Second Time Around Read Free

way past him and was escaping into the crowd. But the bridal bouquet arched toward her. Obviously surprised, Emily reached out and caught it.
    She spun around and shot Kevin a cold, hard stare. Then she threw the flowers back at him, turned and ran.

Chapter Two
    E mily frantically chopped the onion, tears rolling down her face. “Who does he think he is?”
    â€œSounds just the same as I remember him.” Her younger sister looked at the cutting board. “Are we going to eat that onion, or drink it?”
    Emily glanced at the pile of pulverized white mush. “When did you get so picky?”
    â€œWell, normally I wouldn’t argue, but we’re making salad, not stew.” Katarina scraped the mess into the garbage disposal, rinsed the wooden slab, then walked across the kitchen, drying the cutting board with a towel. “So Kevin still looks great, huh?”
    â€œI didn’t say anything about the way he had looked—did I?” Emily was certain she hadn’t told her sister he looked so devastatingly handsome that she had even failed to notice what color of dress the matron of honor was wearing. She didn’t tell Katarina Kevin’s hair was blonder than before, his skin more bronzed and his laugh even huskier. She hadn’t, and she wouldn’t. She didn’t dare.
    Katarina disappeared into the other room, but her raised voice more than made up for the distance. “You may have the M.D. behind your name, sis, but I’m the heart specialist.” Her sister’s honey-blond head momentarily peeked around the corner. “And trust me, that onion was not strong enough to warrant that river of tears.”
    When Katarina reappeared from the living room, soft music floated in behind her swaying body. “Maybe ocean waves will help you relax. You really do need to lighten up, sis.”
    Her sister was right. She was too serious. Emily pulled another onion from the hanging basket and chopped a couple of slices, then set the cutting board in front of her cheery sister. “ There is your onion.”
    â€œWhy are you mad at me?” Katarina shrugged her shoulders, hands palms up in front of her. “I didn’t tell you to break your engagement with Kevin to become a doctor for my sake. In fact, if you’d asked, I’d have said you were crazy to let Kevin go. My hearing was already damaged—nothing anyone could have done, including you. The job of Savior has already been filled—in case you need another reminder.”
    â€œThat’s not even funny, Katarina.”
    â€œLighten up, sis. I was joking!”
    Emily’s focus instantly moved to the hearing aid tucked into her sister’s right ear. “Oh, Kat. I’m sorry. I don’t blame you.” Emily set the knife on the ceramic-tile counter and rinsed her hands, then hugged her younger sister. “No, sweetie. It wasn’t just because of you. It was for families like ours who grew up without the money to get proper medical care. Ifyou’d only had the medicine for your ear infections, you’d be fine now.”
    Katarina’s eyes clouded, and Emily saw sudden visions of their impoverished childhood. She leaned back and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, remembering arguments she and Kevin had had regarding family finances. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Guess I haven’t let go of my past after all, have I? I hand it to God, then I yank it back. Bet He thinks it’s a yo-yo by now.”
    Kat reached out her hand and held Emily’s, her ornery smile erasing the look of hurt from her blue eyes. “I think there’s one part of your past you’d better examine very carefully before letting him slip away a second time.”
    Emily turned her sister’s head and spoke into her ear. “Is your hearing aid on?” she teased.
    Katarina nodded.
    â€œGood, because I don’t want you to miss what I’m going to