Free The Reverence of One: Book Three of the Shadow Series by J.M. Pierce Page A

home was nothing more than a rustic looking log home. The stain was faded and splotchy, and the uprights on the deck posts were bowed from age.
    Test interrupted her admiration, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Pretty nice place, huh?” he asked.
    Without taking her eyes off of the scene, she replied. “Yes. It actually makes me miss Wyoming a little.”
    “Yeah, me too,” he replied. “I really thought I could have a life there.”
    Sensing a downturn in his mood, Alyssa squeezed his hand and began to walk towards the porch , dragging him behind . “Do you regret going there?” she asked with a coy smile.
    Reflecting her smile back, Test replied. “Not a bit. You know,” he said with a pause, “Cliff would say that everything happens for a reason. I’m pretty sure that you’re the reason I was meant to go to Wyoming .”
    She nuzzled in close to him as they walked, and as they reached the steps leading up to the back porch, they saw Maggie standing by the back door.
    “Hey, Mom.”
    “Hey, you two,” Maggie replied absently, her thoughts distracting her from the moment . “What have you been up to?”
    Test noticed something in his mother’s voice, but answered her question anyway. “We just decided to take a walk.” The two of them stopped as they stepped onto the porch. “What about you?” he asked carefully. “Everything okay?”
    Her motherly instincts kicking in, Maggie immediately forced a smile onto her lips. “Of course, everything’s fine. Just trying to unwind a little bit.” She stared off into the trees. “It’s really beautiful here, isn’t it?”
    “We were just talking about that,” answered Alyssa.
    Maggie walked to the two of them and placed her hands lovingly on one of each of their cheeks. “You know, I was thinking—why don’t I get lost for a little bit. I think you two could use a little more time alone.” Though she struggled to keep up the facade, she forced herself to do what she felt was right for her son.
    Test furrowed his brow, unable to get over the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. “What about Lauren?” he asked.
    “Oh, she’s gone off to run some errands,” Maggie replied, u nable to look him in the eye. “ She said she might be gone the rest of the day, so why don’t you kids cozy up by the fire and relax some?”
    A brilliant smile appeared on Alyssa’s face. With her eyes opened wide, she wrapped her arm s around Maggie and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Maggie. That sounds amazing.”
    Test stood behind the two of them. For a moment, he swore he could see a tear fall down his mother’s cheek, but her face was quickly hidden from view by Alyssa’s hair. As the two women parted, Test stepped up to Maggie and took her hands into his.
    “You sure everything’s okay?” he asked.
    Maggie nodded her head quickly while biting her bottom lip. She released Test’s hands and replied while slapping him on the chest. “Yes! Now quit worrying about your old mom and have a nice day with this pretty young lady.”
    Test glanced down to Alyssa, her dark tanned skin standing out against the gray of the day. She was stari ng up to him with innocent eyes; eyes that made him melt inside. Suddenly he found himself being shoved toward the back door.
    “Will you listen to your mother for a change? Go on,” she lovingly scolded while pointing her finger towards the door .
    He turned back to her, and just as she was about to shove him once more, he leaned down to her and kissed her on the cheek.
    “I love you, Mom.”
    Maggie’s eyes instantly welled with tears at her son’s words. “I love you, too.”
    Alyssa stepped forward and took Test’s elbow in her hand, gently turning him away from Maggie and guiding him to the door. As she reached for the doorknob, both of them turned around to tell Maggie goodbye, but they were too late. She had vanished.
    “Is she gone?” asked Alyssa.
    Test closed his eyes and tried to feel where his mother