The Strange Healing Read Free Page A

done for me today.”
    Heath was concerned about Sara and wasn’t about to let her go off by herself yet.  “Thank you for having dinner with us.  It’s such a nice evening, why don’t we all go back to my condo and have a glass of wine?”
    Heather caught the momentary look of panic cross Sara’s face, and suggested, “I like the idea of a glass of wine, but let’s go back to our condo instead.  We have a TV on the patio and we can watch The Mentalist.  I love that show, especially when I can watch it outside, with some wine and friends.”
    Heath laughed . “Sounds good to me.  Okay with you, Sara?”
    Sara hesitated before saying, “I better get back to my motel. Thanks for the offer, though.”
    Heath quickly said, “Sara, please come have a glass of wine with us.  I hate to think of you alone in a motel room.  I promise I’ll take you back later, but I’d love to be able to spend a little more time with you this evening.”  She looked hesitant, and he once again smiled and added, “Please?”
    “What is it about the way you say please?  I just can’t walk away from it,” Sara said.
    “Good.  I’ll remember that.”  He winked at her, which seemed to put her at ease again. 
    They all enjoyed the evening.  Sara opened up a little more, but was still quite reserved.  Heath continued to watch her carefully, and was still concerned.  He’d decided there was more to her scare today than she was saying.  There was something bothering her that she hadn’t shared with them, and he was concerned.
    Heather always could read Heath’s body language, and she knew he was concerned.  After the show was over Sara asked, “Heath, is your offer to take me back to my motel still good?”
    Heather suggested, “Sara, I’m off tomorrow and I’d love to take you to a couple places we talked about this evening.  Why don’t you stay here, in our guest room tonight?  Then we can get an early start in the morning and I'll show you around.”
    Heath caught Heather’s eyes and smiled his approval.  He suggested, “That’s a wonderful idea.  Phil, I know your shift starts early, but I don’t have any early meetings tomorrow.  If you two girls think you can be ready by 7:00 I’ll take you to breakfast before you begin your gossip-filled day of shopping.”
    Heather indignantly asked, “What makes you think we’ll gossip?”
    Smiling, Heath looked at Sara and said, “My baby sister has always been the queen of gossip.”
    Huffing, Heather insisted, “I am not.  And I’m not your baby sister.”
    Phil laughed and said, “That’s not what you said earlier.”
    “No, I said he was my big brother.  There’s a big difference,” she explained.
    Heath grinned as he said, “No difference.  If I’m your big brother, you’re my baby sister.  You can’t have one without the other, sis.”
    “Oh, you men are impossible,” she stated.  She turned and grabbed Sara’s arm. “Come on, I’ll explain what these two big lugs are talking about while I show you where our guest room is.”
    “ But I shouldn’t stay here tonight.”
    “ But you should,” Heath told her.  “Give us a chance to show you a good side to our humble little town.  Besides,” he added, smiling at Heather, “my baby sister will be really disappointed if you don’t.”
    They all laughed as Heather punched Heath in the arm again.
    “But I don’t have any clothes here,” Sara explained.  “I better just go back to my motel.”
    “ Not a problem,” Heather assured her.  “We’re about the same size.  I have pajamas that will fit, and I always keep a few new toothbrushes on hand.  I’m sure we can find something that will fit you fine for tomorrow.”
    “Heaven knows she has plenty you can pick from ,” Phil added.
    “ Very funny,” Heather said, hiding a grin.  “See, Sara, you have to stay.  Don’t leave me alone with these two.”
    Sara looked at all three of them, and finally agreed. “Okay, if