Free Garden of Secrets by Barbara Freethy Page A

over for her father. When she saw him, she saw her dad. When she thought of being with him, she saw her mother in her role as the minister’s wife.
    But Charlotte needed to realize that they wouldn’t be carbon copies of her parents. They would be themselves. They would be who they were always supposed to be.
    With a sigh, he rolled his neck around on his shoulders to ease its tightness. It had been a busy weekend, with his normal Sunday sermon yesterday and today’s special New Year’s Day service. He was a ready for a break.
    Hearing the door open behind him, he turned in surprise. He’d thought everyone had gone home.
    Surprise turned to shock and wariness as Pamela entered the room.
    The last woman he’d ever wanted to see again.
    “Hello, Andrew.” She gave him a saucy smile as she sauntered toward him. “You don’t look happy to see me.”
    “It’s been a long time.”
    “Seven years.”
    “Why are you here?”
    “My sister was robbed and assaulted last night. Surely you’ve heard.”
    “I’m still surprised to see you. When we last spoke, you weren’t interested in a relationship with Theresa.”
    “She’s still my sister.”
    As Pamela came closer, he moved around behind his desk, wanting a buffer zone. Pamela was a born predator. She went after what she wanted with ruthless intensity, willing to do whatever it took to accomplish her goal. Years ago, her goal had been him.He hadn’t put up much of a fight nor had he realized what kind of power she would eventually have over him—how easy it would be to buy into whatever story she was selling. But he knew better now.
    She perched on the edge of his desk, the gleam in her eye telling him that she knew she was making him uncomfortable, and she was enjoying it.
    “How is Theresa?” he asked.
    “She has a severe concussion. They’ll know more within the next twenty-four hours. She opened her eyes while I was there, but she seemed very confused and fell back to sleep almost immediately.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. Robert must be very concerned.”
    “He does actually look like he cares,” she conceded. “Or maybe he’s just worried about losing his trophy wife.”
    “So cynical.”
    “Oh, please. Theresa married Robert for his money, and he married her for her looks.”
    “Maybe they fell in love after they got married.”
    She shrugged. “Sure, why not?” She stared at him for an uncomfortable length of time. “When you told me you’d found God, I thought it was just the hangover talking. But you actually did what you said you were going to do—you’re a minister. Does the church board have any idea of the life you used to lead?”
    “How long are you planning to stay in town?” he asked, ignoring her question.
    “That depends on how quickly my sister recovers.”
    “You always hated Angel’s Bay. Why would you want to extend your visit? You used to say this town had too many do-gooders in it.”
    “Yeah, and now you’re one of them. Traitor.”
    “I grew up. What about you? What have you been doing the last seven years?”
    “Living it up.”
    He could see that in the weary lines around her eyes, the limpness of her hair, the paleness of her skin. “You look tired.”
    For a moment, her hard shell seemed to crack, then she straightened her shoulders and threw up her chin. “I’m great.”
    “Are you?” She was one of the best liars he’d ever met.
    “Why did you come back here, Andrew? You could have gone to any church in the country.”
    “Angel’s Bay has always been home. My family is here.”
    “Your family? Who cared so little about you when you couldn’t play baseball anymore and live out your father’s dreams? Where were they then?”
    “My father is dead, Pamela.”
    Surprise flashed through her eyes. “I didn’t know that.”
    “There are a lot of things you don’t know.”
    “And a lot that I do,” she countered. “For a while, I was your family.”
    He shook his head. She was way off the