Through The Pieces Read Online Free PDF Page B

wanted.
    It had been a month since the paperwork for the divorce was final. I had not heard from Scott at all and thought he must want the divorce as much as me. He was currently enrolled in an anger management class, and the court ordered him to attend AA. He had yet to see Maggie, and that relieved and upset me at the same time. Everything was going well. Maggie was adjusting to kindergarten and she and Rose had become inseparable. Annie and Matt asked me to stay with them longer, but I needed my own place to continue my new life. Mine and Maggie's new lives. Through the pieces, we would heal from the past and look forward to our future.
    When I entered the kitchen the only one up was Annie. She handed me my prize, a steaming cup of coffee. She looked disheveled and had her hair up in a towel.
    "Tomorrow is the day," she said in fake excitement.
    "I will only be about a fifteen minute drive, Annie. You have an extra key and you will have Maggie in the afternoon when I work late. I will see you almost every day. And let's not forget Sunday dinner."
    "I know, but I will still miss you."
    "Annie, you and Matt have helped me so much, and I truly am thankful, but we need our own place. A place that is all ours."
    "Fine, if you must," she replied, smiling. Annie would be just fine.
    "Love you, Sis."
    "I love you too, Sis." I grabbed her in a big hug. I need to get going or I would be late. I gave her another tight squeeze and released her.
    "Tell Maggie I love her when she gets up, and remind her and Rose that I will be picking them up from school today."
    "I will, oh, have a great day. I need to get the girls up." She darted for the stairs.
    "Bye!" I hollered after her. I grabbed my bag, pulled on my boots, and headed for the door. There blocking my way was Boris, sprawled out and fast asleep. I nudged him with booted foot, but he barely looked in my direction.
    "Come on Boris or I will be late."
    He looked up at me and slowly moved into the living room to continue his slumber. I went to open the door when I was assaulted by a smell only Boris was capable of generating. I held my arm up to my face and looked at me. If he was a human, I bet he would be laughing.
    Once at my car, I quickly scrapped the windows and jumped in. I drove carefully on the fresh blanket of snow. As I headed toward town, I turned up the radio and sang at the top of my lungs to my favorite song, Adele's Hello I parked my car in the alley and went to the back entrance of the bookstore. I had just unlocked the door, when the hairs on my neck stood up. I looked around but saw no one. My coworker, Echo, came in a couple of hours later. Twenty two years old, with short, platinum blonde hair, tattoos up both arms, and attending college to become a veterinarian, I considered her my closest friend.
    "This snow thing is getting old," she grumbled as she entered the front of the store.
    "And just think it’s only December," I smiled teasingly.
    "Well somebody really needs to change her name the Sunshine."
    "Did you bring me coffee?"
    "Listen Sunshine, I think we need to hold an intervention on your addiction to coffee."
    "Aw, does that mean yes?" At this point the thought of coffee had me excited.
    "Yes, if I give it to you, do you promise to not be all overly happy today? I have a bad hangover, and I don't think I can do sunshine and rainbows today."
    "Yes, yes, yes, and I will even let you go upstairs and pretend to sort books while I take care of the store." I knew she needed more time to wake up. Besides, I would do almost anything for coffee.
    "Deal, now stand back. I wouldn't want to get scratched as I hand you the coffee."I obediently obeyed, eying the liquid. I swear my mouth was watering at the thought of the first heavenly sip. She placed the cup on the counter, and in one swoop, I picked it up and brought it to my mouth. Ah, better already. Just then the door chimed, indicating we had a customer. Buck.
    "Well, if it isn't tall, dark, and handsome. How