Whatever He Wants Read Online Free PDF Page A

her second, third and often fourth looks as she’d
walk by. Noelle’s favorite memories or her mother was when they baked together.
Her mother would come up with the most amazing concoctions. She worked in a
grocery store bakery and had dreams of opening her own bakery.
            Those dreams came to a screeching halt
when Dorothy Bea died. Noelle was devastated. She’d lost her rock and her best
friend. She’d always been shy and found it hard to make friends because of a
stutter which was particularly bad when she was nervous or agitated. With the
loss of her mother, her speech impediment grew worse.  She was teased for
it to the point she talked as little as possible.
            It didn’t help matters that she was taken
in by an aunt who made it a point to let her know she was only doing her
Christian duty than any sense of loving feelings toward her niece. Her Aunt
Frieda had not been openly cruel or laid a hand on Noelle. But she had a subtle
way of making Noelle feel as though she were a burden and less than worthy of
any kind of love.  Ten years of subtle barbs inferring she was stupid,
unattractive, and just generally a waste of breath had worn down her self esteem to the point where she barely had any. She’d
only had her art but now she wasn’t sure she had that. 
            Noelle wanted to say something that would
stop her cousin from being mad at her but she was at a loss for words. She
looked down at the table and twiddled her thumbs for lack of anything better to
do.
            It was Simone who finally broke the
awkward silence when she walked over, pulled out a chair and plopped down with
a heavy sigh. “You know I love you don’t you hon ?”
Simone took Noelle’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
            “Yes,” Noelle whispered in reply without
looking up.
            “You’re more than a cousin to me, you’re
my little sister.” Simone continued to rub her hand.
            This brought a smile to Noelle’s lips.
Simone had taken Noelle under her wing when she’d moved into her aunt’s house
and had always been kind. She’d made those first few years in the house almost
bearable. And now in adulthood they were closer than ever. “Yes, I know. I’m
sorry for annoying you. I don’t mean to.”
            “You have nothing to apologize for. I
shouldn’t have snapped at you. Blame it on my bad day.” Simone got a faraway
look in her eyes but just as quickly as it appeared it disappeared.
            For the first time since she entered the
room Noelle noticed something was the matter with her cousin. It was her turn
to give an encouraging squeeze. “Simone is everything okay?”
            Simone’s smile didn’t quite reach her
eyes. “I’m fine.”
            “No you’re not. I think I know you well
enough to notice something is really bothering you. Did the work situation
really get to you?”
            Simone pulled her hand away and rubbed her
temples. “I’m ready to leave my job. The powers that be are taking the store in
a direction I’m not happy with and it’s no longer employee friendly. I want to
start my own boutique to showcase my designs. I think all the chaos at work
lately is some kind of sign I should go for my dream now rather than later. I
have a pretty nice nest egg set up and if I can get a business loan that would
take care of the rest.”
            “That’s wonderful, Simone. If anyone can
make it happen you can. You’ve always dreamed of owning your own clothing
store.”
            Simone smiled. “Yes and I think it’s time
to make that dream come true. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and time
but if it’s not worth working for it’s not worth having right?”
            “Everything you’ve put your mind to,
you’ve been able to accomplish. I don’t know how much help I’d be but if you
need me in any capacity I’m here for you.”