Free A New Hope (The Second Chance Series Book 2) by Christina Escue Page B

airport Karla was unusually quiet. She sat in the very back of the SUV and just stared out the window. Over the past couple of days she had withdrawn more and more into herself and she wasn’t eating right. Andrew was certain that it was all due to her aunt insisting on this meeting. He hated the woman for putting Karla through this.
    Pulled away from her thoughts when the SUV pulled into a parking place at the airport, Karla took a deep breath before climbing out and standing beside Leslie. They walked into the airport, stood close to luggage pick-up and waited. After just a couple of minutes Karla spotted Manuel’s head above the crowd and saw Andrew waving to him. She took another deep breath, hoping to calm herself a little, and looked to Manuel’s side.
    The woman looked older than Karla thought she should, her face was lined with deep crevices and her hair was mostly grey. She was shorter than Kiara and almost as round as she was tall. Karla knew she was only in her early fifties, but she looked older than Mrs. Jones, who was in her eighties. As they got closer Karla noticed the expression on her face and wondered if she’d eaten sour lemons on the plane. Shaking off all thoughts of the woman with them, she plastered a smile on her face and greeted her brother and sister when they stopped beside her.
    “Kiara, Manuel, it’s so good to see you. How was the flight?”
    Manuel set his bag down and wrapped Karla in a warm, loving embrace and whispered in her ear, “We tried again to get her to not come, but she insisted. I’m so sorry, sis.”
    “It isn’t your fault and I don’t blame you at all.” She whispered back and broke the embrace.
    As soon as she was free from Manuel, Kiara wrapped her in a hug as well, “She’s leaving tomorrow so she won’t be here for your birthday party.”
    Karla smiled a genuine smile for the first time that day at her sister’s words. At least her birthday wouldn’t be ruined. When she pulled away from Kiara she looked at the woman beside her, the sour lemon look was still on her face and her deep brown eyes looked cold and dead. Karla took a deep breath and held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Karla, welcome to Tennessee.”
    “I am Marianna Cruz, Alexander was my brother, so you are my niece.”
    “Yes ma’am.” Karla responded to her straight to the point statement.
    “I am here for only two reasons. I came to give you something and to see the conditions in which you are living. Then I will go back home to my family.”
    “Mrs. Cruz, I can assure you that Karla is well taken care of and very loved in our home.” Leslie said as she stepped forward.
    “That may be, but I must see for myself. Now I am ready to go. Manuel get my suitcase.”
    Manuel rolled his eyes behind her back and grabbed her small suitcase and his larger one. On the way to the SUV Karla introduced them to Elliot and by the time they got there Karla felt like her brothers and sister had always been a part of her life. Once they were loaded, Mrs. Cruz insisted on riding in the front seat with Andrew, they traveled the few short miles to their home.
    When Andrew stopped in the circular style driveway Kiara gasped at the sight of the house before them. She had seen houses like this before, but had never been inside of one before. It was enormous. When they walked in Karla turned to Manuel and Kiara, “There are only five bedrooms so Kiara, you’re going to have to stay in my room tonight. When Mrs. Cruz leaves you will have your own room for the rest of your stay.”
    “Karla, I don’t mind staying with you. We can sit up all night and talk about boys.” Kiara grinned and Karla laughed a little. There were only two boys she cared about, but she knew that Kiara had several admirers to gossip about.
    “That sounds fun. Now if you will all follow me I will show you to your rooms.”
    They all walked up the stairs, Mrs. Cruz complaining the entire time, and Karla showed them to their rooms. Once she