Chasing Rainbows A Novel - By Long, Kathleen Page 0,32

for an older woman. She smiled brightly and the look of sheer surprise on the older woman’s face took my breath away.

Surprise.

She’d been surprised a stranger not only performed a kind act, but smiled as she did so.

I pulled out the notebook I’d brought along with Dad’s book of cryptograms and fished in my purse for a pen. Then I began to write.

I considered the quotes Dad had chosen about dreams, about life, and I remembered how once upon a time--when I’d been young and full of hope--I’d wanted to write so badly I’d spent every spare moment scribbling in my diary.

How funny that my dad’s collection of writing inspired me now, reigniting a fire deep in my gut I’d thought long dead.

The words poured out of me. Words about kindness and love and the simple acts that make us human--that make us loving creatures, that connect us. I wrote briefly about Emma and all she’d taught me, all she’d taught her doctors, but every word came back to the same thing.

Kindness.

Was it really so difficult to be kind to each other? To smile at each other? To look out for each other? I didn’t think so.

I’d just put the period at the end of my closing thought when I heard a shriek. A young, shrill, hauntingly familiar female voice that said, “I don’t want to go to school. I’m excused. Leave me alone.”

My suspicions were confirmed when I stood up and leaned to my left to gain a clear view past a display of brightly-colored mugs. There she stood.

Ashley.

Hands on hips. Lovely young face twisted with an emotion that looked a lot like fear, even though her words suggested otherwise.

I sprang into motion, leaving my belongings behind. I didn’t think there was a big resale market for fathers’ journals, or the ramblings of a dumped, middle-aged woman, so I wasn’t worried either would vanish and reappear on eBay.

“Is there a problem?” I asked as I neared the spot where Ashley and the store employee faced off. Ashley gripped a can of peas in one hand, and I sincerely hoped she hadn’t threatened to use them.

“Aunt Bernie?” Her expression was a mix of happy recognition and what-on-earth-are-you-doing-here?

I moved to her side and anchored an arm around her shoulders. When she didn’t squirm away, but rather leaned into me, a bubble of warmth burst inside my chest and spread outward. I gave the store clerk my warmest smile and squinted at his nametag.

“Is there a problem--” I repeated, this time tacking his name on to the end of my question “--Geoff?”

“This young lady should be in school.” He pointed at Ashley as if she’d just knocked over the ATM machine, his finger trembling so badly I shifted Ashley behind me to keep her out of his reach.

“Right.” I nodded. “We realize that, but she needed to pick up some peas--” I nodded toward the can she still gripped, searching for a reason that might sound valid “--for an art project. We’re running a bit late.”

I kept talking, having learned a long time ago my babbling could render even the most determined male silent. “So, we’ll be on our way. Won’t we, Ash? Here we go.” I sidestepped her toward the café, and looked back over my shoulder at Geoff, again with the biggest smile I could manage. “Thanks for your concern.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” I muttered beneath my breath as I slipped Dad’s book back into my tote bag.

Ashley’s fingers brushed against the edge of my notebook, her eyebrows knitting together. “Did you write this?”

I slid the notebook out of her reach, then stashed it in my bag. “Just some of my thoughts. Nothing important. You’re avoiding my question.” I gave her my sternest look--at least I thought it was my sternest look--but I’d obviously been mistaken, since she completely ignored me.

“What did you write?” She looked up at me, eyes sparkling. “An article? A story?”

“Letter to the editor.” I shrugged. “Maybe. About being nice to each other. Kind. You know?”

“Yeah.” A slight chuckle slipped from between Ashley’s glossed lips. “You should let my parents read it. They could use a lesson.”

The comment snapped me back to my original focus. “Right. You need to tell me what you’re doing here today, and then you need to tell me why you lied to me on Friday.”

Ashley winced. “Sorry, Aunt Bernie.”

I anchored my tote over my shoulder and hooked my arm through hers. “Let’s go. You can tell me