Finding Their Son Read Online Free PDF

kind of spiritual quest. I’m going to give him a lift into town after I deliver the balloons to Megan’s party. You can handle things here, right?”
    Pia shrugged off her trendy, black and gold South Pole jacket. She was a pretty girl with shoulder-length blond hair that behaved like a well-trained show dog. Char’s hair belonged in the circus—hence her decision to hide its imperfections with color.
    “Is it true Mac McGannon is dating Cooper Lindstrom’s ex-wife?” Pia asked, in that breathless tone Char associated with celebrity watching—a popular new sport in this area. More than once Pia had expressed a desire to go to Hollywood and give acting a try. But since she lacked any obvious talent besides her pretty smile and straight teeth, she hadn’t gotten far.
    Char returned to the cash register and hit the open key. She pulled out the spare key and held it up for Pia to see. “Can you close up for me? I’ll probably be back in time, but I’d rather have this covered in case I have to give Eli a lift home. I’ll pay you overtime.”
    Pia brightened. “Really? Cool. Is it okay if I call my friend Molly to come in? It gets dark so early…and, well…you know.”
    Pia had complained more than once that closing gave her the creeps because the wind blowing across the open hole in the teepee made eerie, moaning sounds.
    “Sure. No problem.” Char set the key on the counter then removed three twenty-dollar bills from the slot. Normally she would have written a note documenting thecash dispersal, but she knew she wouldn’t forget where this money was going. Plus, how would her accountant write off guilt money?
    After double-checking to make sure the safe was locked, she grabbed her coat. “I’ve got my cell phone, if you need anything. Thanks. Oh, and…let’s keep this little misunderstanding between us. Eli’s one of the good guys.” I hope .
    She wasn’t banking on her clerk’s discretion, but she’d learned a long time ago that she had no control over gossip. Her family had been the focus of all sorts of talk when she’d been growing up—very little of it good.
    Ain’t that the truth, chickadee. And here you go again. Makin’ up for lost time.
    Char ignored the comment as she focused on what she needed to do. First, she had to deliver Megan’s balloons. Because a promise to a child was not something she’d ever willingly break.
    Willingly. Now, that’s a word for you. You gonna tell Eli about your promise?
    “Eli,” she cried with a bit more volume than needed as she dropped into the driver’s seat of her Honda sedan. She had a small tussle with the errant balloon, wedging it between her bosom and the steering wheel. “Here. A promise is a promise. I told Megan I was bringing a dozen.”
    He was slumped down, the hood of his sweatshirt bunched around his neck. Pia was right. He did look like a homeless person. This certainly wasn’t how Char had pictured him over the years. She felt a strong emotion well up in her chest. Disappointment? Sadness? The end of the dream? No. She hadn’t dreamed about him.
    Liar. Liar. Pants on fire.
    “Do you mind?” she asked, yanking on the balloon’s ribbon.
    The fuchsia-colored orb smacked him in the face.
    He swiped at it with such quick reflexes she didn’t realize he had control of the string until she felt it slip through her fingers. The sensation made a tingle race up her spine then quickly radiate through her extremities.
    “Brr,” she said, trying to explain her shiver.
    She turned on the engine and adjusted the heater fan.
    “Are the police coming?” he asked, his tone hollow and resigned.
    “No.”
    “Are you taking me to them?”
    “I’m going to deliver these balloons to my best friend’s niece’s birthday party. You can wait in the car while I go in. If you’re still here when I come out, I’ll drive you wherever you want to go.”
    His chin came up and he looked at her. “Why are you being so nice? I tried to rob