Wounded Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

against each other. Madison hoped it wouldn’t do too much damage to the fragile new growth they had just planted.
    Vivian smoothed her hair and took off her sweater. She looked tired, stretched too thin, and Madison wondered if the meeting at the lawyer’s office for the reading of the will had gone badly. A glance at Lance’s calm expression reassured her.
    She took Vivian’s sweater from her and hung it on the antique hall tree by the door. “I have tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches ready if you’re hungry.”
    She had fixed Viv’s favorite windy day lunch, and her thoughtfulness was rewarded with a brief smile from her friend.
    “That sounds wonderful. I’ll just go wash up.”
    Madison had been working in the office just down the hall, so she’d prepared lunch in the big kitchen where she could keep an eye on it. Viv headed toward the bathroom and Madison held back as Lance removed his light jacket and hung it on the hall tree.
    “Did things go badly at the reading?”
    “No. Everything was as expected. Andrew left Heart’s Haven to David and Pia with provisions for Vivian and Kevin. He left the management up to Vivian, of course. David and Pia have their hands full with his ministry and her business. Kevin inherited his cottage and the job of landscaper here at Heart’s Haven for as long as he wants it.”
    Madison glanced down the hall. “That’s good for Kevin, but Vivian’s not ready to handle the management on her own.”
    “No, she’s not. That’s why I plan to stay. I’ve already placed a call to my son to see if we can arrange it.”
    Something hard and heavy settled into Madison’s stomach. “OK. Great,” she said, but her tone didn’t echo her words. “I’ll go get those sandwiches cooking.”
    She hurried to the kitchen feeling as if a clock had just started ticking away her time at Heart’s Haven. If Lance was staying, she certainly could not.
    Setting the sizzling grilled cheese sandwiches on the table, she eased in beside Viv and Lance at the table. Viv said a prayer. She thanked God for her blessings, including the wonderful people at the table. When she ended, she grasped both their hands.
    “I’m so glad both of you are here with me,” she murmured. “I don’t know how I would have managed without you.”
    Lance grasped her hand with his. “You know the second week is the worst, Viv. It will get better. I promise.
    His words encouraged Madison, too. She needed to know the sad, heartbroken look on Vivian’s face would ease. She didn’t think she could bear looking at it much longer.
    “I talked to Dex today.” Madison spoke hesitantly. “Easter is only a week away.” When she got no response from Vivian, she added, “He wants to know if they should make other arrangements for the brunch.”
    The question finally seemed to rouse Vivian from her daze. “No, no, of course not.”
    “What brunch?” Lance asked.
    “For the Beckett family’s ranch for children with special needs. It was one of Mr. Hart’s favorite places. He sponsored all of their special events. We usually supply the colored eggs and Easter baskets for the special needs children and their siblings. The parish members at The Falls Tabernacle supply dishes for an Easter brunch. We do an egg hunt at the ranch, and the children ride the horses and then we all eat. It’s usually a wonderful event.”
    “And it will go on as usual,” Vivian said. “Andy would want that.”
    Madison nodded, knowing full well that Vivian was not up to the preparations. “All right, I’ll order the baskets and the eggs. I’ll see if our community can help with the coloring and the decorating. Oh, and I’ll call, Aria, David’s secretary. I’m sure she can put something in the bulletin for the event, and ask for donations for dishes. But we might have to supplement the food. There’s very little time left for people to prepare.”
    “Yes, dear, that sounds great.”
    Madison hesitated. Vivian wasn’t