank you for teaching me so well.
    She was sluggish the next morning, but had still managed to get up at seven and put in a five mile run. She poured some orange juice and read the paper. By now it was nine o’clock and there was no Laura. Odd, she thought - Laura always got up when she heard her rattling around in the kitchen. Dale laughed to herself as she recalled the melodramatic way Laura would run into the kitchen and shout orders.
    Dale always believed that God had truly blessed her with Laura. Theirs was an unlikely partnership that she treasured. Who knew that a “need a roommate” flyer posted on the school bulletin board would really work out for the long haul? And yet she prayed without ceasing for Laura to know Jesus the way she did.
    “Laura, you truly are one of a kind,” Dale mused aloud. “Now where is that little nut case?”
    Setting her empty glass in the sink, Dale walked down the hall and tapped gently on the door to Laura’s bedroom. No response. She knocked again and slowly opened the door. “Laura? Laura, are you up? Get your lazy tail out of bed. You know I need….” She stopped short when she saw the made bed. “Laura?”
    Dale went to the bathroom. Laura was not there and everything was in place. Okay, Dale, don’t get ahead of yourself now; she’s a big girl. Oh, who am I kidding, she would have called me; she always lets me know where she is. I wish I could get her to stop running around so much and go to church with me. Laura, where are you?
    Before she could panic any further, the phone rang. Dale picked up quickly, hoping Laura would be explaining her whereabouts.
    “Hello. Laura, is that you?”
    “No, sorry, Dale, it’s not Laura. It’s just Paul. I was calling to ask you when you want to get together for our moot court prep work.”
    “Oh, Paul, I’m sorry. It seems I’ve misplaced my roommate. I was hoping she was calling in to let me know where she was. I was up late doing research and I’m pretty sure I’ve found a break-through case to support our argument.” Dale hoped she was hiding the panic she felt.
    “Wow that sounds great. And I may be able to help you find your roommate. Uh…oh, maybe I should not say anything.”
    Dale was completely baffled. “Paul? If you know anything about where Laura might be you should let me know - now. Why would you not want to tell me?”
    “Well it’s just that… Okay, Dale, I like you a lot, and I guess someone should tell you the truth about what is going on.”
    “The truth about what’s going on? What truth? What are you talking about? If you have seen Laura you need to let me know – period. She’s my best friend, Paul. Is she in some kind of trouble?”
    “I know she is your best friend. That is what makes this so hard. But I was at Maxy’s last night and saw Laura there. She was sitting at the bar, just sitting there by herself.”
    “That’s unbelievable. Everyone knows that Laura is the life of the party. She has never been a loner.”
    “Yea, I