Tomorrow's Sun (Lost Sanctuary) - By Becky Melby Page 0,14

black apron, was the one who’d called across the room to the guy in overalls. “Morning.” She flashed an enormous grin. Highlighted waves tumbled across her forehead as she poured coffee. “Ready to order?”

“I’d like the yogurt parfait. And do you happen to have a phone book?”

“No prob.”

The book was in her hands in seconds. As she searched the yellow pages for resale shops, it fell open to REMODELING. On a half-page ad for Braden Improvements, the owner’s picture took up most of the space. Emily raised an eyebrow. Smart move. Even in black-on-yellow, the man was startlingly handsome.

Remodeling, additions, sunrooms, basements. The man did it all, albeit reluctantly. Their talk in the attic had ended with him offering to make the attic habitable for her while they discussed possibilities. Gazing at the yellow face, she questioned her motives for giving him a second chance. How much did she owe him for rescuing her from the tower? And did gratitude really have anything to do with it?

“Can I help you find something?” The waitress filled a coffee mug. Dangling the pot from her fingers, she folded her arms across her waist. “I’ve lived in the area for thirty-one years. There, I just admitted my age.”

“I’m looking for a secondhand store that sells furniture.”

“There are a couple in Burlington. Can I ask what you’re looking for? If you can wait a week or so, we’ll be getting stuff together for an estate sale. Some antiques, some just old, but all quality.”

“I’m not in a hurry and I don’t need modern. I don’t even need quality. I just bought an old house in Rochester. I need a table, a couple of lamps, and a window air conditioner. I’ll be living there during the remodeling and then trying to sell it. I just need enough creature comforts to get by for a few months.”

“Technically I live in Rochester, too, but we’re out in the country. Hey.” The woman tapped a fingertip on Jake Braden’s eye. “Are you the one who bought the Ostermann place?”

Speechless, Emily nodded.

“My cousin Sherry lives across the street from you. Have you met Sherry and Rod yet?”

Emily shook her head as her imagination pushed PLAY on a Disney tune. It’s a small world after all.… “I met two little boys. Are they—”

“Russell and Michael. Aren’t they adorable?” She set the coffeepot down and pulled out a chair. “I’m Tina Palin-as-in-Sarah. No relation. I watch the boys on my days off sometimes, so we’ll probably run into each other.” She tapped again, this time on Jake Braden’s lips. “Did you hire Jake? I heard he was bidding on it.”

“Well, I…” It’s a small, small world…. The music warped like the background song for a scary carnival ride.

“He does amazing work. He did our family room. We couldn’t find a fireplace mantel to match our woodwork, so he made one. Hand-carved. It’s beautiful.” She waved at two middle-aged women. “Coffee’s on its way, girls.” She tapped her finger on Jake’s face. “I’ll have to stop by and see your progress.”

“Um…” Emily aligned the salt shaker with the pepper. “Thank you.”

“Tell you what. I’ll give you first dibs on the estate sale. Call me next week and tell me when you can stop over.” Tina scribbled her name and number on a napkin, laughing as she did. “People think waitresses do this all the time, but I only wrote my number on a napkin once before—and I married the guy.”

“Very romantic. How long have you been married?” And why am I asking?

“Six years next week. We have two kids and…” She dipped her head and looked around. “Don’t tell anyone, but number three’s on the way.”

Emily swallowed hard. “Congratulations.” She took a long, slow slurp of coffee.

“I don’t want my boss treating me special or worrying that I’m going to quit. I worked up to my ninth month with the other two.” Her chair scraped on the wood floor as she stood. “Anyways, give me a call and come on over, and I’ll stop by your place when I’m in the neighborhood. I’ll check in on your progress”—she patted her belly discreetly behind the coffeepot—“and you can check on mine.”

Wrapping both hands around her cup, Emily closed her eyes. She’d left Traverse City because her sister had finally gotten pregnant.

And Emily couldn’t figure out how to be happy for her.

CHAPTER 4

Adam Sutton rummaged in the back of a bathroom drawer that should have been cleaned out months ago. There had to be