Read Danville Horror: A Pat Wyatt Novel (The Pat Wyatt Series Book 3) for Free Online Page A

Pops,” I said, smiling up at him.
    He walked past me but then tapped me on the shoulder. “Patricia.”
    I turned to look at him. “Huh?”
    “I missed you. And I’m sorry I did what I did, and said what I said. It was never your fault. It was no one’s fault.”
    I nodded, understanding exactly what he was talking about, but I didn’t want to have that particular memory creeping up on me. So I just pushed it down. I could still do that very well. “I know, Pops. I know.”
    He gave me a half smile. “I wish I had. Then maybe you would’ve talked to me about what was going on in your life.”
    I shook my head. “No, I wouldn’t have.”
    “ No , you wouldn’t have.”
    We both laughed, and he turned, walking to living room to get his coat off the rack by his chair. Then he put his keys in his pocket, walking to the front door. Finally, he turned to face me one last time. “Baby girl?”
    “Yeah, Pops.”
    “Tell Cindy that her hair looks nice,” he suggested. “She got it done yesterday before you got here. I think she wanted to make a good impression.”
    “Will do, Pops. Will do.”
    He smiled, winking at me as he went out the door.
    I turned around, sitting there and drinking my coffee until I couldn’t stand the taste anymore. Then I got up to get some milk, hearing someone walk down the steps. As I looked around the fridge and down the hall, I saw Cindy walking toward the kitchen in her baby blue terrycloth robe, scratching her head. When I had gotten my milk and put it back, I went searching for the sugar.
    “On the table,” Cindy pointed out as if she knew what I wanted. I cocked an eyebrow at her. “You’re drinking Richard’s coffee. You’re in desperate need of sugar. Happy New Year, by the way.” She smiled at me, taking the lid off the bowl in the middle of the table.
    “Thanks. Happy New Year to you too,” I responded, smiling back as I put three heaping tablespoons of sugar in my now milky coffee.
    “Sit,” she said as she walked behind the median. “I’ll get you a spoon.”
    “Thank you.” I paused for a minute as she brought me a spoon, sitting down next to me. “Congratulations. Pops just told me the good news,” I managed to say without vomiting as I stirred my coffee.
    Her blue eyes looked confused. “Huh?”
    “The baby,” I prompted.
    She lit up with realization. “Oh, the baby. Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise.”
    “I can imagine,” I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Cindy did not deserve that, but I just found the situation a little annoying.
    “I know that this is ridiculous,” she stated, doing that mind reading thing again. “I know I’m too young for your father and that it’s not fair since you…” her voice faded away, and she just looked at me for a second. I understood what she was trying to say, and I did feel a bit cheated with her having a baby and me losing mine, but the fact that she was so accurate and intuitive, scared me to no end. “But I love him, Patricia,” she continued. “I really do.”
    “I can see that,” I replied sincerely. “It’s just—” I stopped talking, trying to think of the right words, “all at once,” I settled on, “you know?”
    She nodded. “I do know. Listen,” she said, changing the subject, “we have some stuff to do today. And if my stomach behaves, and I hope it does, we are going to get fitted for our dresses and pick out the cake. If you’re up for it?”
    I thought about it for a second, sipping my coffee. “I’m up for it. Just nothing too strenuous.”
    “Eating cake is strenuous?”
    I laughed. “I guess not.”
    “Well,” she breathed, getting up out of the chair, “why don’t you go upstairs? I’ll make breakfast, and we can get an early start.”
    I saluted her, getting up slowly. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “What would you like to eat?” she laughed, and I saw that when she smiled little lines appeared around her eyes. They suited her.
    “Anything.”
    Her