Unraveled by Heidi McCahan Read Free Book Online Page B

said that people laughed when the family claimed that land. Look at it now. You couldn’t ask for a more amazing view.” Blake tried to give just enough information to satisfy her curiosity.
    “What about you and the redhead? What’s the story there?” Melissa prodded, pulling a notebook and pen from her satchel.
    Blake turned in his seat to look at her. “Excuse me?”
    “C’mon.” Melissa’s eyes twinkled. “The chemistry between you two was palpable. Think you’ll ever get together?”
    Clearly the novelty of black bears was lost on her. He turned back around, put the van in gear and headed for town. “No, I don’t see that happening.” He didn’t tell her that he spent many a night alone, dreaming of nothing else. But that dream was fading. She belonged to someone else now.

six

    Lauren tucked a stray curl behind her ear and stuffed wet sheets into the dryer. The dirty bathroom beckoned her but she ignored it in favor of a second cup of coffee. How did her mother do this every day? She felt exhausted already and the day wasn’t even half over.
    She poured half and half into her mug as a blur of red sweat pants and spiky blond hair flew into the kitchen.
    “Hiiiii-yaa!” Her nephew Joshua high-kicked and karate chopped his way past her chair.
    “Whoa.” Lauren glanced at her nephew. “Let me see those staples.”
    “Got five, right here.” Joshua leaned over and pointed at his scalp. Lauren winced. Gross. Emmy and Ava scampered in, waving identical stuffed monkeys. Their mother, Angela, brought up the rear. Dark circles underlined her brown eyes as she cradled baby Gavin in her arms.
    Lauren stood and extended one arm toward her sister-in-law, giving her an awkward half-hug. The baby’s head brushed her arm and she retracted her arm, as though she’d been burned. “Hi, Ang.” She pasted on a smile, while her heart thundered in her chest. She’d avoided babies at all costs, always making up creative excuses not to assist with the post-partum appointments when she worked with Dr. Putnam.
    “It’s so good to see you, Lo. I couldn’t believe it when Matt told me you were back in town.” Angela slid onto a kitchen chair and dropped her overstuffed diaper bag like a boat anchor on the floor. “How long you staying?”
    Lauren shrugged. At least until this mess with Holden blows over. “I was supposed to be here for a week. Now that Granny’s in the hospital, I guess as long as they need me. Want some coffee?”
    “No, thank you,” Angela looked down at her sleeping baby. “Not when I’m nursing. Caffeine upsets his stomach.”
    Lauren made no effort to hide her surprise. “Seriously? How do you function?”
    Angela offered a weak laugh. “Somehow we make it through.”
    “What’s Matthew up to this morning?” Surely he wasn’t still asleep, foisting these children on his young wife.
    “He’s working on his sermon. Pastor Tom is on vacation so Matt gets to preach tomorrow. I’m really excited for him.” Angela’s eyes brightened, her enthusiasm pushing aside the fatigue for a moment. She dipped her chin and planted a kiss on Gavin’s tiny forehead.
    Lauren smiled at the mental image of her brother Matthew in the pulpit. Hard to believe the same boy once scrawled Angela’s name on the water tower in red spray paint.
    “You should come tomorrow.”
    “I don’t think so.” Lauren shuddered. She hadn’t darkened the door of Emerald Cove Community Church since the weekend of Pop’s funeral.
    “Why not? Everyone would love to see you.”
    “God and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that—Joshua! Put that down, please,” Angela said. Joshua came into the kitchen with his arms wrapped around a pan full of rocks and pebbles.
    “But I found gold! Like Uncle Seth!”
    “It doesn’t belong in the kitchen.” Angela stood and thrust baby Gavin into Lauren’s arms. “Here, hold him for me.”
    Before she could protest, her new nephew lay in the