Who Loves Her? Read Online Free PDF

her.  Without thought or intent, something in the two children was forged that day in a way that few experience.  Everyone thought it was cute.  In fact, even back then, folks at St. Olaf’s started to smile at the two little ones innocent in their companionship, and wondered if fate would bring them together as adults.  What no one understood was that fate had already made its mark.
    She remember ed the time at a middle school church retreat at Lake Carlos that Susan had dropped her hat off the side of the boat.  Before anybody could yell at him, Bob was already in the water.  As his skinny arms and legs cut the water swimming for all he was worth, she could not help but to stifle a giggle with her hand, as a thrill of excitement lightened her heart with the realization that she was someone special to him.  Viking or not, the cold water slows down your muscles when you are trying to swim out there too long, and Bob came mighty close that day to either drowning or getting hypothermia.  She remembered well his shivering body and clattering teeth as they sat by the fire.  He was wrapped head to toe in a wool blanket and she was wrapped heart to soul in awkward appreciation. The campfire provided the perfect setting, but Susan did not know the perfect response. Her hushed voice provided more warmth for Bob’s body than the campfire did.  She said, “Thanks.”
    The sound of Susan’s voice, its sincerity and simplicity, made Bob’s heart swell with pride.  “Don’t mention it,” Bob chattered.  Feeling clumsy, thinking that she had not thanked him enough, she gave him a small kiss on the cheek.  She was in the sixth grade, and it seemed to be what women did on television when a guy did something really stupid to try and be nice.  Bob blushed and looked at the ground.

Chapter Four
     
    “Susan?”
    “What, Mom? I can’t always answer my phone, you know .”
    “Did you like the casserole?
    Yea…”
    “Well, I guess I’ll….”
    “Mom?”
    “Yes, Susan.”
    “I’m sorry about the crack about Anna.  That’s wasn’t cool.”
    “We’re worried about you Susan.”
    “Don’t worry, Mom.  I’m working for Uncle Lars, here at the Skylark.  What could go wrong?”
    “We need to talk, h oney.”
    “Later, Mom .  Thanks for the casserole.”
    Damnit , Mom…where was I…she scanned the last few paragraphs and remembered.  As she saved her work to be on the safe side, she found her room fading, the clicking of fan replaced by the young woman with wet hair and a secret love.
     
    ***
     
    Nina knocked on the door of her room.  Susan was startled as she reminded herself that Bob was in the past and that Harris was going to be her perfect future.  She looked into her compact to make sure her eyes were not puffy…well, not too puffy.  As an afterthought she glanced back for any hint of guilt or shame.  With a smirk, she shook her head in disgust and wondered as she opened the door to her nosey friend Nina.
    “You, o kay?” Nina inquired as she came bounding into the room.  She seemed to scope every corner of the room and each shelf in an instant, as if looking for clues of some great mystery or evil crime.  Dissatisfied, she turned and demanded:  “Are you okay!”
    “ Of course, I am,” Susan stammered, “why wouldn’t I be?” Nina looked across the room, studying them both in the full length mirror.  Then she sighed.  “All the girls and Anna are working double time to get your wedding together this afternoon.  You think you might want to help us?  I bet you’re going to tell me your dress is not ready yet?”  The clock ticked in the hallway as Susan noticed the dust particles floating in the morning sunlight shimmering through the window.  As she wondered at their lazy drifting movements, it occurred to her, it was her wedding day!
    Suddenly, as if a veil of fog ha d been jerked violently from her mind, Susan remembered the dress.  A sinking feeling in the pit of her