Bridge to a Distant Star Read Online Free PDF

cheerily called out to the pastor’s wife. Maureen beamed at Kathy; Kathy waved and beamed back. Maureen asked herself, Wonder if a pastor’s wife ever needs to put on an act, hiding hurt feelings? Arguments at home? She shook her head. I can’t picture Kathy ever dealing with irritable kids.
    After a hectic but productive morning, Vanessa wandered into Maureen’s room, greeting her friend with an enthusiastic hug. With three active boys and a good deal of her own energy, Vanessa was the perfect choice for VBS games director. For she was the eternal tomboy. Most women—the gang included—openly envied her exuberance and still athletically slim figure, though Vanessa herself appeared oblivious to it.
    “Didn’t see Emilie anywhere, did you?”
    Vanessa shook her head. “Was she supposed to be here?”
    “Yeah, she was. I just talked with her yesterday. She said she’d be here.”
    “Hope she’s not sick or anything.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Maureen glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear as they walked out of the church. “You’re not going to believe this. But Emilie and Ed are talking about having another baby.”
    “You’re not serious?”
    “Better not mention it, okay?” They climbed into Vanessa’s sports car, the concession to her love of speed and daring. “I shouldn’t have said anything. But Emilie really is serious about this.” A slight pause. “And so is Ed, evidently. They think it’s what God wants.”
    “Oh, good heavens, Mo. Don’t tell me you’re falling for that?”
    “Nessa, honestly—”
    “Honestly nothing, Maureen. Between you and me? If Ed is saying he heard God’s voice telling him to have another little E-kid, then he needs to be on meds.”
    Maureen tried, but failed to stifle a chuckle. “Ed didn’t say that. And he’s not hearing voices, silly. He just thinks the number seven is biblical.” She shrugged her shoulders.
    “So is 666, but you don’t hear about couples shooting for that.” They both laughed, releasing some of the unease they were feeling as they’d plunged into touchy subjects. “I’m not saying anything more. It’s just that, well, my intuition—oh shoot, my common sense—tells me that having another child is a bad idea. Can’t put my finger on why, but Ed’s been hitting my buttons lately. And that’s it. Only my humble opinion.” She glanced over at Maureen and crossed her eyes. Which brought the desired smile from her friend. “Movin’ on to another topic. How are things with Colleen?”
    Maureen groaned, then slumped down a little farther into the seat.
    “Not so great, eh? How does it compare to a home with three boys who all think the greatest competition in the world is to win ‘the most foul-smelling sneakers’ contest by the end of the day?”
    Maureen offered a weak smile.
    “Caught ’em passing their athletic shoes around last night, voting on the winner. And would you believe Greg was in on it too? I swear he was enjoying it as much as they were, egging them on.”
    “Did he enter his sneakers too?”
    “Oh absolutely. But here’s the really big news: Greg and I just declared that, beginning as freshmen in high school, Clarkson boys do their own wash. Greg Junior’s already had his lesson in operating the washer and dryer.”
    “Wow. That’s gutsy. Going okay?”
    “Hmm, not so much. Instead of piles of just dirty clothes on Greg Junior’s floor, now there are piles of dirty and clean clothes.” Vanessa turned to look at Maureen, noted the mock-horrified look on her face. “He had to literally clear a path through the mess just to get from the door to his bed.”
    Maureen offered an empathetic grimace. “How does he tell what’s clean and what’s dirty? And more importantly, how can you stand it?” She laughed.
    “I made the mistake of asking him if he could distinguish from dirty and clean, and mind you … there’s underwear in those piles too.”
    “So what’d he