Unpredictable Love Read Free Page B

wasn’t a
crumb left from the apple dumplings. Amber vowed to make them next
time she had dinner duty. Jory left the others to tidy up the
kitchen. She climbed the stairs, closing her door for privacy. She
edited the garage sale story several times before calling it a
night. After donning her fuzzy nightshirt, she climbed into bed
with a yawn and a glance at the clock. It was midnight.
    Jory pulled out her lap desk, nabbed
some paper from the nightstand, and watched the thickening clouds.
She pondered what to write to SSGT Trent Stevens. I’ve at least gotta try not to be
boring.
    A low roll of thunder shook the house a bit
as clouds curled around the moon.
    Jory loved storms. She cozied into the
covers.
    “ A romantic setting and the closest
thing to a man for me is at the other end of this paper.” She took
a deep breath and let it out, taking the ballpoint in her right
hand then returning it to her mouth. Words didn’t come.
    “ Write about what you know. That’s
what they say.”

    Dear Trent,
    I love scary storms. Spooky nights with
clouds rolling in make me want to curl up with a bottle of wine, a
fire, and a good man. Am I crazy? What floats your boat?
    What are the storms like in Afghanistan? I’m
sorry if that’s a stupid question. I guess all storms are the
same.
    I’m staring at the moon and feeling sorry
for myself that the only man here with me is you, on paper. Sorry
again!
    I’m a downer tonight. I hope you’re not
down. But you probably are. None of this is coming out right. Wish
you were here with me. Then, you’d be safe, and I wouldn’t be
alone.
    Wishing you a safe journey,
    Jory

    I shouldn’t send
this. But she signed it, folded it, and put it in the
pink envelope. She addressed it by heart, this being her seventh
letter to Trent.
    She pulled the covers up to her neck
to keep out the chilly air and turned on her side. Closing her
eyes, she imagined what it would feel like if Trent was in bed
behind her. She touched his picture for a second with her
forefinger. He was much taller than she, making it hard to
visualize. How can I imagine a man I’ve
never met?

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    The storm was gone by morning. Jory rose
early, planning to spend a couple of hours at the paper when it was
quiet. She had stories to finish and deadlines to meet. Before she
left, she handed the letter to Nan to mail on her way to church.
The familiar toot of Dan MacMurray’s car horn announced his
arrival. He was fifty-five, trim, gray-haired, and attractive. He’d
be escorting Nan to her house of worship.
    Amber was sleeping off her late night date
with Troy, the local hunk. She went out with young men in Pine
Grove and a couple from Oak Bend, from time to time.
    Amber made no bones about her freedom.
She flirted with everyone and had dated several men at once. Probably sleeping around too. Jory
ground her teeth at the image. But, of course, if she looked like
Amber, maybe she’d be a bit freer too. Jory shook her head. Never.
    The journalist pushed thoughts of her
sister’s behavior out of her mind. Amber was twenty-five, old
enough to deal with the consequences of her own decisions. As long
as her sister continued to take birth control pills, there’d be no
negative consequences to her lifestyle. At least that’s what Jory
hoped.
    At times like these, the reporter reminded
herself that she’d had the guidance of two parents for a lot longer
than Amber had. She cut her sister some slack, knowing that the
trauma of losing them had affected the young girl deeply. She’d
been rocked to her roots, and had become clingy with both Nan and
Jory. It had been hell for three years.
    Jory arrived home at one. She dropped her
briefcase by the stairs before joining the others in the kitchen.
Nan had whipped up a late lunch before she’d gone out with her
boyfriend and had left a plate for her niece.
    After eating, Jory ambled into the living
room where Amber stood, refreshing her lipstick.
    “ Going out with