Always in Her Heart Read Free

giraffes ambled across the wallpaper border, while a pink elephant formed the base of a lamp. Marcy stood in the white canopied crib, shaking the railing impatiently. Her fine blond hair curled damply around her face, and her cheeks were rosy with sleep.
    â€œUp, up,” she demanded, holding out chubby arms to Annie. “Up, Nan.”
    She’d happily be called “Nan” until Marcy mastered “Aunt Annie.” She scooped her niece from the crib, putting her cheek against the soft curls. “Did you have a good sleep, sweetpea?”
    Marcy patted her face, and Annie’s heart melted. Nothing had prepared her for the wave of sheer love she’d felt when she first held her sister’s child. Blood of my blood, she’d thought, and known the infant had her heart in a tiny hand.
    She dressed Marcy, listening to her mostly incomprehensible chatter, and took her downstairs. The doorbell rang as they reached the family room. Her defenses went up instantly, and she marched to the front door carrying Marcy. If Link had come back to press her for a decision again—
    But it wasn’t Link. Frank and Julia Lester stood at the door, wearing identical smiles.
    â€œFrank. Julia. I wasn’t expecting you.” She had an irrational urge to close the door in their faces. She stepped back. “Please, come in.”
    â€œNaturally we came by to see how you’re doing.” Frank led the way into the living room as if this were his home. “Yesterday was so difficult for all of us.”
    â€œSo difficult,” Julia echoed, her expression blank.
    â€œThank you.” They all stood awkwardly on the pale beige carpeting Becca had chosen. She should ask them to sit down, but if they stayed, she might blurt out Link’s suspicions. “I appreciate everything you did to help, you know.”
    â€œAs Davis’s closest relative, I felt responsible. Who else would do it?” Frank looked at his wife as if silently prompting her.
    Julia glanced down at her silk jacket, then held out her hands to Marcy. “Why don’t you let me take her.”
    Annie’s arms tightened around the baby, tension traveling along her nerves. Frank smiled, and Link’s words echoed.
    Frank smiles and smiles, and all the time he’s looking for a weakness.
    She told herself she didn’t believe that, but Link’s suspicions affected her anyway. “She just woke up. She doesn’t feel like going to someone else just now.”
    Julia stepped closer, determination in every line ofher fashionably thin figure. “The baby loves Cousin Julia. She’ll come to me.”
    Ridiculous, to feel menaced by the woman. Annie tried to produce a smile. “Not now. Much as I’d like to chat with you, I have a great deal to do. So if you’ll excuse me…”
    â€œOf course, of course. I’m sure you’re busy getting packed to go back to Boston.” Frank’s smile didn’t falter. He moved closer, almost as if he and Julia were closing in on her.
    Annie’s tension jacked upward. “I’m not—”
    â€œWe realize how eager a career woman like you must be to get back to your job.” Frank reached for Marcy. “So we’ve come for the baby.”
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    He should have known Annie wouldn’t let herself be swept along with his idea. Link swiveled his desk chair to look out the window of Conrad and Morgan, Builders. Their tiny offices were located diagonally across the town square from the house that had been “the Conrad place” for generations.
    No, he should have approached Annie in a way she’d understand. She’d always had to have every detail at her fingertips.
    That had come between them before, when he couldn’t explain why he was so opposed to Davis’s abrupt decision to propose to Becca, bound as he’d been by promises and obligations. Whatever had started between the two of them had come