Ray of Light Read Free Page B

try to explain their late nights to her mother-in-law.
    â€œOh,” she said again. “Well, then . . . I suppose I’ll call you later.”
    â€œI’ll be talkin’ with you then. Goodbye, Marlene.”
    After hanging up, Amanda stared at the empty spot on the beach where she’d been sitting. She wished she were still sitting outside. Then she wouldn’t have heard the phone ring or picked it up.
    She could’ve still been sitting quietly, giving thanks for the day and enjoying the antics of the seagulls as they flew in circles over the water.
    Now? She was feeling guilty about rejecting her mother-in-law’s invitation and about letting Regina stay up late and sleep in.
    And she couldn’t stop thinking about Roman Keim. The first man to tangle up her thoughts in years. For the first time in a long time, she felt a fresh slice of pain. Almost as if she was suddenly living again.
    It was as if one of those rays of light from the rising sun had struck her skin and were blazing inside her.
    Waking her up.

Chapter Three
    â€œMomma?” Regina called out from her room. “Momma? You here?”
    â€œI’m right here, dear,” Amanda said with a wry smile as she walked to the hallway. “Where else would I be?”
    â€œI don’t know,” her daughter said around a yawn as her bare feet padded along the white tile floor. Every few feet, she stopped and gathered up her stuffed dog in her arms. When she did that, her toes curled away from the cool surface, as if the cold tile was a little too chilly on her skin.
    As she came closer, Amanda noticed Gina’s white nightgown was wrinkled, and it fluttered around her ankles. It was the perfect complement to the long brown hair falling in thick waves to her shoulder blades.
    As she stopped and yawned yet again, Amanda felt her heart fill with love for her little girl.
    Regina always looked like an angel to her, but of course, she wasn’t the quiet, peaceful sort.
    Not at all!
    Instead, Regina had a way about her that brought a smile to your face. Since Wesley’s death, she was just a little hesitant, a little apprehensive about new things. But once she felt secure, her smile could warm anyone’s heart.
    Amanda didn’t know how she’d been so blessed to have such a sweet little girl. “Are you hungry, sweet pea?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œWhat will it be this morning? Scrambled eggs and bacon?”
    â€œDo we have Pop-Tarts?” Regina’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
    They’d played this game before. “Pop-Tarts? Here?” she asked in mock surprise.
    â€œWe might have them.”
    â€œTruly?”
    Regina giggled. “ Jah , Momma.”
    â€œWell, if you say so, I suppose I’d best go check.” She made a great show of opening several cabinets and looking around in wonder, but of course, it was all in jest. In truth, strawberry Pop-Tarts were their little secret. On vacation, the two of them ate foods that were decidedly different from their usual healthy diet.
    Instead of bowls of nutritious oatmeal or eggs and toast, they enjoyed box cereal with tigers and other cartoon characters on the cartons . . . and indulged in their shared love of the boxed pastries. Regina loved the strawberry ones. And Amanda? She didn’t even pretend to be healthy—her favorite were the brown sugar cinnamon ones.
    Regina got on her tiptoes, trying her best to peek on the counter. “Mamm, do we have any today?”
    Her daughter’s voice was so hopeful, Amanda couldn’t continue the ruse any longer. “Of course we do, dear.”
    â€œ Aeb-beah ?”
    â€œ Jah . You may have strawberry and I’ll have cinnamon sugar. But you must drink your milk, too.”
    â€œI will.” As Amanda was pouring milk into a sippy cup, Regina asked, “What about you?”
    â€œWhat about me what?” This time, she really was