Bridge to Haven Read Online Free PDF

home?”
    “Probably. When you’re too tired to walk, I’ll carry you.”
    “Can you carry me now?”
    He swung her up on his hip. “Just for a block. Enough time to rest.”
    She put her head against his shoulder. “I miss Mommy.”
    “So do I.”
    Daddy didn’t put her down until they were a block from the school. Hunkering down, he held her by the shoulders. “Mrs. Matthews is going to take you home with Penny this afternoon. I’ll come over and get you at five fifteen.”
    Her lip trembled. “I want to go home.”
    “Don’t argue, Abra.” He kissed her cheek. “I have to do what’s best for you, whether we like it or not.” When she started to cry, he held her close. “Please don’t cry.” His voice sounded tear-choked. “Things are hard enough as it is without you crying all the time.” He ran a finger down her nose and lifted her chin. “Go on to class now.”
    When school was over, Mrs. Matthews was right outside the classroom door, talking with Robbie Austin’s mother. She looked sad and serious until she spotted them. “There are my girls!” She kissed Penny’s cheek first and then Abra’s. “How was your day?” Penny talked on and on while they walked to the car. “In you go, you two.” Mrs. Matthews let them both sit in front, Abra in the middle. Penny talked around her.
    The house smelled of fresh-baked cookies. Mrs. Matthews had set the kitchen nook table for a tea party. They sipped apple juice and ate cookies. Abra started to feel better.
    Penny had a canopy bed with a pink chenille bedspread, a white dresser, and walls covered with pink-and-white dogwood blossoms. The dormer window had a cushioned seat that overlooked the front yard. While Penny rummaged through her toy box, Abra sat in the window seat and looked out at the lawn and white picket fence. She remembered how red roses covered the arbor in summer. Mommy loved roses. Abra felt a hard lump growing in her throat.
    “Let’s color!” Penny tossed coloring books on the flowery carpet and opened a shoe box full of crayons. Abra joined her. Penny talked and talked while Abra listened for the downstairs grandfather clock to bong five times. Then she waited for the doorbell to ring. Finally, it did. Daddy had come for her, just like he promised.
    Penny let out a loud groan. “I don’t want you to go! We’re having so much fun!” She followed Abra down the hall. “I wish you were my sister. Then we could play together all the time.” Daddy and Mrs. Matthews stood in the entry, talking in low voices. “Mommy?” Penny said in a whining voice. “Can Abra spend the night? Pleeeease? ”
    “Of course she can, but it’s up to Pastor Zeke.”
    Penny turned eagerly to Abra. “We can play Chinese checkers and listen to One Man’s Family .”
    Daddy stood below, hat in hand, looking up at Abra. He looked tired. “She doesn’t have pajamas or a change of clothes for school tomorrow.”
    “Oh. That’s no problem at all. She and Penny wear the same size. We even have extra toothbrushes.”
    “Oh, goody!” Penny hopped up and down. “Come on, Abra. Let’s play!”
    Abra rushed to Daddy, clutching his hand and hugging his side. She wanted to go home. Daddy pried her away and leaned down. “It’s a long walk home, Abra. I think it’s a good idea for you to spend the night here.” When she started to protest, he put a finger over her lips. “You’ll be fine.”

    Zeke checked on Joshua before going out for his morning walk. Abra had spent the last three nights with the Matthews family. He locked the door, put the key in the flowerpot, and headed for Main Street. He followed it north past the end of town and kept going until he reached the Haven cemetery. He’d been to Marianne’s grave so manytimes in the last few weeks, he could’ve found his way even if the moon hadn’t been full. The white marble headstone glowed.
    His heart ached for her presence. They used to talk every morning in the kitchen before the