Free Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson

take to her bed rather than have to deal with Lorelei. After a while she truly took sick, and the doctor said there was no hope of her recovery. That was when Mama made me pen a letter to Aunt Eloise. She knew Lorelei would be mean to me, and Dusty would never believe it, so she wanted my aunt to raise me. I was just fourteen when mama died.”
    â€œWhat a tragedy, and one I know well.” Sadness washed over Abrianna. She hadn’t wanted to stir thoughts of her mother, but it was impossible to change the conversation now. “I lost my mother when I was barely first walking. Had these three gracious ladies not cared for her and promised to care for me, I might have been thrown into the streets. Instead, I have lived a most beneficial life.”
    â€œI’ve enjoyed living with Aunt Eloise, but she says I’m much too wild for her. I worry her into states of panic and excessive headaches. I think it’s because she’s old. Once a person grows older than thirty, they seem to lose their ability to enjoy life.” Flora shrugged. “I never gave Mama headaches.”
    Abrianna drew a deep breath and dug her nails into the palms of her hands. Pain of the flesh was better than pain of the heart. “I felt you were a kindred spirit when you first arrived. I have always been too wild for my aunts. They would prefer I be demure and quiet, but no matter how I try, it just never seems I can be that way for long. Inevitably, I will see something that needs to be attended and no one else willing to take on the matter, so I jump in to see it through.”
    â€œI am that way, as well,” Flora agreed. “When I saw the upstairs windows at Aunt Eloise’s house were in need of a good cleaning and the servants were much too fearful to climb outonto the roof and tend to the matter, I did so myself. It seemed perfectly logical to me. The windows were dirty, and I wasn’t afraid of heights.”
    Abrianna felt the sorrow lift at the idea of Flora’s deeds. “I can definitely agree with your thinking. It would seem that older people are less capable of understanding our motives. They are always complicating matters with detailed planning. I would rather plunge straight ahead and get the thing done.”
    â€œWe are kindred spirits, you and I,” Flora agreed. “It is a shame we didn’t know each other sooner in life. Perhaps we might have helped each other.”
    Abrianna nodded. She’d often wished for a friend who thought just as she did. She’d expressed that on one occasion to Wade, and he had merely laughed and said everyone was thankful that there weren’t two of her, otherwise the worries would be twice as many.
    â€œDo you think you would want to return to Montana one day?”
    A frown crossed Flora’s thoughtful expression. “No. I don’t think so. Montana isn’t big enough for Lorelei and me. I still hold her a grudge for what she did to Mama. I blame her for Mama getting sick and dying. After all, it was hard on her when Papa died, and had Lorelei been a friend, Mama might have gotten through it. Instead, Lorelei was cruel and manipulating. If I ever go back to Montana, it’ll be to punch Lorelei in the nose.”
    Abrianna thought on that for a moment. “I can definitely understand why you would feel that way. I have felt that way myself.” She lifted her gaze to Flora. “Not regarding your sister-in-law, you understand. But there are folks here in Seattle who have given me cause to think that way. Although it’s not the fault of Seattle. I wouldn’t want to besmirch the good name ofthis city. I have quite enjoyed growing up here. There are a great many good people here, and I hope you come to enjoy Seattle as I have. I find there is always some diversion and someone in need of help.”
    â€œDo you have opportunity to help very many people?”
    â€œAs many as I am able. Before the fire I ran a