Finding Sky (A Nicki Valentine Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

o’clock, I was pooped. I’d just tucked the kids into bed when the doorbell rang.
    “Who is it?” Jack yelled from upstairs. I hoped Sophie wouldn’t come running down. I needed the peaceful miracle of bedtime.
    I peeked out the doorside window and saw Kenna.
    “It’s just Auntie Kenna, sweetie,” I called softly to Jack. Maybe Sophie had already conked out. “Relax and go to sleep.”
    “ I have to relax,” Kenna said when I let her in. She pushed two beer bottles toward me. “Got an opener?”
    “Of course.”
    We walked into the kitchen and she rummaged in the fridge while I cracked the beers. Another benefit of being neighbors—no driving home.
    “Ugh,” she said. “Don’t you have any junk food?”
    “Look in the pantry. There are cookies,” I defended myself. “And there’s ice cream in the freezer.” No need to mention it was low fat, soy, and more “ice” than “cream.”
    “Never mind. I need something that goes with beer.”
    “Popcorn then. You know where it is.”
    Kenna found the organic, no-oil-added popcorn and stuck a bag in the microwave. I caught her rolling her eyes as she read the label. For an aerobics teacher, her diet was surprisingly all inclusive. One of the perks of her job, I guess.
    Popping kernels filled the room with an aroma better than any taste could be. I wondered whether it would soothe Jack to sleep or lure him downstairs.
    I got the feeling Kenna’s casual presentation was self-protective. Nothing could be more emotional than what we had to discuss. Children. Motherhood. Loss. It was nothing new to her, and that was the problem.
    I poured popcorn into ceramic bowls and we crunched away.
    “So.” I gave her an opening.
    “I think I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.” That was a brave start.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ve hit my limit. I can’t stop crying. I have chest pains.”
    “Chest pains?”
    “Stabs of anxiety. Every time I think of Beth on her own.” Her hand on her heart was proof.
    “I know those. They’re awful. I got them after Jason and my Dad.” I still didn’t like saying died . “Is Andy being supportive?”
    “Yes, but he’s less worried about Beth than about getting our money back for another adoption.”
    “You could lose the money you invested in this one?”
    “It’s more like we’d have to pay some fees again. I don’t want to get into that, though.” She waved a hand dismissively. “I want to find Beth.”
    “How does Andy feel about us looking for her?”
    “He thinks she’s running from the adoption, so to him it’s pointless.”
    “But he didn’t ask you to stop?”
    “No. He must be too scared to ask. He knows I’m over the edge.” She laughed.
    “And he loves you.”
    She tugged a folded paper from her back pocket. “Here’s everything I could think of about Beth. I took notes during our conversations so I could remember what she said. You know, in case the baby wants to know someday.”
    “That’s so nice.” I skimmed them, and random details stood out. Argues a lot with mom. Only child. Loves Disney World. Scared of snakes. The more I knew about Beth, the more I sensed her vulnerability and knew I couldn’t give up on her, even if it meant making questionable calls.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all the little stuff about Beth before,” Kenna said. “It’s just that if I let it out...” She looked around as if searching for words. “It would have made it so real. There would have been so much more to take back...”
    “It’s okay,” I said. “You did what you needed to do to protect yourself. I totally understand.”
    I gave her a hug and pointed to a stack of papers on the kitchen table. “That’s everything I learned today. Or everything I need to learn.”
    “From Dean?”
    “Yup.” By now most of it was dry, albeit a little wrinkly.
    “How’d he look?” Another effort to lighten the mood. I ran with it to make her laugh.
    “Doable.”

Three

      
    Kenna