Forever This Time Read Online Free PDF

“I’m not sure how to answer that, honestly.”
    â€œI know.” Mom’s voice was quiet, clear, and Josie felt her own forehead furrow at the sound of it. “I’m home for a bit, just to gather some things and grab a bite to eat. Are you—hungry? Would you like to come ho—come over here?”
    Oh boy. Besides the hospital and Snowflake Village, her childhood home was the last place she wanted to be, but she’d already managed the other two today. Maybe—just maybe—she could handle this, too?
    â€œI’d like to see you, Josie. That’s all. And—” There was a long pause. “I know the hotel’s full because of Cara McAllister’s wedding. You’re welcome to stay here … if you want to.”
    Josie took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Stay at her parents’ house? Could she really roll up that weed-choked driveway, open the creaky door, and pretend she was just a normal adult visiting her also-normal parents?
    But did she have a choice? The next decent hotel was a good hour’s drive away, and once her current adrenaline overload subsided, she was going to collapse. She took another breath and put on her blinker.
    â€œI’ll be there in five minutes.”
    As she hung up, she put her hand to her stomach, trying to quell the dread.
    Five minutes later, as she pulled into her parents’ driveway, she was struck by the bright pansies around the mailbox and the neatly trimmed hedges under the picture window. The driveway itself looked like it’d just been resealed, and the roof looked almost new.
    Gone were the overgrown weeds. Gone was the peeling paint on the shutters. Gone was the chipped wooden front door with the massive lion-head knocker and fake brass knob. In their places were new sunny yellow siding, dark blue shutters, and a classy paneled front door with beveled windows across the top.
    It was the kind of house she’d always wished she’d lived in, back when she’d had friends she wished she could invite over.
    Josie pulled her suitcase from the back seat and slung her purse over her shoulder, trying not to gape as she walked up the slate pathway to what looked like new brick stairs. Either her mother had hired a handyman and a gardener and a mason, or her dad was finally home for long enough to do more than wolf down a quick sandwich in front of the television.
    When she got to the door, she hesitated. Yes, it was her childhood home, but she couldn’t just walk in, could she? She pressed the doorbell, blowing out a breath and squaring her shoulders. She could do this. She could handle her mother, whatever state she was really in these days.
    She had to.
    The door swung open and Mom pushed open the screen. “Josie! Come in! You didn’t have to ring the doorbell!” She ducked her head, motioning Josie in, reaching out almost like she was going to hug her, then slowly clamping her arms back at her sides.
    Josie stared. Her mother looked like an L.L.Bean model, with jeans and a short-sleeved pink polo on. Leather sandals were on her feet, and her pink-painted toenails peeked out. Josie’s eyes traveled upward, noting the freshly washed hair, clear complexion, painted fingernails, lipstick.
    Lipstick.
    â€œHere. Let me take that.” Mom took the handle of her suitcase and deftly scooted it through the short hallway toward the kitchen. “This place didn’t get any bigger while you were gone.” Her laugh sounded nervous as Josie followed her.
    â€œHas Dad woken up?”
    â€œNot really, no. No…” Mom took a shaky breath.
    â€œHow bad was the stroke? Do they know yet?”
    â€œCome sit down.” Mom set the suitcase against the pantry door, then turned to Josie. “You’ve had a long day already, driving all the way up here. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Soda?”
    â€œNo, thanks. I’m fine.” Apparently she wasn’t