A Stroke Of Magic

Read A Stroke Of Magic for Free Online Page A

Book: Read A Stroke Of Magic for Free Online
Authors: Tracy Madison
Tags: Fiction
Gallagher.
    “Now, I have a strange question for you,” he admitted.
    “Shoot.”
    “Weren’t you wearing a green shirt earlier?”
    Swallowing my bite of food, I decided to be honest. It wasn’t like he’d believe me, so why not? Besides, I couldn’t give him an explanation when I didn’t even have one for myself. “Actually, I was. But I wished it blue and it turned blue.” I snapped my fingers. “Just like that.”
    Confusion clouded his eyes for a second, but then he grinned. “Yes. Definitely the most curious woman ever.”
    I couldn’t argue with that statement, so I didn’t.

Chapter Three
    I crave Saturday mornings the way my sister craves coffee—earnestly, with a passion, and pretty much nonstop. Saturdays are about sleeping in, and then a full day doing whatever I want, with the knowledge I still have one more day off. Sundays are different. Sure, I can still sleep in, but the reality that Monday’s just around the corner makes it not quite as special. On Saturday, all things are possible. So when my coffee-addicted sister phoned me way too early on Saturday morning, begging me to babysit her boyfriend’s nephew, to say I wasn’t jumping for joy is a mega understatement.
    Elizabeth had to work, and her boyfriend had been called in to work unexpectedly, so they needed some help until the boy’s mom could pick him up. Because my sister didn’t ask for favors often, and because she really sounded stuck, I’d dragged myself out of bed and driven to her place. Lucky for her, watching Sam had been kind of fun. But now I was glad to be home.
    Yawning, I climbed the steps to my condo and then stopped. Why was my front door open a crack? Had I left in such a hurry that morning, I’d forgotten to close and lock it? I couldn’t discount that possibility, not right away. But as I mentally retraced my steps, I distinctly remembered turning the lock on the knob and shutting the door behind me. My skin grew clammy and a rush of lightheadedness had me gripping the porch railing so tightly that my knuckles turned white.
    Scooting to the edge of my narrow front porch, I tried to peek inside, hoping to discover who, if anyone, was there. The door wasn’t open wide enough for me to see anything but the russet-painted wall of my entryway. No way was I walking in there. For one, I’d always hated those movies where people ran pell-mell into danger when they could have avoided it by being somewhat intelligent. For two, well—I’m not stupid.
    Retreating to my car, I figured I’d go find a friendly police officer to help me out, when a thread of laughter hit my ears. I knew that laugh. It came from my younger brother Joe, who never, and I mean never, visited me alone. So if he was at my place, that meant the rest of my family was also. Swiveling on my heel, I checked out the cars that dotted the parking lot. Yep. My parents’ ten-year-old boat of a car, my sister’s falling-apart Volkswagen bug, my older brother’s sparkling new SUV, Joe’s refurbished Trans Am, and my Grandma Verda’s Mini Cooper were all lined up in a nice, pretty row.
    A new type of uneasiness slid in. Had my sister spilled the beans? If so, then my entire family being at my place was not a good sign. They’d have questions. Lots and lots of them, and they’d expect answers. A shudder rippled through me. No way, no how was I going into that mess until I knew. So I did what any her-family-doesn’t-yet-know-she’s-pregnant woman would do. I ran and hid.
    Kneeling behind my car, I called my sister on my cell phone.
    “Alice? Where are you?” my sister asked when she answered.
    “I’m outside. Why are you all at my place?”
    “Waiting for you, you goof. Come inside.”
    “Did you tell anyone about…you know?”
    Elizabeth’s voice lowered. “Of course not! I told you I wouldn’t.”
    Patience was not one of my virtues, but I tried. Really, I did. “Spell it out for me then. Why are you all here?”
    She huffed into the

Similar Books

Blue Moon

Lisa Kessler

Striped

Abigail Barnette

The Lemon Orchard

Luanne Rice

In the Woods

Tana French

Hot Summer Lust

Juliette Jones

The Outer Ring

Martin Wilsey