My Lucky Stars Read Online Free PDF

as she sensed the unspoken communication between them. There was a sudden vulnerability, almost a wounded look, on Ben’s face, and she could tell he, too, felt uncomfortable witnessing the mother-daughter closeness. Tara wondered why.
    “I’m going to take Cadie to use the restroom before we eat,” Ellen said. With Cadie’s hand grasped firmly in hers, she passed between Ben and Tara. There was a vacant spot at the window now, and Ben beckoned her to take it before someone else did. Tara moved to stand next to him.
    They stood in silence, her eyes taking in the picturesque scene before them. The temple was astonishing by itself—a granite wonder with spires reaching toward heaven—if there was such a place. The dazzling display of Christmas lights on the grounds below only added to its beauty. When snowflakes started drifting from the sky, she couldn’t help but smile. It felt like she’d stepped right into a motion picture.
    “What’s so amusing?” Ben asked, misunderstanding her smile.
    “Nothing,” she said. “It’s just so strange to be here, and all that—” Her hand swept an arc, indicating the scenery below. “It’s so perfect—so unreal .”
    “That’s about as real as it gets,” Ben said.
    Tara turned to him. “What do you mean?”
    He shrugged. “That temple’s the real deal. The worship that goes on there, the truths that are taught . . .” He stopped abruptly as if remembering who he was speaking to.
    Tara recalled his earlier, disparaging comment. Big city girl. “I’ve heard about your temples.”
    “Oh?” Ben seemed surprised. “Do you know someone who is LDS?”
    “LD—what?” Tara frowned.
    “Mormon,” Ben clarified. “A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
    “Yes. I do. Did.” Tara returned her gaze to the lights outside. The snowfall was heavier now. The surreal feeling intensified. “I had a friend in Seattle who was a member of your church.” She glanced at him sideways. “That is, assuming you’re a Mormon.”
    He nodded. “You said had . This person isn’t your friend anymore?”
    “We haven’t really stayed in touch,” Tara said, feeling the twinge of sadness the admission brought. Perhaps she’d just been a coworker to Jane, an office friend, but Jane had been much more to her. She’d been the voice of reason, her shoulder to cry on during a particularly long string of bad relationships. She was the real deal . “She did what all good Mormons do—got married and started having a bunch of kids.”
    A half-grunt came from Ben. Tara glanced over again and saw he had his hands shoved in his pockets and the same, uncomfortable look on his face that she’d seen when he’d been watching Ellen and Cadie together. Too late she realized that what she’d said might have offended him. She tried to convince herself that it didn’t matter, that he’d been brusque enough with her to deserve anything she dished back, but she couldn’t get past the fact that he had been nice to her, had saved her from a miserable night in an airport chair.
    “I mean, what most good Mormons do,” she amended, trying to cover her earlier blunder. Before they’d left the airport, she’d noted the absence of a ring on his finger. “I mean, you’re not married, are you?” she said sheepishly.
    “Nope.” The way he said it told her he felt much the same about that as she did about having children. “Then again,” Ben continued, his face a complete mask, “who’s to say I’m a good Mormon at all?”
    * * *
    When they’d been seated at their table at the Garden Restaurant and the waiter came, Cadie and Ellen ordered ice cream sundaes for their dinner.
    “I promised her,” Ellen said by way of explanation.
    “Some mom you turned out to be,” Ben teased before ordering a Philly cheesesteak sandwich for himself and a bowl of chicken noodle soup for Tara, who’d excused herself to make a phone call. Beneath the table, Ellen kicked