Free A Perfect Love by Lori Copeland

Vernie’s gaze in the mirror. “Doodles says she wants to stay home today.”
    Vernie’s brows lifted a notch. “Really?”
    Cleta secured the pin, and then stepped back to adjust her earrings. “The child’s not acting normal. She stays in her room most of the time and watches those soaps. Can’t be good for her.”
    â€œMust be the winter blues. Everyone gets them.”
    â€œIn this kind of weather? Nonsense.” Cleta picked up her purse. “Well, let’s go. Aren’t you the one yakkin’ about being late?”
    The two women left the house and hurried toward the dock where the ferry bobbed on the waters. Caleb was out back shaking rugs when they passed the de Cuvier house. Cleta and Vernie waved.
    The old butler lowered his rug. “You ladies off for the afternoon?”
    â€œGoing to the library, Caleb,” Cleta called. “You need anything?”
    â€œNothing, thank you! Enjoy the weather!”
    The women stepped aboard the ferry, gave the captain their tickets, and settled onto the bench seats in the cozy cabin as the motors revved. Cleta leaned out the window to wave at Crazy Odell Butcher as he pulled up to the dock.
    â€œWonder what Crazy Odell is up to today?” Cleta asked, leaning back against the seat.
    Vernie snorted. “Probably no good—that’s why they call him crazy.”
    Cleta leaned back, enjoying the feel of the warm sun on her face. Soon they were skimming across the water under a clear blue sky that looked far more like April than January.
    Certain that her mother had gone, Barbara crept down the stairs, leaning over the railing to see if her dad was in the house. The front room was empty. No television sounds blared from the parlor. The path was clear.
    Taking the last few stairs in a rush, she scooted across the foyer and ran out the door, pulling on a light sweater as she sprinted toward the dock.
    True to his promise, Crazy Odell Butcher was waiting for her, his wooden-hulled boat bobbing on the waves.
    â€œThere you are,” he called as she walked up. “Thought you might have changed your mind.”
    â€œNope. Are you ready?”
    â€œReady as I’m likely to get at my age. You got my fare?”
    â€œTwenty bucks, right?”
    â€œOnly ten on a nice day like today. Each way.” He grinned, revealing a gap between his front teeth. “Got to make some mitten money.”
    â€œOkay, but I’m only going one way. My husband will bring me home.”
    Barbara slipped a ten-dollar bill from her purse and handed it over, and then sank onto a cracked vinyl seat. The old man took the wheel and the engines roared to life. The wooden-hulled boat pushed through the water like an army tank, taking twice as long as the ferry, but the ninety-two-year-old sea captain didn’t have Cleta aboard. When they reached Perkins Cove, Odell tied up his boat
at a distance from Captain Stroble’s spot. Barbara scanned the area for any sign of her mother, saw nothing, then disembarked and waved. “Thanks, Odell!”
    Barbara called a cab from a pay phone, and then got out in the center of town. She had a lot to accomplish in three hours, but with a little help she’d make it. Shivers raced up her spine when she thought of what she was about to do.
    It was all for Russell, she reminded herself.
    For them.
    After another quick look around, she ducked into a nearby building.
    Cleta and Vernie each emerged from the library carrying a sack of books. The selection was sparse this time of year, being that people were stockpiling for winter weather. Everything new had been checked out, but the librarian and Vernie managed to find enough classics to satisfy Cleta.
    Feeling satisfied with their book expedition, Cleta and Vernie decided to stop off at Hamilton’s Family Restaurant for a sandwich and coffee. The town was dead in the winter, with few stores open for shopping, but the ferry