When Day Breaks Read Online Free PDF Page B

considerably older and heavier than her sister. When they shook hands, Eliza felt the rough skin of someone who did her own housework, or at least didn’t take care of herself enough to apply hand cream. As they made small talk, Eliza found herself sympathizing with Faith Hansen and speculating on how hard it could be for her to be the sister of the glamorous and famous Constance Young. Probably very hard.
    “How many years are there between you and Constance?” asked Eliza.
    “She’s three years older than I am,” Faith answered quietly. “I know I don’t look younger, but I am.”
    Casting about for a tactful response, Eliza wished she hadn’t asked.
    “We all look older than Constance,” she said. “She never seems to age.” Changing the subject, Eliza asked Faith about herself.
    “I’m a stay-at-home mom.” Faith smiled. “I have two boys, seven and eight. They keep me pretty busy.”
    “I’ll bet,” said Eliza. “I have a six-year-old daughter.”
    “I know. I read that article about you in Good Housekeeping. How do you do it all?” Faith asked. “I guess you must have lots of help.”
    “Yes, fortunately, I do. I have a wonderful housekeeper, some great baby-sitters and neighbors, and my daughter’s grandparents live close by and spend a lot of time with her. Janie loves them, and they adore her.”
    “I wish my kids had that,” said Faith. “But they only have my mother, and she’s in pretty bad shape. Some days she doesn’t even know who they are.”
    “That must be tough,” said Eliza. “Where does your mother live now?”
    “With me.”
    “So you really do have your hands full, don’t you?”
    Faith nodded, and her eyes welled up.
    “I’m so sorry,” said Eliza, reaching out and touching Faith’s arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know how hard it is to watch as someone you love slips away.”
    “Don’t mind me,” said Faith as she dabbed at the corner of her eye. “I’m being ridiculous.”
    “No you aren’t. You aren’t ridiculous at all,” said Eliza, smiling at the worried-looking woman and wondering how much her sister was doing to help her.
    Slowly but surely, the garden filled with people. Most of the guests were KEY News staffers. Eliza went from group to group, making a point of introducing Faith around. Constance was aware that Faith wouldn’t know people, thought Eliza. The least she could have done was be here to make her sister feel at ease.
     
     
     
    Eventually the executive producer and the new cohost of KEY to America arrived. Linus Nazareth’s arm was around Lauren Adams’s waist as they walked though the French doors.
    “God, they aren’t even trying to hide it anymore,” whispered Annabelle to B.J.
    “It paid off for her big-time, didn’t it?” B.J. sneered.
    “Well, you can’t really blame Linus for going for her,” said Annabelle. “With her hair swept up like that, she looks just like Audrey Hepburn.”
    “Everybody says that,” B.J. acknowledged. “But I don’t see it.”
    Annabelle watched Lauren take a glass from a waiter’s tray. “What I wouldn’t give to have a figure like that!” she said.
    “I like my women thin,” said B.J., “but she’s too skinny. There’s nothing to hold on to.”
    “Linus doesn’t seem to think so.” Annabelle nodded in the direction of the executive producer and his new star. Lauren was staring adoringly at her boss-cum-boyfriend, and Linus was basking in the glow of her attention. “That’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”
     
     
     
    Inside the brownstone Stuart Whitaker sat at the long wooden bar nursing a glass of wine and waiting for his lady love to arrive. It wounded him to think that Constance had not respected his wishes by wearing the amulet. Even more, it worried him. If anyone at the Cloisters recognized the ivory unicorn, Stuart knew that its disappearance from the museum case could eventually be tracked down to him. He had to get the amulet back from