Eat Prey Love Read Free

into the cafeteria. It was a large room with glass walls on two sides, overlooking the courtyard, the basketball court, and landscaped gardens in the distance.
    Howard motioned to the first table, which was laden with gifts, and she set her crumpled gift bag there. The next table boasted a punch bowl and trays of finger food. Across from it, a table held a large chocolate sheet cake with Happy Birthday, Constantine written in bright red icing. Another table was topped with tubs of ice containing bottles. Beer, she assumed, for the adults.
    Finally, she reached the tables where people were sitting. All female, she noted as she searched for her sister. Her eyes widened at the sight of one woman with purple spiky hair. She estimated about ten women her age, all happily chatting with each other. A handful of younger girls sat with them.
    But no Shanna.
    â€œYou must be Shanna’s sister!” A beautiful brunette stood and hurried toward her.
    â€œYes. I’m Caitlyn.” She smiled briefly as everyone at the tables hushed and looked at her.
    â€œWhere’s Shanna?” Howard grumbled.
    â€œShe’ll be right back,” the brunette continued in a crisp British accent. “She’s in the washroom, helping Heather. Both the twins needed their nappies changed.” She grinned and extended a hand to Caitlyn. “It’s so lovely to meet you. I’m Emma MacKay, Tino’s godmother.”
    Did you know he can fly? Caitlyn refrained from asking the question out loud and shook the woman’s hand.
    â€œI’ll head back to the security office,” Howard grumbled.
    â€œThank you,” Emma told him. “Be sure to come back later for a bit of cake.”
    â€œWill do.” Howard smiled a farewell at Caitlyn, then lumbered from the room.
    â€œLet me introduce you to everyone.” Emma began calling their names, but there were too many for Caitlyn to keep up with at once. She smiled and waved as they all greeted her.
    â€œAnd this is your niece.” Emma moved behinda chair where a little girl was sitting. “Sofia, this is your Aunt Caitlyn.”
    â€œI’m happy to meet you, Sofia.” Caitlyn’s heart squeezed in her chest as the little girl gazed at her with wide blue eyes. She was beautiful. Her eyes were like Shanna’s, but she must have inherited her black, wavy hair from her father.
    â€œHi,” Sofia said softly, then glanced over her shoulder at Emma. “I thought you were my aunt.”
    Emma smiled and brushed the girl’s hair over her shoulder. “I’m a pretend aunt. Caitlyn is your real aunt.”
    â€œI don’t have any aunts,” one of the other little girls muttered. “They were all killed.”
    Caitlyn’s breath caught. She tried to recall the girl’s name. She was one of Tino’s classmates.
    Emma moved over to the little girl and touched her shoulder. “Coco, I would love to be your aunt.”
    â€œMe, too.” The woman seated next to Coco gave her a hug.
    All the women echoed a desire to be Coco’s aunt.
    â€œMe, too!” Sofia cried. “I want to be an aunt.”
    Caitlyn smiled. Shanna was fortunate to have such caring friends. From the loving way they interacted with each other, it was obvious they were a close-knit group.
    With a small jolt, Caitlyn realized these people were Shanna’s family. They knew Shanna better than she did.
    A twinge of annoyance needled her. She’d only been nine years old when Shanna had turned fifteen and taken off to a boarding school across the world. Caitlyn had sorely missed her only sister. She’d written letters, but never received a response. Shanna had simply left her family behind. And she’d acquired a new one.
    Caitlyn knew she should be happy for her sister, but damn. Why hadn’t she been good enough for Shanna? She’d spent most of her teenage years feeling lonesome and abandoned. It was clear her father