Read By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition for Free Online

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    Sondra opened the door wide. “What are you waiting for?” She motioned for Victoria to join her. “So what’s your question?”
    “Well, I noticed …” Victoria stopped when she saw several squares sitting three by three against the wall. Fencing seemed to separate the chickens from the humans. Slowly, Victoria stepped inside. She watched as her sister-in-law unlatched and opened a section behind one of the squares.
    Sondra scooped an egg from the nest. “See, not as bad as you thought.” Sondra showed the egg to Victoria and then placed it in her basket. “You get the next one. Nothing’s going to get you.”
    Determined not to act like a spoiled rich girl, Victoria swallowed and opened a second square. Pulling the egg from the nest, she held it up. “I did it.” She placed the egg in her basket and commenced to collect more eggs.
    “You’ll be just fine.” Sondra grabbed a bag of feed from beside her. Victoria watched as she filled a large can that had an opening on the other side of the fence. In a matter of moments, the chickens’ feed spilled out in front of them. “So what did you notice about Peewee?”
    Victoria turned toward Sondra. “His blanket.”
    Sondra exhaled. “It’s made from Kenny’s shirts.”
    “I thought so.”
    “It’s a little piece of Kenny that Matt can hold on to. When he grows older, I plan to put it away and give it to him when he’s grown.”
    Victoria’s chin quivered as her emotions threatened to get the best of her once more. “I’m so grateful for you.”
    Sondra furrowed her eyebrows. “What?”
    “Kenny was blessed to have you, even though your time was short. I know you made his last months wonderful.”
    “I hope so. I want Peewee to know who his father was and that Kenny loved him.” She looked at Victoria. “Dylan and I both want that.”
    “I’m glad.”
    Sondra hooked her arm with Victoria’s. “Before we continue our tour, why don’t we head to the house and get breakfast started?”
    Victoria’s stomach grumbled. “Sounds good to me.”
    Feeling as inept in the kitchen as she had in the chicken coop, Victoria did little more than watch as Sondra rolled biscuits, fried bacon, scrambled eggs, and mixed gravy. Being given the seemingly simple task of cracking eggs, Victoria had even botched that by dropping as much shell as egg into the skillet.
    “You’ll learn.” Sondra had tried to encourage her. “Just takes time.”
    Victoria didn’t feel encouraged. She felt like a poor excuse for a person. The things she was good at, like shopping, cosmetology, and hairstyles, were not practical for everyday, real-world living. She could hold her own at movie and television trivia, as well, but that didn’t help here on the farm either.
    Matt woke up, scampered into the kitchen, and wrapped his arms around Sondra’s leg. “I tirsy, Mommy.”
    Victoria smiled at the patch of curls that fell into his eyes. He shook his head and swiped them away.
    “I bet Aunt Victoria will get you a drink of juice.” Sondra unwrapped his arms from her leg and pushed him toward Victoria.
    “Come on, little buddy.” She extended his arms, and he scampered into them. Lifting him to her chest, Victoria nestled her nose against his soft cheek.
How could I have spent so long away from you?
    “Juice, Aunt Vic, juice!” Matt grabbed a handful of hair and pulled.
    “No, Matt.” Sondra turned and scolded him. “Do not pull hair. Say please.”
    Matt frowned and stuck out his little bottom lip. Victoria thought she would melt. The child could have her hair, the whole head full. She didn’t want to be the cause of his tears first thing in the morning. Victoria tickled his chin, and he smiled. “Pwease.”
    “A gal can’t resist that.” She grabbed the sippy cup Sondra had set on the counter, opened the refrigerator, and with one arm still holding Matt, managed to pour the juice and attach the lid.
    “Pretty good for a first timer.” Dylan walked into the