Road Trip Read Online Free PDF

“He said he was planning to be at the convention. But I guess those things are so big and bustling—there really is no reason to imagine we’ll see him there.”
    “Except he suspects that I’m going because Gram is being honored,” Annie answered. “He knows about the award thanks to Alice’s slip of the tongue. And certainly that’s why he is going as well. It’s probably a bit optimistic to think we won’t bump into him.” Then she sighed again. “Besides, he certainly seems to think he will see us.”
    She rooted through her tote and pulled out the postcard. She handed the card over to Mary Beth and waited while the older woman read it. “Do you suppose he was being friendly or ominous?”
    Kate peeked over Mary Beth’s shoulder. “Friendly,” she said after a moment.
    “Really?” Annie asked.
    “Otherwise, the creep factor would keep me awake,” Kate admitted.
    “Thanks,” Annie said wryly. “That makes me feel loads better.”
    Mary Beth grinned at Annie. “You know, we could cram one more person into the SUV. I’d bet Ian could find someone to look after things long enough for him to ride along as your bodyguard.”
    “I believe I can guard my own body,” Annie said. She felt her face warm with a blush. “Plus,” she added quickly, “we’ll all be together most of the time. I don’t think I really need to worry about one elderly man.”
    Mary Beth patted her arm. “I’m sure you don’t. I just like to tease.” Then she asked Annie how the baby blanket was coming along, and they settled into less threatening banter about crocheting. Annie pulled out the bit of blanket she’d completed so far and both women admired it.
    “You know,” Kate said, “I know a really nice quick edging you could do that would look lovely with that pattern and yarn. This is such a simple design, and it would show off the edging well.”
    “I don’t know,” Annie said. “I was just going to do a quick binding. I have to have the blanket done by the time we leave.”
    Kate nodded. “But look at how much you’ve accomplished so far. I think you’ll have plenty of time to finish. Here, let me just show you how it looks.” She rooted under the counter for some scrap yarn Mary Beth always kept there to demonstrate techniques to customers. Then she crocheted a few inches of the edging, showing Annie the process.
    “You’re right,” Annie said. “That’s lovely. You have such a great eye for design.”
    Kate blushed a bit, hiding it by snatching up a business card from the shop so she could write out the stitch directions on the back. Annie thanked her again, and then bundled up her crochet and headed out, excited to get back to work on the project.
    Later, as she settled back down on the sofa with a lapful of warm cat and crocheting, Annie realized that going to the convention was going to be more than a chance to honor her grandmother. It would allow her to mix with lots of talented people like Kate. “Who knows what I’ll come home inspired to do?”
    Boots only snuggled down deeper, so Annie gave up on conversation and focused cheerfully on her crocheting.

4
    The warm spring days passed quickly—almost too fast for Annie to really prepare for the double job of speaking at the ceremony and playing model for Kate. Not that preparing to model required anything of her except picking the right shoes to wear with the dress. Since Mary Beth had sent the dress off to Texas, Annie couldn’t compare potential shoes against the dress itself.
    She finally just brought a box of shoes to Mary Beth’s shop and had the women help her pick the ones that worked best. Kate pointed out a pair of pewter-color sandals with a slight heel. “This pair looks like it would match the buttons on the jacket exactly,” Kate said, “and the heel is low enough to walk in.”
    “Oh good,” Annie said. “I was hoping those would work. They don’t hurt my feet either. It’s hard to concentrate on being graceful when