Rock Harbor Series - 04 - Abomination Read Online Free PDF

she’d been married but had only this circumstantial evidence, not any memory of a man, to prove it.
    She straightened her shoulders and stepped into the kitchen. These good people needed some kind of pleasantry from her. “Something smells good.”
    Bree spun from where she stood cooking at the stove. “Good morning.” She stared. “Your bruise is bigger.”
    Kade stood from his seat at the table and pulled out a chair. “Have a seat. Bree is learning to make pannukakku . This attempt is pretty good. I don’t think it will poison you.”
    Elena felt a smile curving her lips. Her tension began to melt away in the presence of these two. “Does she commonly poison people?”
    Bree made a face. “I’m not the best cook in the country. But Kade here has gained fifteen pounds since we married, so he shouldn’t be complaining.” She fixed him with a stern stare that changed to a giggle when he crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue.
    “I’m starving. What is pannukakku ?” She’d never heard the word.
    Bree turned back to the stove. “A Finnish pancake. Kind of a custardy one with a fruit sauce. Boysenberry in this case.”
    “Sounds yummy. Maybe I should wake Terri.” Before sitting at the table, Elena went to the windowsill. “Your African violet needs help.” She deadheaded the wilted blossoms and gave the plant a drink of water before caressing the leaves. What a lovely, velvety texture. She sniffed the aroma of soil. Such a fresh, new scent. And how had she known what the plant needed?
    Lost in thought, she went to the table.
    “I don’t have a green thumb.” Bree scooped up some pancake. “This warms up well. You can let her sleep if you want.” She put a plate of food down in front of Elena.
    Elena spooned a bit of the concoction into her mouth. The sweetness felt like a shot of adrenaline. “Oh, this is great.” She began to wolf it down.
    “Good.” Bree sat down in the chair next to her. “Is there anything I can do to help you today? Someone I can call?”
    “No, no one,” she mumbled. She wasn’t prepared for questions. She took another bite, but the pancake lost its savor. Bree would want to dig until she found out who Elena was. The thought of discovering who had done this made her shudder. Whatever it was, the pain was too great to face now.
    “You still don’t remember anything, do you?” Bree asked in a gentle voice.
    Elena grasped for a memory, anything. A dim hint of music floated in her mind. She could see a dance floor, hear the pounding of ballet slippers. Someone called out a name. Elena Cox.
    Her fingers clutched the golden ballet slippers at her neck. “I . . . I remembered,” she gasped. “My name is Elena Cox.” Her gaze fell to the floor. A worn pair of ballet slippers superimposed themselves over her bare feet. A high laugh tried to escape her throat. She was remembering.
    “Oh, good.” Bree’s voice rose on the end with a hint of relief in it. “We want to help you,” Bree said, exchanging a glance with Kade. “And don’t worry, Kade and I discussed it. You’re welcome to stay until you get on your feet.”
    “I don’t have any money. Maybe I could find a job in a convenience store or something.” Ballet hardly seemed something marketable.
    “There’s a little shop in town, Finnish Imports. The owner happens to be my first husband’s mother. She’s looking for sales help. The pay isn’t much, but it would be enough to get by for now.”
    “She’s Finnish?”
    Bree nodded. “Many of the residents of Rock Harbor are of Finnish descent. Or Cornish who came over to work the copper mines of the Keweenaw. I think you’ll like it here.”
    “What do you do?” Elena asked.
    “I train search-and-rescue dogs. I also have an animal shelter. Do you like animals?”
    “I . . . I think so.” Her eyes filled, and she looked down. “Your job must be very interesting.”
    “I like it.”
    “You’ve been very kind,” Elena said. “When could I talk