Free Mattie's Call by Stacy Campbell Page A

me.”
    â€œWhy are you involved in this conversation anyway?”
    â€œBecause—”
    â€œForget it! I don’t know why I came here in the first place. I should have stayed home.” She jumped from her seat.
    Joshua stood. “Sit down, Gigi. This bickering is the reason Mama’s missing and Alice is here. It has to stop.”
    She huffed. Sat again. “Do you realize you sounded just like Daddy? Same tone and pitch.”
    â€œI was thinking the same thing,” said Alice. “Those weekly family meetings in the den were good as long as we weren’t in trouble. He knew how to keep us in line. I’d give anything to see both of them again. I miss them so much. The older you get, you look and act just like Daddy.”
    Josh blushed at their words. “I wish I could be half the man he was.”
    â€œWith the exception of your relationship antics, you’re pretty close.” Gigi pushed back her plate and addressed Synaria with, “do you mind giving us some privacy?”
    Alice gripped Synaria’s arm. “Don’t go.”
    Synaria was in no mood to deal with Gigi’s venom. “I was leaving after lunch to get you a few things, remember? I looked at the tag in back of your dress. Size eight, correct?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’m going to pick up a few clothes from the mall and swing by later.”
    She took her plate and glass in the kitchen, emptied the leftovers in the trash, and headed back to the dining room. “Thanks so much for lunch, Josh.”
    He rose. “Let me get your coat and walk you out.”
    Gabrielle and Alice waved to her as she exited the dining room. Josh removed her coat from the hall closet and helped her put it on.
    â€œYou mind if I step outside with you?” he whispered.
    â€œSure.”
    He closed the door and took the lead. “I meant it when I expressed my appreciation for you bringing my sister here. She’s been disconnected from us for so long I thought we’d lost her.” Synaria nodded as he spoke, waited for him to finish. “Have you ever tried getting reacquainted with someone?”
    â€œI can’t say that I have.”
    â€œIt’s going to be a long road for us.”
    Synaria felt the same. “I figured as much. She’s like a shaking leaf at work, always looking over her shoulder or jumping at the slightest mention of her name. Beryl says nasty things to her when he drops her off, but she always denied there were problems.”
    Josh clenched his fists. “I want to drive over there right now and handle him.”
    â€œDon’t. That would make you like him. Maybe this is what Alice needed to start over again. To see him with another woman.”
    â€œMaybe you’re right.” Josh never paid attention to Synaria at the library, but now, he saw her with new eyes. When she removed her coat earlier, he didn’t want to gawk, but her voluptuous frame caught his attention. She was well-put together, wearing a gorgeous mauve cashmere sweater and stylish black work pants. Her black booties placed her just beneath his chin. Deep-set, brown eyes enthralled him; they danced with concern as she spoke about Alice. She placed her winter bucket hat over a perfectly highlighted short bob that accentuated her light-brown skin and moon face. Her moist, full lips were moving, but he had to snap out of the trance she’d put him in to hear her. “What was that, Synaria?”
    â€œI said I don’t want to buy anything too gaudy for Alice. She’s been wearing those croaker sack dresses so long she probably wouldn’t be open to anything I purchase.”
    Joshua pulled his wallet from his back pocket and peeled off $200. “Take this.”
    â€œI can’t. This is my gift to Alice.”
    â€œThis is my gift to you for revamping her wardrobe. Mama hated the way she dressed and always talked about it at Grand Oak when I visited.