Her Unlikely Family Read Free Page A

But I don’t have any business keeping her from an uncle who seems to care about her.
    God had sent Lisa to her for a reason. She simply had to figure out what that reason could be.
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    Michael hunkered down in his car. The late March temperature had dropped and couldn’t be over forty. Not exactly what he’d dressed for earlier in the day, back before he’d known he would have to hang around to deal with a frustrating waitress as the only link to his niece.
    He had a view of the front of the diner and of the alley leading from the back. So far, he’d only seen customers come and go. No sign of Lisa.
    He pushed the button to light his watch. Eight past ten and still no sign of Josie, either.
    The woman certainly worked hard. Unless, of course, she’d spent her time warning Lisa not to come back to the diner. The fact that Josie had misled him earlier didn’t bode well for how truthful she would be tonight.
    The fact that Lisa had told Josie she didn’t want to see him didn’t bode well either.
    A sigh escaped from some weary place deep inside. How was he supposed to deal with a teenager who was so rebellious she broke every school rule twice? Surely the school, with female role models like her teachers, was better than his bachelor home. Once again, he would have to find a way to get Lisa reinstated.
    He steeled himself for her objections. He would find her and take her back where she belonged. Maybe someday she would thank him for it.
    The door of the diner opened, and Josie, without any wasted movement, walked toward his car. Before he knew it, she had climbed in and shut the door.
    â€œHi, Mike. Nice night.”
    â€œWould you care to join me?”
    â€œI thought you’d never ask.” Light from a streetlamp spilled into the car, illuminating her sassy smirk.
    He stopped himself from telling her she had a nice smile, even though she did have a very nice smile. Instead, he sat in silence, turning to the quiet neighborhood outside, remembering the more touristy area a few blocks away where shops sold handmade candles, homemade fudge and funnel cakes. Why would a teenager head to this town?
    When he recalled the many wedding chapels in the area, his gut clenched. “I’m not too late to keep her from trying to marry the punk, am I?”
    â€œNo. The guy dumped her. But—”
    â€œSo you do know about him.” Anger pushed away the chill in the air. “What else have you kept from me?”
    â€œIt’s not like I—”
    His cell phone rang. He unclipped it from his belt. Caller ID showed it was the investigator. “Throckmorton.”
    â€œThey traced your niece’s car to a town in North Georgia,” the man said. “A young couple was seen getting out. We’re not sure if it’s Lisa. The female’s hair is black.”
    â€œDid you call the police?”
    â€œA patrol car is on its way now.”
    â€œGeorgia, huh? What about credit-card activity?”
    â€œNone since the day she disappeared.”
    Michael drummed his thumb on the steering wheel. “Okay. Thanks.”
    â€œI’ll call as soon as we find her.”
    Snapping the phone closed, he watched Josie. She had her legs crossed, foot jiggling. She spun her bracelets around her wrist. Either the woman couldn’t sit still or she was nervous.
    None of this made sense. Was Josie lying? He had thought for sure he was on Lisa’s trail. He prayed he was right.
    â€œSo that call was about Lisa?” Josie asked.
    â€œIt was the P.I. I hired to locate her.”
    â€œWhat did you find out?”
    â€œHe says Lisa may be in Georgia with a guy. Her car’s there, anyway.”
    Josie sat up at attention, then frowned. “The creep took her car. So I assume he’s with someone else.”
    â€œTook her car? Why didn’t she report the theft?”
    â€œLisa wanted to wait. She thinks he’ll bring it