The Awakening Read Online Free PDF Page B

her. Part of the problem, he knew, was that he really loved Megan. Desperately. He’d thought once that he wasn’t going to explain himself, or beg forgiveness for what he’d never done. But he knew differently now. Not that he didn’t still believe she should have trusted him; he just understood that doubts and life without really talking could undermine a marriage, tear it apart. And he wasn’t going to let it happen again.
    â€œGood morning!” he said cheerfully, and with Megan’s hand in his, he approached the large oblong table. Two seats had been left vacant for them, and he pulled out a chair for Megan. She sat, something of an awkward smile on her face.
    â€œMorning,” the thirty-something wife said. Finn thought that her husband nudged her leg beneath the table.
    Susanna McCarthy, Fallon’s female counterpart—as tall, skinny, and dour looking as the man himself—entered with a coffeepot and served them both without a word. “How did you want your eggs?” she asked them, eyeing them as if she were forced to feed escaped convicts.
    â€œScrambled, please,” Megan said.
    â€œOver easy, if you will,” Finn told her, determined to smile no matter what. He was also going to break the ice at the table, let them think what they wanted, then. “I’m Finn, and this is my wife Megan,” he announced to the table. “Weren’t all of you at the hotel storytelling down at the square last night, too? Saw you all in the lobby here, briefly, but I think we’re following a lot of the same events, as well.”
    There was a brief silence, then the twenty-something man spoke up. “I’m John, and this is my wife, Sally, and yes, we were at the storytelling thing last night, too.”
    Sally, a pretty little thing with blond hair down her back, spoke up, “Yes, and was he something! I must have jumped cleanly out of my chair at one point.”
    â€œHe was great!” the little boy said, speaking up. “Great! Some of the stuff is just hokey, like if you go to some of the haunted houses. But he was great.”
    â€œVery scary,” Megan agreed, smiling at him. She had a nice way with kids. She really looked into their eyes, paid attention when they were speaking. Finn didn’t doubt that, one day, when they had their own, she was going to be a wonderful parent. He wished he was as sure about himself.
    â€œHey!” the boy said. “I can tell you what to do and what not to do, if you don’t want to hit the hokey stuff,” he said.
    â€œJoshua!” his mother said sternly. “Maybe they want to discover the places on their own.” She looked at her son as she spoke, then looked over at Finn and Megan as if she had to, but wasn’t necessarily happy about it.
    â€œWe’d certainly love to hear his suggestions,” Megan said sincerely.
    â€œBut you’re from here, aren’t you?” the father said, looking at her.
    â€œFrom the area, yes,” Megan admitted. “But when I was young, most of this wasn’t even here yet. A lot of them are fairly new businesses.”
    It was then that Joshua’s little sister, a cute little redhead with a smattering of freckles, spoke up. “That’s right! Mr. Fallon said that your family goes way back here! So, if you know all about the ghosts and stuff, why were you screaming last night?”
    â€œEllie!” her father said, aghast.
    Megan laughed, and the sound was light and real and had the charm that her laughter always did. “Ellie, just because I know about some of the stories already doesn’t mean that they can’t still scare me. In fact, you and your brother were certainly very brave, because I came back here, went fast asleep, and then had the worst nightmare you could ever imagine!” She looked at the parents of the two with apology. “I’m so sorry, I guess I did wake everyone up.” She