Read The Calendar of New Beginnings for Free Online Page B

changing. Everyone else seemed to keep up, so why did it feel like such a struggle for him?
    “Fine!” he said, kicking at the gravel under his foot. “I’ll keep your counsel on one condition. You will keep me up to date on your medical progress.”
    “What?” she blasted out.
    “I’m not asking to go to your appointments with you, but I will if you’ll let me.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “Please don’t shut me out of this, Luce. It would…kill me.”
    She turned her back to him, and he heard another unmistakable sniff. He took a few deep breaths to calm the messy emotions coursing through his own chest.
    “Okay,” she said, “but I want your promise you won’t boss me around when it comes to medical things.”
    “I’m not completely sure what you mean by that. I would never do anything that wasn’t in your best interest.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said, looking weary suddenly.
    He fought a string of curses. “Fine. I promise I will not do anything without talking to you first,” he said, hoping he could keep that promise.
    “Or do anything period,” Lucy said, wrapping her arms around herself like she was suddenly cold. “I’m pretty independent. I don’t like being told what to do.”
    He fought a smile. “Don’t I know it? It’s one of your most charming and aggravating qualities.”
    “If I wasn’t so tired, I’d throw a handful of gravel at you right now,” she said with a trace of humor in her voice.
    “It’s a good thing I’m adept at ducking,” he said, making a show of his skills. “Just promise me something, okay?”
    Her eyes turned wary.
    “That you’ll remember you have people who love you. There’s no reason for you to tough everything out by yourself. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
    She rubbed her forehead wearily. “All right.”
    He held out his hand to her. “I’m glad you came home, Lucy.”
    She took it, gripping it firmly. “Me too, Andy Cakes.”

Chapter 3       

    Moira Hale was a little embarrassed of her fangirl moment, but the way Lucy saw the world and photographed it…few people had that kind of gift. Moira had always admired her for her courage and abilities, but the five-year age difference between them had felt a lot larger when they were kids. Now that Lucy was home, for however long, Moira hoped they might become friends. And if she could learn anything about photography from her, she would be in seventh heaven.
    She had been watching the door, waiting for Andy and Lucy to walk back in—hoping she was wrong about there being some dire reason for Lucy’s return, knowing she was not—but maybe it was time for another drink. Something to pass the time until they returned. She stepped up to the O’Briens’ makeshift bar in the dining room of their house and considered her options.  
    Her phone vibrated in her jeans pocket again, and she almost cursed aloud. Her new boss had no right to hound her like this! Moira reached for something stronger than her earlier Guinness. An Irish whiskey might remove the bad taste in her mouth from her boss’s ongoing texts, not to mention her worry about Lucy.  
    “You’re going for the Knappogue Castle single malt?” her brother, Matt, asked, crowding close. “What’s wrong? This isn’t just concern about Lucy. You’ve been checking your phone more than usual.”
    Before heading to the O’Briens’, their family had gotten together at Natalie and Blake’s house for an early dinner. She’d stepped out twice to call her boss back.
    “No, it’s not only Lucy, although I practically had to shove Andy toward her.”
    “I noticed you giving him a pep talk,” Matt said, a half smile on his face. “I knew he was in good hands.”
    She nodded, pouring herself a hefty shot of whiskey. “The other reason is my boss. She’s driving me nuts! I’ve had a lot of bosses in the past ten years, and not all of them have been a peach to