All I've Ever Wanted Read Free Page A

quitter and she had no intention of becoming one now.
    Her lungs burned and her legs ached as she finally broke through into the clearing around her development. She wasted no time gauging her location; she ducked into the first building she reached. She knew the building’s floor plan well since it was a duplicate of her own.
    Keep moving, keep moving. Down the stairs and into the basement, she ran. Faster, faster, she urged herself. When her hands pushed open the laundry-room door, she heard a crash on the floor above her. Her heart pounded as she plunged onward.
    She stopped short the moment she spotted the small window. There were shards of broken glass scattered everywhere beneath it and two wooden boards were nailed across the opening. Dear God, what am I going to do now…?
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    â€œMommy, can Jimmy go to church with us this morning?” Tommy’s inquisitive voice broke Kennedy’s reverie and jerked her back to the present.
    â€œUh… Sure, honey. As long as it’s okay with his mother,” she answered above the sound of the shower spray. She couldn’t remember when she’d stepped into the shower, or even lathering, but she rushed to rinse off. She had a million and one things to do before they left for the eleven-o’clock service.
    Determined to put Friday night’s events behind her, Kennedy concentrated on preparing breakfast, which consisted of milk and cereal due to her running behind schedule. As usual, Jimmy’s mother had dropped him off without feeding him breakfast and Kennedy found herself preparing another bowl.
    While the boys ate, Kennedy mended her son’s only good pair of slacks and then rushed to getdressed herself. By ten o’clock, she had everyone clothed, fed and standing at the bus stop.
    â€œMommy, are you okay?” Tommy questioned, swinging her hand.
    Startled, she jumped and refocused her attention on her son. “Of course, baby. Mommy is just thinking, that’s all.” Her forced smile grew warm as she stared down at him. Every time she saw him she was reminded of how much he looked like his father.
    Standing beside Tommy was Jimmy. He was only six months older than her son, but probably weighed a good twenty pounds more. He had the deepest pair of dimples she had ever seen, and right now the boy also had the misfortune to be missing his two front teeth. It was impossible not to like the exuberant boy. In fact, she often felt more like a second mother to him than a neighbor.
    Their bus arrived and the three of them stepped on and took their seats. Throughout the ride, Kennedy remained on guard. Of course, she still had no idea what she’d do if she recognized one of the gang members from the other night.
    Just put the whole thing behind you, she coached herself. But, even as she thought the words, her thoughts traveled back to that night….
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    â€œHe had to have gone this way,” the now familiar voice shouted.
    As what sounded like a stampede descended the stairs, again Kennedy felt as if her feet had rooted themselves to the floor. She couldn’t seem to think. Couldn’t move. Then her eyes fell on the double-load dryers and a solution became clear.
    Now she could move again. She ducked inside one of the dryers in a time an Olympic sprinter would envy, and tossed strange clothes over her body. Just as she finished and pulled the dryer door closed from the inside, she heard the laundry room door burst open.
    She heard sounds, for a while, then everything went quiet.
    Were they still in the room? Were they searching the other dryers? The possibility terrified her. She closed her eyes and prayed. Hard.
    Time stretched. Yet, she still couldn’t hear anything. Should she risk a peek? Her heart lurched. How had she gotten herself into this mess? The answer came quickly: her damn curiosity.
    Lord, if you’ll get me out of this one, I swear, I’ll mind my own business from now on. Hadn’t