Sometime Yesterday Read Online Free PDF Page A

dressed and headed downstairs in her stocking feet. Rock and roll music blared and she slid into the kitchen in her socks, playing air guitar. Although one or two minor noises had startled her sleep in the night, she hadn’t had any strange dreams.
    Sunlight was streaming in the windows, some of which Mary had already opened. Around the mountains of boxes, the glossy hardwood reflected the light, making starbursts across the floor. Another beautiful morning in her new kingdom and all was well. So far, anyway.
    Natalie looked out the back door. The landscaping fairies didn’t make a visit in the middle of the night. The yard was still a nightmare.
    Mary was rinsing her coffee cup in the sink. “Your phone is dead.”
    “I couldn’t find the charger last night. It’s got to be around here somewhere.” She refilled her coffee and they both headed to the office down the hall. Neither mentioned the phone call about the house being haunted. It was too beautiful a day to talk about things going bump in the night.
    She let out a heavy sigh when she saw all the boxes. At least the movers had put the heavy desk and bookshelves in the right places. She opened the drapes. It was a corner room so it had windows on two sides. She thought it was perfect for an office the first moment she saw it. The room was painted a light khaki color and she knew exactly which of her paintings would complement the walls. She was excited for her collection to arrive. Natalie had contracted a company that specialized in moving art and sculpture. She’d heard far too many horror stories about moving companies losing boxes. It was expensive, but worth it. She couldn’t wait to set up her painting studio upstairs. She grabbed a dust rag sitting on the shelf, stuck another in her back pocket, clicked her box cutter, and got to work.
    Natalie had her head in a box and her fanny in the air when she heard Mary come in with the phone installer. She bolted upright and hit her head on the desk, knocking herself flat to the floor.
    “Damn it, that hurt.” She felt dizzy and lay still for a moment.
    “Are you all right?”
    Natalie struggled to open her eyes. She saw an outline of a woman against the bright light from the windows. Brown hair hung in clouds around a face that she couldn’t quite make out. A small hand brushed her forehead.
    “Wha…” Natalie wiped her hands down her face and tried to focus. She tried again. “What? Who are you?”
    “It’s Sarah, silly. You must have hit your head hard.” The woman tucked her legs under her dress and sat beside Natalie. “Poor baby. Do you need for me to kiss it?” She pulled Natalie’s head into her lap to examine the bump.
    Natalie let her eyelids drop for a second. The scent of lavender filled her nose. She felt a pull of longing at the sound of this woman’s voice. Who’s Sarah? She looked at the face above her. She felt some shock when she realized it was the woman from the painting. Big, soft brown eyes regarded her with concern, and Sarah leaned over and kissed her forehead. Silky strands of long hair fell around Natalie’s face. She wanted to stay right here forever.
    She stared at the stranger who seemed so familiar, and feeling tenderness toward the woman, hesitantly touched her face.
    Sarah leaned in and kissed her. Natalie kissed her back, feeling as if she’d done it a thousand times before.
    “Natalie?” A hand shook her shoulder hard.
    “Natalie, wake up.” The voice grew louder.
    “Ow. Quit yelling at me.” Natalie rubbed the back of her head. She looked around quickly and settled her gaze on Mary’s face in front of her. “I don’t suppose you saw her, did you?”
    “Saw who, honey?” Mary looked worried. “Stay here. I’m going to go get some ice.”
    “Dude. That was cool.” The phone tech sat back on his heels. “I heard your head crack all the way in the hall. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Despite how odd she felt, Natalie smirked. “I’m just stellar,