Satin Sheets and Strawberries Read Online Free PDF Page A

fishing pole for two bucks. He could go out and buy him a brand-new rod, but Josh did one better. He’d offered Henry his self-respect by allowing him to make a financial decision. While Logan would be offering charity.
    Kelli smiled at Josh, silently thanked him for the fishing pole. Since they lost everything in the fire, Ruth and Henry were living on Social Security and a small pension check. The bulk of their money was spent on doctors and prescriptions. Ruth had a chronic heart ailment, which was only partially covered by their insurance. The remainder of their funds was spent on clothing and a few household incidentals.
    Kelli had discovered they were a proud, stubborn couple who refused any charity. Between Josh, the senior citizens club they had joined, and flea markets, Kelli had managed to help them furnish their small cottage, but she was running out of ways to trick them into accepting any luxury items. For the past five months she had been writing, calling, and threatening the insurance company that Ruth and Henry swore had held the fire insurance on their modest ranch house. By now she wasn’t sure if the company was trying to wiggle out of paying the claim, or if Ruth had actually forgotten to pay the premium.
    She was startled out of her wandering thoughts when Josh announced he was leaving. "I’ll be back Saturday and I’ll bring that pole with me."
    "That would be great, son. Fishing season opens next month and I was wondering what I’d be using." Henry smiled.
    "I’m sure this pole will do nicely," said Josh. "Kelli, why don’t you get your coat and walk me to the car?"
    "Sure." With a questioning look at Josh, she put her coat on and zipped it up.
    "Come on, Ruth, it’s time we were heading home too," said Henry.
    Logan finished his coffee. "I’ll walk you two to your cottage. I haven’t had the official tour of the inside yet."The dessert dishes were piled in the sink, brownies were put away, and everyone headed out the door. Kelli watched as Logan trailed behind his aunt and uncle and disappeared around the back of the house. Her attention turned back to Josh, who was leaning against the side of a police cruiser.
    "Want to talk about it?" he asked.
    Kelli chuckled as she hopped up and sat on the front fender. "About what?"
    "Logan Sinclair."
    With her eyes on the back corner of the house, she asked, "What’s there to talk about?"
    Josh shoved his hands deep into his pants pockets. "It’s worse than I thought."
    "What is?"
    "Logan, Ruth, Henry, and you."
    "You lost me somewhere, Josh. What are you talking about?"
    "Nothing."
    "Nothing?"
    "That’s the point," muttered Josh. "We’ve been friends for nine years and for the first time you’re not talking."
    "There’s nothing to talk about," she said, slightly exasperated with the conversation.
    Josh looked up, studying the stars. After a few moments of silence he quietly said, "He won’t take them."
    "He wants to."
    "He seems like an okay guy. A little quiet, but I guess that’s understandable." When the silence stretched out again he added, "Listen, Kelli, he’s a traveler. Hasn’t he spent the past ten years traveling and working in foreign countries?"
    "That’s what Ruth told me."
    "All he wants is to know Ruth and Henry are fine. Once he sees how happy they are here, I’m sure he’ll head back to Istanbul or wherever he came from."
    "He thinks I’m a few cards short of a full deck."
    "I tend to agree with him," said Josh, laughing.
    He tenderly reached up and ruffled her hair. "You don’t need those cards anyway."
    Kelli slid from the fender as she muttered, "Thanks."
    Josh pulled his keys from his pocket and walked around to the driver’s door. "How come I’ve got this feeling Logan didn’t particularly like me?"
    "Henry calls you ’son.’ Logan was feeling threatened until I explained that Henry only called you that because you remind him of Logan."
    "That makes sense, but I think there’s more to it than that." Josh