Once Upon a Winter's Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

Tristan sat on one seat and Emma and Saundra and Anne sat on the other. No one spoke…but as Nona quietly cried, the tears flowed freely for the rest of them too.
    The burial service was formal and old-fashioned—just the way Nona had planned it. And after the final words were spoken, Emma’s father stepped forward. “Thank you all for coming,” he told their family and friends. “We would be honored if you would join us in my home for a buffet dinner.” As Rob gave them directions, Emma and Saundra slipped away, catching a ride back to the church with Saundra’s assistant, Meredith.
    â€œWe need to make sure that the catering crew has everything under control,” Saundra explained as Meredith dropped them off. “And you’ll pick up the cake at the bakery, right?”
    â€œI’m on it,” Meredith promised.
    â€œThat was a nice service,” Emma said as she and her mom got back into the Cadillac. “I think Poppi would’ve liked it.”
    Saundra just nodded.
    â€œI liked what that man said,” Emma began carefully, “at the end of the service.”
    â€œWhat man?” Saundra glanced at Emma as she stopped for the intersection.
    â€œI don’t know his name. But he was the one who mentioned Hemingway and Dean Martin.”
    â€œOh, that’s Lane Forester.”
    â€œIt sounds like he was good friends with Poppi.”
    â€œYes. They were very close. I’m sure that Poppi was hoping they were going to become family.”
    â€œFamily?”
    â€œ Anne ,” Saundra declared as if this were obvious.
    â€œAnne?” Emma was lost.
    â€œAnne and Lane,” she said with exasperation. “Everyone thinks they make a lovely couple. Don’t you think so too?”
    â€œOh…I didn’t know…I mean that Anne was involved with anyone.”
    â€œWell, she’s not actually involved . The divorce only became final last summer. I told her it wasn’t very dignified to jump into anything too quickly. Not with a young son.”
    â€œNo…probably not.” For no rational reason Emma felt very dismayed and depressed to hear this news about her sister and this man. Or perhaps, she told herself, she was still grieving Poppi and her emotions were not to be trusted. Of course, that had to be it.
    As Saundra drove up the hill to her house, she seemed to have a death grip on the steering wheel and, as she turned into the long driveway, her expression looked extremely agitated.
    â€œAre you okay?” Emma asked as Saundra pulled the car into one end of the three-car garage.
    â€œOkay?” Saundra snapped as she removed her keys from the ignition and opened the door. “Do you think it’s okay that your father has not said a single word to me today?”
    â€œWell, I—”
    â€œ Okay that he hasn’t even acknowledged that I’ve left him? Is that supposed to be okay ?”
    â€œHey, you’re the one who said he wouldn’t even notice you were gone, Mom.” Emma suppressed an amused smile. “Looks like you were right.”
    â€œI don’t want to be right.” Saundra slammed the car door loudly.
    â€œHe knows you’re gone,” Emma reassured her as they went through the mudroom. “He’s just waiting until everything is wrapped up today.” She patted her mother’s back. “Really, don’t you think that’s the honorable and mature thing to do?”
    Saundra seemed to be considering this as she hung up her coat. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” She opened the door to the big, recently remodeled kitchen. Everything looked noisy and busy as several young people wearing smart black-and-white uniforms scurried back and forth with various dishes and trays in hand.
    â€œLooks like they’ve got things under control,” Emma observed.
    â€œLooks can be deceiving.” Saundra handed Emma an elegant