Read A Simple Song for Free Online Page A

keyboard, and she seemed to be staring intently at her screen at what looked like a customer’s order for soap and candles. Then she spun around in her chair, staring at Katrina like she was staring at a ghost, and she looked like she was crying.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Katrina asked anxiously. “What happened?”
    â€œNothing is wrong.” Bekka wiped her eyes. “It’s just that it was so beautiful.”
    Katrina blinked. “You mean the song?”
    Bekka nodded eagerly. “Katrina, that was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. And I have heard a lot of people singing. I’ve been watching American Star for three seasons now.”
    â€œOh . . .” Katrina waved her hand. “Well, that is a very pretty song, don’t you think?”
    â€œI don’t just mean the song. It was great. But I mean your voice. I always knew it was beautiful. I just never knew it was that beautiful.”
    Katrina couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Bekka.”
    â€œYour voice is so good that I know you could win a million dollars on American Star .”
    Katrina laughed. “I know you mean that as a compliment, but it will never happen, Bekka. Not in a million years.”
    â€œMaybe you should watch American Star with me,” Bekka told her. “You might see what I’m talking about.”
    â€œRight now I just want to go through Mammi’s things,” Katrina told her. “And I know you need to work on those orders for your business.”
    Bekka nodded. “You’re right.”
    â€œWill I bother you if I stay here and go through this stuff?”
    â€œNot if you sing while you’re doing it.”
    So, as Katrina sorted through the papers, some of which seemed to be words to songs and others of which seemed to be letters from record people, she sang what songs and words she could remember, often making up the missing words—and sometimes making both of them break up into laughter.
    â€œWhat is going on in here?” Peter demanded as he opened the door and both he and Cooper suddenly burst into the tiny office.
    â€œGo on,” Bekka told him. “It’s too crowded in here already.”
    â€œBut I heard laughing,” Peter told her.
    â€œJa, ja,” Bekka said. “Is there a rule against laughing while you work?”
    â€œAre you working?” Peter asked.
    â€œLook.” Bekka pointed to her computer. “You can see that I am.” She now pointed to Katrina. “And she is helping me.”
    Katrina had covered up her things with a box of loose papers and was now looking up at the guys with the most innocent face she could muster under the circumstances.
    â€œMamm said to tell you supper is nearly ready,” Peter told Bekka.
    â€œThat means I’d better go home too,” Katrina said.
    â€œMe too,” Cooper said cheerfully.
    â€œIsn’t that handy?” Bekka said with a teasing glint in her eye. “You can just leave those papers,” she said to Katrina. “I’ll put the rest of them away.”
    Katrina could tell by her tone that she meant Mammi’s things. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she stood.
    â€œTomorrow?” Bekka looked confused.
    â€œKatrina is coming to the group singing,” Cooper said.
    Bekka’s eyes lit up. “It’s about time they let you come back. I’m sure your mammi would agree it’s been way too long.”
    Katrina just nodded. She wasn’t entirely sure what Mammi would say or think of any of this. She reassured herself with the thought that Starla Knight would understand. Surely she would.

4
    As Cooper walked with Katrina down the road, he started to hum one of the lighthearted tunes they had sung at the group singing. It was just a silly little song about a frog and a horse, but she could tell he wanted her to sing along. “Come on,” he said finally.