Willow in Bloom by Victoria Pade Read Free Book Online Page A

there’s a tall, skinny guy—homely with dirty brown hair—asking questions about our family.”
    Willow shrugged. “That could be a lot of people we know. But no, I haven’t seen anyone fitting that description who we don’t know. Are you thinking this might be the same guy who broke into the newspaper office and set the fire at the town hall?”
    Both were recent incidents that Willow knew Bram was investigating.
    â€œCould be,” he answered noncommittally. “The guy is asking about Gloria and any kids or grandkids she might have had. Which brings me to my next point—have you gone through her room yet like I asked you to?”
    Bram had been after Willow to do that for weeks now, ever since he’d been contacted by another stranger in town. Rand Colton, a visitor from Washington, D.C., had brought up the possibility that theremight be a connection between his family and theirs. It had become Willow’s job to go through Gloria’s things to find out if there was any information their grandmother might have had about it. Willow knew Bram was particularly curious because on her deathbed, Gloria had implored him to find the truth, something he was still trying to figure out the meaning to. She couldn’t help wondering if this stranger had anything to do with that request.
    â€œNo, I haven’t gone through her room yet,” Willow admitted somewhat reluctantly. She was embarrassed at how long she’d been dragging her feet about it.
    â€œI know it’s a tough thing to do,” Bram said, showing more understanding than he had about her not wanting to lift feed sacks. “Do you want me to do it?”
    â€œNo, I said I would and I will.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œTomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow,” she promised, knowing herself well enough to know that if she made a firm commitment she would follow through even though it was something she didn’t want to do.
    Bram knew her, too, and didn’t need any further assurance. “Good. You may not find anything important or revealing, but we need to rule out the possibility. And who knows? There might be something up there that will help me figure out what’s going on.”
    Willow nodded in spite of the knot her stomach twisted into at the prospect of going into her grandmother’s room, going through her things.
    But her brother was satisfied.
    Unfortunately, that meant he was ready to return to the previous subject.
    â€œAnd you’re sure you’re okay?” he said.
    â€œI’m sure. But if I come down with scurvy or rickets or green slime disease, you’ll be the first to know,” she joked, trying to cover up the uneasy feeling she had that her brother suspected the truth.
    Bram gave her that hard stare again, but before it went on too long, there was a knock on the door. It opened at about the same time, and a strikingly pretty, blond-haired, blue-eyed head popped through the opening.
    â€œIt’s just me.”
    â€œMe” was Jenna Elliot, and Willow saw her brother’s whole being light up instantly.
    â€œCome on in,” Willow invited as Bram yanked his feet off her desk in a hurry and stood.
    It didn’t take a genius to see how much he cared for Jenna, who had nursed their grandmother after the first stroke Gloria had suffered in July and gotten involved with Bram in the process.
    â€œI got your message to meet you here,” Jenna said to Bram, her own face beaming with love for him in return.
    To Willow, Bram said, “We’re going for coffee. Want to come with us?”
    Coffee was the one thing that could make Willow nauseous even after the morning sickness had passed. Even the thought of it raised her gorge.
    â€œThanks, but I have work I need to finish up. Besides, you know you don’t want me horning in on you guys.”
    Neither of them denied it; they merely exchanged a glance that verified that they