Trinity Falls Read Free Page A

you.”
    â€œNo, ma’am, it didn’t.” Ean crossed into her foyer in his stocking feet. He watched Ms. Helen disappear into her kitchen.
    A deep breath drew in the scent of apple potpourri. The room was inviting, with honey wood flooring and bright yellow walls. Ean wandered closer to what appeared to be original framed watercolor paintings of the view outside Ms. Helen’s home. Very nice.
    Heavy pale brocade curtains were drawn open over the row of windows to his left, allowing the gray morning light inside. A reclining chair was stationed in front of the windows, apparently to assist in neighborhood surveillance. In warmer weather, that chair would stand on her balcony. Ean’s gaze dropped to the current issue of the women’s magazine resting on the seat. Ms. Helen’s nephew bought her a subscription to the monthly journal every Christmas. Did she still accuse the postal carrier of reading it before he delivered it to her?
    His hostess returned from the kitchen with a tall glass of ice water. “You went running this morning in the dark.”
    A glance at the chair answered how his vigilant neighbor had known that. Ever since he was a child, Ms. Helen seemed to know everything that occurred in Trinity Falls, sometimes before it happened.
    Ean swallowed a gulp of water. “It was dark when I started running, but the sun came up pretty quickly.”
    â€œDid you notice the streetlamps along the jogging path in the park?”
    An image of the lamps, each waving a 150 YEARS STRONG flag, flashed across his memory. “Yes, they’re new.”
    â€œNot that new.” Ms. Helen nodded toward his house across the street. “Adding the streetlamps was your mother’s idea. Did you know that?”
    Ean’s brows rose in surprise. “No, ma’am. I didn’t know that.”
    Ms. Helen nodded for emphasis. “Yes, indeed. That was Doreen’s idea, although Mayor Ramona McCloud takes the credit.”
    Ramona was mayor. His former high-school girlfriend had e-mailed him after she’d been elected three years ago. What had made her become political?
    â€œIt doesn’t surprise me that my mother recommended the town council add lamps to the path. She’s been active in supporting improvements for Trinity Falls all my life.”
    â€œLonger than that.” Ms. Helen nodded again. “You know she’s jogging now.”
    Another bit of news he hadn’t been aware of. “No, ma’am, she hasn’t mentioned that.”
    â€œShe started jogging with Megan McCloud when your father got ill. Said exercise helped clear her mind. I’d sit with your father in the mornings, until after your mother came home and cleaned herself up.”
    Ean felt sick. He should have been the one watching over his father, waiting until his mother returned from her run. “Thank you for helping my parents.”
    â€œI was happy to do it.” Ms. Helen waved a thin, wrinkled hand dismissively. She glanced out the window toward his house again. “Young man, it’s good that you’re home. Trinity Falls needs the shake-up.”
    â€œI’m not here to shake things up.”
    Ms. Helen clucked her tongue. “That doesn’t matter. It’ll happen, anyway. Some people are shuffling around here like they’re afraid to make a move. But you’re not afraid, and you know how to make things happen, just like on the football field. People used to call you ‘Fearless Fever.’ I’m looking forward to the fireworks.”
    â€œThere won’t be any fireworks, ma’am. I’m not here to change anything.”
    â€œThen why did you come home, Ean Fever?”
    Ean crossed his arms. His stomach was still queasy over the fact he’d been hundreds of miles away when his parents had needed him. “I came home to take care of my mother.”
    Ms. Helen’s expression softened. “You’re a good son,