Cherished Read Online Free PDF

asleep.” Cyd paused. “Don’t feel like you have to come with us. I know you’re tired.”
    Kelli’s bones issued a hearty amen. She could easily rest till noon. But before she could give it more thought, they heard slow steps moving down the hall, the hardwood creaking underneath. Cedric appeared, wearing wrinkled athletic shorts, a T-shirt, and a slouch that said he wanted back in bed. “Howdy.”
    Kelli exchanged an amused glance with Cyd. “You look terrible.”
    â€œI want to know one thing.” Sleep coated Cedric’s voice. “Whose idea was it to leave Austin in the middle of the night, drive fourteen hours straight, then unload a moving van?”
    â€œYours,” Kelli and Cyd said.
    And Cyd added, “While pumping your fist in the air and saying, ‘Let’s do this!’”
    â€œAnd if I remember correctly,” Kelli said, “you called Lindell a chump for suggesting we leave later and find a halfway point to stop overnight.”
    â€œI must’ve lost my mind.” Cedric ambled over and collapsed across the foot of her bed. “I thought I was still your age.”
    Reese traded Kelli for Cedric, pouncing on him immediately.
    Cyd sat beside him on the bed, massaging his back. “Poor baby. I’ll get you some ibuprofen. You and Kelli should go back to bed. I wish I could. I got up to let Reese out, and now I’m wide awake.”
    Cedric looked at Kelli. “How are you feeling?”
    â€œA little sore. Not too bad. You and Lindell did most of the heavy lifting.” She smiled. “I kinda like having my brothers around again. Y’all are handy.”
    Cedric cocked his head, as if considering. “I kinda like having you around too.”
    â€œI know I do,” Cyd said. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”
    â€œThanks, Cyd, but I was thinking . . .” Kelli switched to lotus position. “You’ve got to be a tad overwhelmed. All these years, you’ve had this house to yourself. Then you got married a month ago, and Cedric moved in. And now, here I come.”
    â€œAre you kidding?” Cyd asked. “I bought this house eight years ago hoping it’d be filled with other bodies.” Clayton was a perfect location for her, since she was a professor at Washington University. “I just hate that it took so long. Come here.” Cyd leaned across the bed, and Kelli met her halfway for a hug. “I really want you to consider this your home, for as long as you want to stay.”
    Kelli’s eyes misted. “Okay.” She’d gone back and forth about this move, especially when things progressed faster than anticipated. She’d thought it would take weeks to sublease her apartment— time to ponder further, time to change her mind. But an occupant surfaced quickly, and next thing she knew, all her belongings were on a highway headed north . . . along with her and her mixed feelings. But one thing was sure. She loved being here with Cyd and Cedric . . . and she loved that Stephanie and Lindell were only minutes away. Suddenly she giggled.
    â€œWhat?” Cyd and Cedric asked.
    â€œYou might need some Spanx,” Kelli said, imitating Stephanie’s voice. “What a nut! I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in years.”
    â€œAh, yes,” Cyd said. “Only the privileged few get to experience Stephanie in all her nuttiness over the course of several hours.”
    The three women had taken turns driving Kelli’s car from Austin, while the guys drove Cedric’s with the moving trailer attached.
    Kelli laughed again, remembering. “If you want to learn to cook gourmet meals for your husband but don’t want to learn your way around the gym . . . and you want to pretend you still wear the same size, you might need some Spanx.”
    Cyd was laughing now. “If you’re bound and determined to keep wiggling your