Hometown Star Read Free Page A

show up after we sent the letter. I hope we didn’t catch you too off–guard.”
    “No,” Star told him. “Patsy’s place needs to be dealt with. I don’t know why I’ve put it off this long. It’s just a sad time.”
    “Of course it is,” Trudy said, giving Star a sympathetic smile. “I told Ron to let the place be, but Cade is in a hurry to get the footing for the new house poured before the fall rains get here.” She patted her belly. “We need the room. Ron and I intend to move into the new house once it’s done. We’ll have two bed and breakfast sites. O’Brien Charters is booked solid. It’s an exciting time.”
    “Sounds like it,” Star said, although she couldn’t imagine living the lifestyle the O’Briens did, houseguests all the time, your paycheck depending on the fish run. No, thanks.
    A little girl skipped into the room. Cade followed, a white kitten in his hands. Star was still trying to process big Cade holding the tiny kitten when the little girl stopped in front of her.
    “Who are you?” the girl asked, squinting up at Star.
    “I’m Star.”
    “Star’s a pretty name,” the little girl said.
    “What’s your name?” Star asked.
    “Emma.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Emma.” Star shook hands with the girl.
    “I found a kitten.” Emma turned to Cade. “She scratched me.” Emma showed Star the back of her hand, pointing to the bandage covering the wound. “She didn’t mean to hurt me. Daddy fixed the scratch. He’s taking my kitten outside for me.”
    “I see.” Star glanced at Cade, struggling to imagine him doctoring the little girl.
    “Come on, Em,” Cade said with a nod toward the door. “Let’s get the kitty outside.”
    Emma held the door open for Cade. When they were gone, Star said, “Cade’s got two kids? Wow.”
    “Cade’s got three kids,” Ron told her. “The twins, Finn and Emma, are eight. He also has a sixteen–year–old son, Brad.”
    “Three kids,” Star said. “Imagine that.” Three kids equaled a ton of work. She remembered what a handful Brandi, Tawney, and Ruby Sue had been. Kids meant responsibility, big responsibility, the biggest. She’d take her job over kids any day.
    “I met Finn earlier,” Star said. “He was in Patsy’s trailer when I got here.”
    “Again?” Trudy exchanged a worried look with Ron. “I know Cade’s warned him not to play over there.”
    “He liked Patsy,” Ron said with a shrug. “She was like a grandma to the kids. Especially after their mother died. Did you know that Patsy continued to bake bread and cinnamon rolls for us until the end? We all miss her.”
    “Thanks for saying that,” Star said, touched by the kind words. “I miss her, too.”
    “Of course you do,” Trudy said. “There’s been a lot of sadness in this house the past few years with Dan and Patsy passing on and of course Marissa.”
    “Marissa?” Star asked.
    “Cade’s wife.” Trudy’s eyes went all soft. “Two years ago. A car accident.”
    “I’m sorry,” Star said, surprised to find she meant the words. Every kid needed a mother, even Cade’s.
    “Are you staying at Patsy’s?” Trudy asked.
    “If the power’s on when I get back over there. I just called the power company. They assured me the power should be on soon.”
    “But what if it’s not?” Trudy asked. “Stay for dinner.”
    “Oh, no,” Star said a bit too quickly. “I don’t want to impose.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Trudy said. “You don’t have power. In fact, you could stay here tonight. We have one room open.”
    “It’s the start of our busy season,” Ron said. “We have a full house starting tomorrow. Take the room, Star.”
    “Stay for dinner,” Trudy said again.
    The screen opened and Cade joined them.
    “We’ve invited Star for dinner,” Trudy said. “Don’t you think that’s a great idea, Cade? It would give us all a chance to catch up.”
    “Sure,” Cade said, but Star didn’t believe him. Wariness shadowed his eyes,