Secrets and Revelations (Bellingwood #4) Read Free Page A

knew her parents, especially when they were young. When Polly's father died, his brother pretty much wrote her off in his own grief. They'd met a couple of times since she'd returned to Iowa, but though it was cordial, it was never friendly.
    Obiwan pulled her toward the porch and began to bark.
    "No," she said. "We'll go home. I'm alright."
    The porch light came on and Polly felt like a deer trapped in someone's headlights.
    Henry opened the front door and said, "What are you doing out here at this hour? Come in! Both of you."
    Polly scowled at her dog. "Traitor," she said and walked with him up to the front door.
    "I'm sorry to bother you. It's late."
    "Stop it," he scolded. "It's only nine thirty. What are you doing up in this neck of the woods?"
    "We were out jogging and took the north trail. When I passed your house, there was an uncontrollable tug, so I let it pull me."
    Henry hugged her, "I'm glad you did. Would you like something?"
    "No, we can't stay."
    "Sure you can. Sit down." He pointed at the sofa and Polly obediently followed his command and sat. Obiwan lay down on the floor across her feet and Henry sat beside her, folding his leg up on the sofa so he could look at her.
    "Tell me what's going on that has you in my neighborhood tonight?" he asked.
    Polly pulled out her phone, brought up the email and handed it to him.
    "Read this," she said.
    He read through the email and handed her phone back. "That's pretty cool! Someone knew your parents."
    Polly nodded. "You're right. That's how I should look at it. But, don't you think it's strange? After all these years, she reaches out to me? If she was that close to them, why did no one ever tell me about her and why didn't she know that my parents had died? And what was the disgrace that made her leave and why didn't Dad talk about her and why were there never any pictures of her with me as a baby. I've seen a lot of my baby pictures and there's no strange woman in any of them." She took a breath.
    "I agree, it's a little off, but it could end up being pretty wonderful" he said. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
    "I don't know. I suppose that's why I ended up here, standing outside your front door. I needed to talk to someone."
    Henry leaned forward and pulled her into a hug. It was a little awkward with his leg between them, but when he kissed her lips, she forgot about awkward and relaxed against him.
    He released her and said, "I'm glad you showed up in my yard tonight. Your dog can bark for me to pay attention any time."
    His kisses never ceased to make her brain lose its ability to process. "Uh huh. You have to stop doing that to me," she said.
    "No way. I've learned what my power is over you and I'm going to wield it as often as necessary."
    "It's really not fair."
    "Fair, shmair. It's what you got, pretty girl." Henry ruffled her hair and she batted his hand away, so he rested it on the sofa behind her.
    "Oh!" she said, grinning at him, "I've got a date Thursday night."
    "You do?" he laughed. "What young man thinks he is going to steal your heart?"
    "It's actually two young men. Doug and Billy have formally invited me to come over for dinner to celebrate their one-month anniversary of apartment rental-hood."
    "Good for them. I'll be sure to frighten them a little tomorrow so they don't make any moves on you."
    Polly shuddered and grimaced, "That's just gross. They're like my little brothers! How can you even put that out there in the universe? It's so wrong!"
    He laughed. "It is kind of wrong, isn't it? They're such good kids. I know they’ve enjoyed being able to walk to work in the morning, too."
    Henry was in the midst of building another addition on the other side of Sycamore House. The structure was similar in shape and size to the garage and apartment addition, but the south wing would become four rooms for guests, more than doubling Sycamore House's capacity. The two rooms on the lower level were built to be handicap accessible and a covered walkway