Catch a Falling Star Read Online Free PDF

own. Tyler had driven her nearly insane with his attentiveness. She appreciated his concern, but the man practically smothered her. Which made his nearly week-long silence concern her. Not a phone call, e-mail, or text message.
    “Billy. It’s just Billy.” He jerked his head in the direction of the building. “Come see where I work, Miss Insistent.” He ambled over to the shop door.
    Was he being sarcastic with her? She followed as quickly as she could. Maybe she should have just told him to take her home.
    A bang from the direction of the main house made them both look in that direction.
    “Oh, you’re here!” A girl around fifteen years old skidded to a stop in front of Billy’s truck. She touched her hair and stood up straighter, tugging on the hem of her T-shirt. “You. You’re Justine Campbell.”
    “That’s me.” She extended her hand for the girl to shake. “Nice to meet you. . .”
    “Madelynn Tucker.” The young woman grinned. “But you can call me Maddie.”
    Justine had seen people with the same expression hundreds of times. The glow of meeting a celebrity, followed by an apologetic look for being ordinary. Truth was, everyone was ordinary, she’d discovered.
    She smiled at Maddie. “Your brother’s been playing chauffeur for me since I’ve been back in town.” Chauffeur. Bad word choice, as if he were hired help. She almost cringed. Hopefully their truce would last.
    “He’s just the best, isn’t he?” Maddie’s adoring expression transferred itself to Billy, who shifted on his sneakered feet and glanced toward his workshop.
    “He’s a hero.” Justine swallowed hard as Billy practically squirmed.
    “Maddie,” Billy cut in, “Ms. Campbell’s here to see my workshop, and then I’m bringing her home. We’ve both had a hard day at therapy.”
    “Oh. Okay,” Maddie replied, unfazed at her brother’s squelching tone. So the guy wasn’t grouchy with only Justine.
    “I’ll come over again sometime if you’d like. You have a beautiful spread here. It’s very peaceful.”
    At Justine’s remark, Maddie clamped her hands on Billy’s arm. “Billy, she’s going to come back. Did you hear? This is so awesome.” She pulled something out of her pocket. “Ms. Justine, can I ask a favor?”
    Justine froze. Maddie held a cell phone. Neil had given her strict instructions to control current images of herself as much as possible, and one of the reasons she’d returned to Starlight was to be in a more controlled environment. But people with cell phones were everywhere.
    Maddie’s brown eyes pleaded. Billy opened his mouth. “Now, Maddie—”
    It’s okay, Billy,” Justine said. “But I want the picture to be of you and me, Maddie. C’mon over here.”
    “Vanessa is never going to believe this.” Maddie took a few steps to stand next to Justine.
    “Okay.” Justine leaned her cane on the side of the truck . Then she   stepped closer to Maddie and slipped her arm around the girl’s shoulders. The teenager’s grin blinded her, even looking at the kid sideways.
    Justine relaxed, tilting her head a little toward Maddie.
    “Say cheese, Mads,” Billy said. He snapped the picture and returned the phone back to Maddie in one swift movement.  “Well, let’s get to the workshop.”
    Maddie looked at her phone. “Oh, it’s a great picture—see?”
    She held the phone up to Justine. The two of them grinned back, looking windswept and squinting slightly from the bright sunlight. Not for the first time, Justine felt the pang of missing a sibling. She’d liked being an only child until the past few years, listening to her few friends talk about going home over the holidays and getting together with brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Justine had no one but Mom.
    “That’s a great picture.” Much better than the ones she’d seen of herself lately.
    Billy turned back toward the single-story limestone building with a tin roof. It looked barely bigger than her foyer at home.