90 Miles to Freedom Read Online Free PDF Page A

hear. But Collin saw his secret smile. He continued to paint, waiting to hear the outcome of this conversation.
    “ Yes, Mother. I completely agree with you on all counts,” Collin said, smiling at his mother. “But may I add a few of my own descriptions of Morgan?”
    Betty narrowed her eyes, suspicious that Collin was up to something, then nodded when she realized there was no way on earth Collin would embarrass Morgan. She cocked her right eyebrow, warning her son to behave and be nice. “By all means Collin, I would love to hear your portrayal of your future wife.”
    Morgan blushed ferociously, sensing the attention coming her way. She was used to this demonstrative family, though, and completely at home in the midst of them.
    “ Well,” Collin said, then cleared his throat. “We shall begin with the obvious. Morgan is a delicate five feet tall with long, gorgeous brown hair. She barely wears any makeup at all, because she doesn’t need any. She is naturally perfect.”
    “ So sweet of you,” Morgan said. “You can stop now.”
    Collin gave Morgan a smile which clearly said “I love you” without the need for words. Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Morgan, but there’s more.”
    She put her hands over her face, hiding, but giggling.
    Collin continued, addressing his audience of three as formally as if he were speaking to a stadium full of people. “As you can see, Morgan is more than just stunning. She is breathtaking.” Collin glanced towards his mother, whose eyes were sparkling, her mouth slightly open as she took in her son’s words. He took his fiancée’s hand in his and returned his full concentration to Morgan, kissing the top of her hand before continuing. “Morgan moves me like no other woman ever has. She has taken over my mind and my soul.” Collin’s chest tightened, seeing Morgan’s beautiful eyes well up.
    George stopped painting and glanced toward Betty and Collin. Betty dabbed at the corners of her eyes, sniffling at her son’s beautiful tribute. George smiled, watching his romantic wife. Based on the speech Collin had just made, it was obvious that he had inherited some of those traits from his mother. George was what Collin called a “closet romantic”. He’d never admit to enjoying those emotions, though he did feel them. George didn’t usually declare such feelings in front of anyone, except for when he was all alone with Betty. Collin and Joey knew all about it from the times Betty occasionally enlightened them, giving them her own version of the story. He figured his dad would be glad to know that he’d given her something to brag about.
    Betty had taught her sons well. She often preached to them about loving a woman for more than just her outward appearance. She often told the boys that “the gem within a woman is the most precious jewel you will ever discover.”
    All this romance had settled the mood into something resembling calm. Apparently George felt the need to put a stop to that. It was time to laugh again.
    “ Okay, Collin,” he said, waving his paint brush vaguely in Betty’s direction. “I’ve heard the romantic version of Morgan, which your mother would want to hear. Now give me the version a son would tell his father, a.k.a. me.” George smiled from ear to ear, waiting for Collin’s reply. Collin glanced nervously at Morgan, but she only giggled with encouragement.
    “ Well,” Collin said, then shot a tentative grin at George. He wasn’t quite sure what might be appropriate to say in front of his parents. Especially while Betty continued to murmur something along the lines of, “That’s my boy. Romantic at heart. I taught him well. Yes, I did.”
    “ I’m waiting,” George teased.
    Collin cleared his throat, then smiled. He knew perfectly well that all his father wanted was for him to make his mother gasp. “Well,” he repeated, “I would probably tell a.k.a. you that my Morgan is not only adorable and gorgeous, but that she is also