Love After All Read Online Free PDF Page A

was Dorothy, her pet name for Samantha since she was a child.
    Emily preferred to work at night and when she’d been informed that Samantha was coming for a while she was delighted. So as soon as Samantha showed up, she put her to work. The rule was, no one hung around the garage without working. So, for the past four months Samantha drove a cab and waited.
    â€œYou okay, sweetie?” Emily eyed Samantha, scrutinizing her face for the slightest blemish.
    â€œRight as rain, Auntie Em,” Samantha said, handing her the cash bag and the log sheets from her clipboard.
    Emily took the offered items, tossed them on the desk and continued her inspection. “You sure?”
    â€œI’m sure. What’s new?” she asked hopefully.
    â€œNot a thing, same old, same old.” She paused and grimaced. “You sure you’re okay? You sounded a bit distracted earlier tonight and now you look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
    â€œI’m just tired. But I got my ruby slippers on and I’m going to click my tired butt on home.”
    Emily laughed, loud and joyous. She loved the way they talked the Oz talk as they always did. It was like a secret handshake in a secret club. At one time Darnell tried to get into the act by declaring himself the Wizard, but that didn’t last long. He soon gave up and found his place back in Munchkin Land.
    â€œYou do just that. Good night, Dorothy.”
    â€œSee you later, Auntie Em.” Samantha turned to leave. but remembered the envelope she carried. “Oh, I almost forgot, I think my last fare left this in the back seat of the cab. He might call in for it.” She handed the envelope to Emily and left the office.
    As soon as she stepped out of the garage she looked upward, letting the slight drizzle dampen her face. She walked over to her car and pushed the alarm release, but stopped when she heard her name being called behind her. She turned. Emily was hurrying across the parking lot carrying a “What would Jesus do” umbrella.
    â€œSammy, this is addressed to you,” she said breathlessly, holding the envelope out beneath the shelter of her umbrella.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat’s what it says.” She turned it over and read the name aloud. “To Samantha Lee Taylor.”
    Samantha took the envelope cautiously and looked around the empty parking lot. Suddenly she felt vulnerable, but she had no intention of getting Emily involved. “Oh, that’s right, thanks, Emily, I must have forgotten and left it in the back of my cab by mistake.” Proficient at lying as Samantha was, this one was adequate to placate Emily’s curiosity.
    â€œYou sure?” Emily asked.
    â€œYeah, my head’s all over the place. I think I might be coming down with a cold or something. I completely forgot it was mine.” Samantha said, smiling happily as she casually glanced around the immediate area again.
    â€œAll right, sweetie, you drive careful out here. There are a lot of crazies on the road that are trying their best to meet my Lord sooner than expected.”
    â€œI know,” Samantha said, knowing Emily’s “dangers-of-the-world” speech by heart. “I’ll be careful. Good night.”
    Emily turned and headed back to the garage. “Emily,” Samantha said. Emily turned around as Samantha continued. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve given me a home and a family and I’ll never forget your kindness.”
    â€œSweetie, you’re like a daughter to me, you know that. And as soon as that package arrived for you from overseas, I knew to expect you. But Lord, I never expected to see you looking so despondent. When you came in four months ago, I knew you needed this place. It might be old and a long way from being perfect, but it’s shelter and a dry port in a storm.”
    â€œYes, it is,” Samantha said. “Thank