Kaleidoscope Summer (Samantha's Story) Read Online Free PDF

town, I’d copy Serenity Cove.” She looked at me as though waiting for a reply.
    “Not much designing went on. ” I looked around at the shops and chuckled.
    She ran her finger s through her hair , pulling it over one shoulder.
    “You’re right. Mi sm atched homes turned into shops— I think the city planners followed a crazy-quilt pattern a nd created a town. But i t certainly has a uniqu e charm.” Sam lowered her window and Gol die climbed from the back and laid her head on th e edge of the opened space, allowing the wind to ruffle her fur.
    W hen had the town becom e so vibrant ? I glanced at Sam—m y he art pounded with a desire t o know this beautiful creature better.
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    My life seems twisted in knots— I haven’t a clue how to work them lo o se. Everyt hing I believed about my life has been proved false. I heard the story many times. A child born to parents in their late forties , an unexpected blessing. They called me their miracle child. This self-indulgent pity isn’t helping . Father , please help me stop dwelling on the negative. ~ Journal e ntry
     
    At my doctor’s appointment, Doc fussed at me for overdoing it, and putting too much stress on my ribs. So I stayed home for a few days, and although it helped, it was time to get back to searching for answers.
    I waited until Maggie folded the morning paper and pushed it aside . “Mind if I rid e into town with you ?” Rely ing on others made me edgy. My parents had ins isted I learn to be independent so people wouldn’t view my deafness as a handicap.
    “ You’re welcome to ride with me a nytime. But today I’m spending the morning in my garden . And later, I’m going to a quilti ng lesson at the church. Y ou might enjoy it—Thelma’s giving a demonstration on appliqué tech niques. ”
    “Thelma from the hospital?” Thelma had hel ped with Goldie during my hospital stay . Once my little furry sweetheart learned the routine , each time Thelma entered the room Goldie greeted her, swishing her tail .
    “One and the same . She’ll have some of her gorgeous quilts on display.” Maggie set her fork and spoon on her plate and stood.
    “Sounds fun ,” I agreed , before I could stop myself. “Go . V isit your garden—I ’ll clean up . ”
    “Aren’t you the boss y one this mo rning? ” Maggie tossed me a wink as she raked her hai r back and secured it with a red band from her wrist , and slipped out the back door.
    With an extra swipe of the towel across the kitchen counters, I dried my hands . Satisfied that it sparkled the way Maggie liked it.
    Goldie lay curled up asleep on her mat by the back door. “Ready to go outside, girl?” W e traipsed ac ross dew -covered grass to where M aggie knelt , tugging weeds from around a stone birdbath in the center of her garden . “You look as though you ’re enjoying the morning .”
    She leaned back on her heels . “Relaxes me and works out my stress. And I love watching it burst with color .”
    “ A few pots on the deck of my condo are about the extent of my gardening skills .” T he sea caught my attention , and I longed to get closer. “Think I’ll take Goldie for a walk. ”
    “There’s a g reat dreaming rock down by the shore.” Maggie pointed with her dirt-covered glove.
    “Okay. W on’t be long.” We fol lowed the path leading to Maggie’s dreaming place . I removed a solitary string of slimy kelp from the rock and eased onto it . Pelicans dipped into the surf and once again took flight. T he tangy sweetness of the ocean b reeze caresse d my skin—I closed my eyes and inhaled the blue peace spread out before me .
    Since losing my hearing , my othe r senses had become heightened. Where many people enjoyed mus ic and felt inspired by a song, the lyrical beauty God wove into nature had become my inspiration . In my mo ther’s garden , I often bur ied my face in a rose , drawing in its sweet fragrance and stroking the velvety petals with my