Gage, Ronna - The Search is Over (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Five

    The massaging showerhead sprayed hot, pulsating water onto Candi’s shoulders, releasing the built-up tension between the two blades. White bubbles of shampoo cascaded down her body to gather in the drain below, taking the frustration and enigma of the last two days with it. The first setback, her breakup with Jesse, set the tensions within the household to almost unbearable proportions. They avoided each other when possible, and thank God her schedule kept her busy. She lolled her head under the massaging spray and grimaced at the memory in her mind. Working a double shift yesterday, she came home at three o’clock in the morning, barely enough time for a brief nap before her first day of orientation, which had been a chore to get through. Thanks to the eight cups of coffee, she did stay awake long enough to get most of her notes on a mini tape recorder Finally, she went to work yesterday consumed by exhaustion and wanted the day to end as quickly as possible. At work she took a quick look at the schedule and almost burst into tears when the revised schedule showed her to be off this evening.
    “I figured you needed a break,” Minerva whispered in her ear at the end of their shift last night.
    “You have no idea.” Candi hugged her warmly. She could feel the coil of pressure release in the pit of her stomach. “Minerva, you are such a good friend to me, always intuitive to my emotional stresses.”
    “I figure business isn’t going to pick up, so go ahead and go home, get some rest for school, and take tomorrow night off.”
    In her exhaustion, she spoke with heartfelt gratitude. “You are so great with encouraging my plans to continue with my studies.”
    “Oh, honey, you are so welcome. It is my pleasure. You don’t need to be waiting on drunks all your life like I am.”
    “Little things mean a lot to me. Like having an extra night off, knowing that business wouldn’t pick up and…”
    “Look, you need a break,” Minerva said simply.
    Candi appreciated having a supportive friend like Minerva in her corner.
    Bang!
    Bang!
    Bang!
    Startled to the present, Candi jumped at the hammering sound of heavy fists on the door, which intruded the serenity of her shower.
    “I’m in here,” she yelled, hoping to maintain a little privacy.
    “Candi! It’s me,” Minerva answered. “ Chandler wants to see you at the picnic tables.”
    Candi rolled her eyes at the ill-timed interruption. “All right.” She reached down and turned off the water. “I’ll be right there.”
    Stepping out of the shower, Candi felt the moist heat cling to her body. She quickly wrapped a towel around her shampooed head, and then grabbed the lightweight terrycloth robe off the hook. Slipping it on, she secured the belt around her wet body. The second she entered the bedroom, the cool breeze from the air-conditioner prickled her skin with goose bumps. She donned on a pair of pink silk running shorts under her robe. She unbelted the housecoat, slipped it off, and threw it toward the bed. She snatched a white cropped tank top from the pile of clean clothes in her drawer and then pulled it on and stood before the mirror and ran a comb through her wet hair. Opting to leave it down to dry, she then rubbed on deodorant and slipped into a pair of white flip-flops. Satisfied that in a rushed minute she looked decent, she walked to the kitchen.
    “I thought I’d wait for you,” Minerva greeted, handing her a bottle of Corona topped with a wedge of fresh lime. “It’s too damn hot out there.”
    “Thanks.” Candi took the bottle and watched Minerva pull her brown hair in a French roll on top of her head and secure it with a clasp. The tendrils of hair that escaped the rolled do, laid femininely down the side of her face.
    “I don’t think there has ever been a time that you haven’t worn your hair up.”
    “Being raised in Minnesota , I can’t stand the Texas heat. Roy says I complain about it too much, but I don’t