Free The Abduction of Mary Rose by Joan Hall Hovey Page B

she was computer illiterate, saying it would have been easier if she could have emailed, then Naomi could have had a choice of whether to answer or not. "I suppose it's always harder for people to say no on the phone."
    "Naomi laughed, "It's not like you're a telemarketer, Lisa. Of course I would have answered your email. With pleasure! I can't imagine anyone saying no to you."
    "Oh, I'm sure there are any number. Anyway, the kids are always at me to learn how to use the computer so we can all stay in touch easier, and so they can email me pictures of the kids. I've finally decided to give it a try. The local library is running a course for beginners. I'm scared to death," she laughed. "I'm about as low tech as you can get. I can't even program my DVD player." She gave a soft self-deprecating chuckle and sipped her tea.
    They were sitting at a round maple table centred with a cut-glass bowl of flawless red shiny apples, in Lisa's bright kitchen, enjoying tea and home-made cheese biscuits that were high and light as clouds.
    The apples in the bowl looked waxen they were so perfect in shape and colour, but their sweet apple smell told her they were real. As real as Lisa Boyce herself.
    "You'll do great, Lisa. You'll surprise yourself at how quickly you'll learn with a bit of hands-on help. Just takes practice. Six months from now, I guarantee, you'll wonder how you ever got along without your computer. You'll love it, I promise."
    "That's what everyone keeps telling me. Well, we'll soon see. But enough about me. You know, when I saw your story in the paper, Naomi, I could hardly believe it. I didn't know if I should call or not. I really have nothing helpful to tell you. I wish I did. And I didn't want to bother you for nothing…."
    "Hardly for nothing, Lisa," Naomi reassured her quickly. "I'm really glad you called. Actually, I was planning to call you. You're the only person I know who can tell me anything about my birth-mother."
    "I … I suppose that's true. I hadn't thought of it that way. I only wish I could help you find out who did such a terrible thing to Mary Rose. But I'm so excited you're here, Naomi. That you exist. It's like a miracle." An embarrassed laugh held tears. "I'm so happy to meet you, you have no idea. You have her smile."
    "Do you think so? Thank you for that, Lisa." Her words had sent a pleasant warmth through Naomi. Strange how easily the conversation flowed between them, as if they had known one another all their lives.
    "I'm surprised some lucky guy hasn't grabbed you up by now," Lisa said, getting up to refill their cups from the Pyrex teapot on the stove.
    "There've been a couple of close calls," Naomi said easily. "Things just didn't work out. I'm probably too independent." I'm more like Mom, my adopted mom, than I realized. "I like my freedom."
    "Ah, a cat who walks alone," Lisa teased, returning to her chair. Then more seriously, she added, "You just haven't met the right one is all. But you're young yet."
    "I'm not really looking. And speaking of cats, I have one who's wonderful company. Molly. The love of my life. And I keep busy." Even as she spoke the words, an image of Eric Grant's blue eyes smiling at her out of that bushy face leapt unbidden into her mind's eye, surprising her. Strange. Had revealing her story to him created some childish bond in her mind? Like someone who develops an attraction for her shrink? What did they call it, transference? Whatever, it would pass. She was just another story to him.
    "You must miss your husband terribly," she said, turning the conversation away from herself to Lisa."
    She nodded slowly. "We were supposed to grow old together. The year before his heart attack we bought a yard swing and joked about spending our golden years sitting in it, talking and looking at the stars. For a long time I didn't think I could go on. But you do. Somehow you do. You don't have much choice."
    Naomi sat quietly. She could see a part of the swing through the kitchen