Imagine That Read Free Page A

ten years old ambled out of the repair shop. She was dressed in faded overalls paired with a gray T-shirt and a ball cap out of which sprang two shoulder-length blond pigtails.
    â€œHey, Kara,” Nate said.
    Kara’s bow-shaped lips curved up in a ready smile, and two dimples appeared in her cheeks. Emily’s mind took a trip into the future, and she determined tomboy Kara’s father would one day be beating boys off with a stick.
    â€œHi ya, Mr. Cooper,” Kara said. “Has Old Bertha conked out on ya? I could take a look. I’ve been practicing, and Daddy says I’ll be a pro soon.”
    Nate chuckled and tugged on a braid. “No doubt, but it’s not Bertha who needs fixin’. This lady’s car is stuck out by the lake.”
    Kara swiveled her head and studied the newcomer. Then her big brown eyes widened in astonishment. “Oh wow!”
    Nate’s brow furrowed. “What?”
    Kara punched him in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me who she was? Holy sauerkraut!”
    â€œThis is Emily,” Nate said.
    â€œNo, it’s E.J. Sinclair!” Kara cried.
    â€œWho?”
    Kara ignored him. “You are, right? You’re her!”
    Emily’s wounded pride expanded like a hot air balloon and she nodded. “I try to be.”
    Kara clapped her hands together and jumped up and down like she was going for a world record pogo stick run. “Oh, this is so cool! I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t wait to tell Evie Stevens I met you. She’ll flip out! You are so cool!”
    Nate glanced between the excited girl and the blushing woman. “Again… who ?”
    Kara jumped in with explanations before Emily could do the honors. “E.J. Sinclair. She’s like the next J.K. Rowling. Kingdom of Dreams is one of my favorite books. And Sword of the Dark was great, too. Oh! Are you on a book tour? It’s been ages since you wrote anything.”
    The balloon deflated, leaving Emily’s resurrected self-esteem flattened in the dirt. “Tell me about it.”
    â€œYou’re some kind of a children’s book author?” Nate asked.
    â€œUh-huh!” Kara cried. “She’s amazing!”
    â€œThank you,” Emily said. “That’s sweet.”
    â€œSo, are you coming out with a new book?” Kara asked.
    Emily shook her head. “Nope. Just passing through.”
    Kara continued to stare like she’d been hit on the head with a frying pan in a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
    â€œKara, Miss Sinclair needs to see about her car,” Nate said.
    She grinned. “Oh, sure. Dad’s inside. I can show her.”
    â€œThank you. I need to get back to work.”
    Emily’s heart skittered at the prospect of being left alone. She gazed at Heath… er… Nate for a moment, not knowing what to say.
    Nate solved the problem. This time he held out his hand. “Good luck, Emily Sinclair. Hope you find what you’re looking for.”
    Goodbye and so long. A strange heaviness settled over her chest. One she was hard pressed to explain. She reached out. Watched as his large fist swallowed up her tiny one for the last time. Tears stung her eyes.
    What was wrong with her? She was becoming a basket case. She tried to pull her hand away, but Nate held on a second longer. Her chin flew up and his now-polished steel gray eyes seemed to suck her in like a whirlpool.
    â€œAre you comin’, Miss Sinclair?” Kara called out.
    Emily and Nate both jumped like they’d touched a live wire. Nate released her.
    â€œThank you for the ride,” Emily said.
    He hooked his thumbs in his belt loop again. “No problem. Take care of yourself.”
    â€œYou too.”
    He spun on his heel and headed back around to the driver’s seat. Emily watched as he pulled out of the lot, fighting the urge to chase him down. Talk about putting the icing on the cake of her crazy lady