Heart Echoes Read Online Free PDF

think that?”
    The conversation quickly disintegrated. Amber wailed loud enough for Teal to hear. She cried that she had promised not to tell. Shauna, a middle school counselor who did not make idle threats, promised to ground her for six months. “Take your pick! Keep your secret or have a life. Teal is about to lose her mind here. Now where is Maiya?”
    Their voices grew softer. Then Shauna’s breath became audible, a cross between a deep inhale and a sigh. “She says Maiya is with that Jake boy.”
    â€œJake?” Teal’s voice rose. “Jake Ford? Since last night?”
    â€œYeah. They went camping. Up in the forest.”
    â€œNo!” Her baby spent the night with that delinquent? She was only fifteen! “No!”
    â€œListen, Teal. We’ll sort out all that junk later. Focus on the fact that this means she’s most likely fine. There are no reports of damage up that way. Those two are probably scared to death and just trying to get back into the city. Maybe she’s home by now.”
    â€œHe drives a motorcycle!”
    â€œWell, that makes it easier to get through traffic.”
    â€œHe’s nineteen, Shauna! Statutory—”
    â€œHey, hey. Don’t go lawyer on me. We have no clue what happened. Hold on to the good thought that she is safe. She is still your smart Maiya. You take care of River. Amber and I will go over to your house.”
    â€œThe Yoshidas are there. She’s not.”
    â€œWell, we’ll go and wait with them. I’ll keep trying her cell. Now don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. If you want JT to hog-tie that boy until you get there, just say the word and it’s done.” She referred to her husband, an ex-semipro football player.
    Teal halfway considered accepting the offer. “Oh, Shauna. Why would she do such a stupid thing?”
    â€œWhy did any of us do such stupid things? Now go. Bye.”
    Teal hung up the phone and turned to a crowd of expectant faces.
    The woman at the front of the line moved toward the phone. “Is she all right?”
    Teal shrugged and hurried away.
    She understood why she had done such stupid things as a teenager. In a word, she chalked it up to family . Why else did kids act out?
    But Maiya? What was her problem? Her family consisted of Teal and River, who weren’t perfect but they unabashedly loved her and each other. They provided all her needs. To some extent they spoiled her. True, they weren’t a traditional family because although they always referred to River as Maiya’s dad, he was after all “only” a stepfather. Yet dysfunctional had never entered the picture.
    Had it?
    No matter. It was in the picture now. Familial trust had been ripped apart. Her husband was the one who had brought Jake into their home. He vowed the kid was not dangerous. Her daughter had lied to her about where she had been. Somehow Jake Ford was involved.
    Teal could hold it all in for now. But once Maiya showed up and River was alert, she imagined herself going ballistic. Life would never, ever be the same between them again.
    Earthquake damage to the support system of a freeway overpass? Tip of the iceberg.

Chapter 9

    CEDAR POINTE, OREGON
    Lacey Janski froze behind the counter, a blackberry pie in her hands. She looked out at the customers in her coffee shop and zeroed in on a white-haired icon of retired local fishermen. “Andy, what did you say?”
    The man moved from the table where he had stopped on his way in to greet friends and crossed the room. “Big earthquake down in Los Angeles this morning.”
    That was what she thought she had heard him say. “Where exactly?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œTen o’clock or so.”
    â€œHow big?”
    â€œSix point—oh, man.” His deep voice rumbled. The lines of his weathered face creased into a frown. “I forgot. That’s where your sister