Vegas Sunrise Read Online Free PDF Page B

listened to the bells and whistles, the voices, the sounds of money dropping into metal trays. This was certainly very different from Ardmore, Alabama, population 1096. She shivered when she thought of her last day in the small town.
    â€œI’ve been looking all over for you, honey.”
    â€œI’ve never seen anything like this, Birch. Money smells, did you know that?”
    Birch laughed. “Tomorrow or the day after, I’ll take you into the counting room. We had to buy a hydraulic lift to move the money from place to place. Money is heavy and, yes, money smells. Amazingly, people get sick from handling money. Are you ready to call it a night?”
    â€œYes. How do you get used to this?”
    â€œAfter a while it becomes just a place. The noise, the smoke, the late hours, it gets to you eventually. My father loved it. They called him The Emperor of Las Vegas. It was in his blood.”
    â€œWill they call you The Emperor if you take over?”
    â€œI doubt it. Tell me, what did you think of the family. Aren’t they great?”
    â€œAbsolutely. I know I made the wrong impression. I should have listened to you about this dress. Do you think they sell sackcloth in the boutiques?”
    â€œMy sisters and mother aren’t glitzy people. Aunt Bess and Aunt Billie are plain people, too. We even eat plain stuff. My father was the glitzy one because he had a very high profile. He tried to mold Mom into what he wanted her to be, but it didn’t work. In the end he wanted her just the way she was. My mother is probably the most wonderful woman in the world with my sisters close runners-up. You’ll fit right in. Didn’t you just love Iris? I was jealous when Sage started going with her. Mom, Sunny, and Billie loved her on sight. I think she’s perfect.”
    Celia’s head bobbed up and down. “Are you saying you want me to be like your sisters, Iris, and your mother ?”
    â€œHell, yes. When something’s perfect, don’t mess with it. You’re going to fit right in, honey. Iris will take you under her wing and show you the ropes. Wait till you see Sunrise. We’re all going to go up there this weekend. I just made a snap decision here, but I know Sage and Iris will agree to a weekend get-together.”
    â€œI see. What if I don’t fit in, Birch?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t you?” His voice was so puzzled that Celia grimaced.
    â€œI’m not a nester, Birch. I’ve always been a free spirit. You told me that was one of the reasons you fell in love with me. I don’t like rules and regulations. I like new things, new places, new interesting people. Costa Rica was fine for me because of you. I was somebody else there. I had to conform. That was part of the deal when I signed on. I didn’t make a deal with you, Birch, to cook and sew and do all those housewifely things. Maybe later. For now I want to experience this wonderful place. I don’t want a schedule, and I don’t want someone making decisions for me. Is this going to be a problem for us?”
    â€œI think the question is, what will you do? Do you plan to get a job?”
    â€œA job!” She made the word sound obscene. “Will we need another income? We never discussed this. If you need me to work, I will. I thought . . . hoped, I could stay home for a while. I guess everyone in your family works, huh?”
    â€œYes. Iris worked for a bit while she was pregnant. She tutored for several months after Lexie came along. The kids and Sunrise are a full-time job now. Billie loves working. Sunny would, too, if she could. She has great ideas and shares them in the middle of the night when she can’t sleep.”
    There was a nip to Celia’s voice when she said, “How cozy.”
    â€œObviously we need to talk, Celia. We can do it upstairs or tomorrow. I don’t like things to fester. It might be good to do it after I have breakfast with my