Denim and Diamonds Read Free

vacation. There’s no need for you to work if you don’t want to.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
    “What are brothers for?” he joked, and drained his coffee. “I should get busy,” he said, rinsing his cup and setting it on the kitchen counter. “I should’ve gotten started hours ago, but I wanted to talk to you first.”
    “What time will you be back?”
    Lonny’s eyes widened, as though he didn’t understand. “Five or so, I guess. Why?”
    “I just wanted to know when to plan dinner.”
    “Six should be fine.”
    Letty stood, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. One question had been burning in her mind from the minute she’d pulled into the yard. One she needed to ask, but whose answer she feared. She tentatively broached the subject. “Will you be seeing Chase?”
    “I do most days.”
    “Does he know I’m back?”
    Lonny’s fingers gripped the back door handle. “He knows,” he said without looking at her.
    Letty nodded and she curled her hands into fists. “Is he…married?”
    Lonny shook his head. “Nope, and I don’t imagine he ever will be, either.” He hesitated before adding, “Chase is a lot different now from the guy you used to know. I hope you’re not expecting anything from him, because you’re headed for a big disappointment if you are. You’ll know what I mean once you see him.”
    A short silence followed while Letty considered her brother’s words. “You needn’t worry that I’ve come home expecting things to be the way they were between Chase and me. If he’s different…that’s fine. We’ve all changed.”
    Lonny nodded and was gone.
    The house was quiet after her brother left. His warning about Chase seemed to taunt her. The Chase Brown she knew was gentle, kind, good. When Letty was seventeen he’d been the only one who really understood her dreams. Although it had broken his heart, he’d loved her enough to encourage her to seek her destiny. Chase had loved her more than anyone before or since.
    And she’d thrown his love away.
    “Mommy, you were gone when I woke up.” Looking forlorn, five-year-old Cricket stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her yellow blanket clutched in her hand and dragging on the faded red linoleum floor.
    “I was just downstairs,” Letty said, holding out her arms to the youngster, who ran eagerly to her mother, climbing onto Letty’s lap.
    “I’m hungry.”
    “I’ll bet you are.” Letty brushed the dark hair away from her daughter’s face and kissed her forehead. “I was talking to Uncle Lonny this morning.”
    Cricket stared up at her with deep blue eyes that were a reflection of her own. She’d inherited little in the way of looks from her father. The dark hair and blue eyes were Ellison family traits. On occasion, Letty would see traces of Jason in their child, but not often. She tried not to think about him or their disastrous affair. He was out of her life and she wanted no part of him—except for Christina Maren, her Cricket.
    “You know what I thought we’d do today?” Letty said.
    “After breakfast?”
    “After breakfast.” She smiled. “I thought we’d clean house and bake a pie for Uncle Lonny.”
    “Apple pie,” Cricket announced with a firm nod.
    “I’m sure apple pie’s his favorite.”
    “Mine, too.”
    Together they cooked oatmeal. Cricket insisted on helping by setting the table and getting the milk from the refrigerator.
    As soon as they’d finished, Letty mopped the floor and washed the cupboards. Lonny’s declaration about not being much of a housekeeper had been an understatement. He’d done the bare minimum for years, and the house was badly in need of a thorough cleaning. Usually, physical activity quickly wore Letty out and she became breathless and light-headed. But this morning she was filled with an enthusiasm that provided her with energy.
    By noon, however, she was exhausted. At nap time, Letty lay down with Cricket, and she didn’t wake until early afternoon,