Read The Lure of White Oak Lake for Free Online Page B

again.”
    Clarice shook a finger at Morgan. “You were warned.”
    Morgan stood mouth agape as she watched the woman stalk off, dress billowing. And then she heard Betsy’s voice in her mind, That’s Clarice Minden’s place, she’s a little…eccentric . Morgan swallowed hard as she realized she’d just met another one of her neighbors. “Oh, my God,” she whispered as she went back to her shopping.

    ~~~

    Morgan sighed happily as she nibbled a protein bar and admired her well-stocked pantry. The fridge held milk, water, and beer. There was fruit in a bowl on the cabinet, and next to it laid a loaf of bread. The kitchen looked as though someone actually resided there. The living room was another story as she stepped around the bar that divided the two rooms.
    She went over to the small pile of boxes in the corner and opened one. Inside were a few books, and wrapped in a hand towel was a framed photo of Morgan, Brad, and their dad taken in Brad’s backyard. She tried not to look at it too closely as she set it aside. The towel made Morgan laugh as she thought of Celeste.
    “That bitch kicked you to the curb and you’re leaving all your shit with her? Oh, hell no.” Celeste snatched the hand towel and washcloth from the rack in the bathroom.
    Morgan watched as she wrapped something in the towel and set it in the box. “That’s part of a set, Celeste. They match the bath towels.”
    “And half of it is yours, fool.” Celeste took the bath towel and wrapped Morgan’s glass jar of keepsakes in it. “If I could get the love seat in your Jeep, I’d stuff that in there, too.” Celeste’s black curls bounced as she looked around the room. “That chair was yours before you met her. That’ll fit in the backseat.”
    “I don’t want it. It’s just junk. All I want is what has sentimental value to me. Resa can keep the rest.”
    “I’m feeling really sentimental about this damn watch.” Celeste picked up the Movado and waved it at Morgan. “You gave this to her when she got that promotion at work, and this is how she treats you?”
    “It’s hers, leave it,” Morgan said as she taped up a box.
    Celeste folded her arms. “I don’t think you looked hard enough for a job.”
    “I’ve combed my network and yours. I’ve sent out a million résumés and beat the pavement until my feet are as bruised as my ego. Besides, I need a change.”
    “But what if you go off into God’s country and you get a hit on a résumé and have to come right back here?”
    Morgan smiled. “Then I’ll stay with you until I find a place.”
    “You could stay with me right now.”
    “And Keesha would kill us both. There’s barely enough room at your place for the two of you and all of your hair accoutrements and clothes.”
    Celeste opened her eyes wide. “I know you didn’t just make fun of my weave.”
    “I love it, and when your real hair grows back in, it’ll be beautiful.”
    “Keesha and her experiments. She needs to practice on her own damn head. I don’t know what that shit was, but my hair was on fire. It melted in my hand.” Celeste put a hand on her hip. “She knows she’s in the doghouse with me. She won’t say a damn thing if I tell her I want you to move in.”
    Morgan hefted a box and set it on the floor. “I’m going. Brad’s already been there and had the utilities hooked back up. I’ll be closer to him. It’s only an hour and a half from where he lives.”
    “Fine.” Celeste threw her hands in the air. “But if I hear that you’re wearing overalls and wrestling alligators, I’m dragging your scrawny white ass back to Atlanta.” She waved a finger. “Don’t expect me to come visit you down in no hole, either. There better be a Hampton Inn or something close by. Celeste don’t do no shack in the woods.”
    Morgan laughed out loud when she opened the next box and pulled out a fork, Resa’s favorite coffee cup with the handle broken off, and the espresso maker Celeste had given her. It