Free Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1) by HD Kelley Page A

of most of my classes. Prom committee, senior activities committee, French club, there’s so much going on.” That’s my Anna, Ms. Social. She spent the next several minutes filling me in on the details of prom and the upcoming panoramic picture of the senior class they were trying to schedule. Focusing on the road, I did my best to keep up with what she was saying.
    “Oh, before I forget, dad left a little while ago. He said he’d be gone until Saturday. You’ll be here though, right?” Anna didn’t like it when Spencer and I traveled at the same time and had only recently come to accept it as a reality for our family. It wasn’t that Anna was afraid to stay home alone, well, with Drew. But what she was afraid of was having some place she needed to be and no ride to get there. Drew would let her tagalong with him most of the time, but only if they were going to the same place. It drove Drew nuts that Anna refused to get her license.
    “Actually, I have a trip too. I’m leaving tomorrow night, but I’ll call Sara to see if she can stay at the house until dad gets back.” Sara Pike, our part-time housekeeper, also doubled as Anna’s own personal taxi service from time to time. Anna adored Sara and was always excited when she stayed over. They were almost like sisters really. Sara had lived with us while she was in college and the two of them became pretty close.
    I hung up the phone, relieved I wouldn’t have to see Spencer again until after my trip but worried Sara wouldn’t be able to stay. I crossed my fingers and dialed her number.
    “Hi, Izzy.”
    “Hey, Sara, I need a favor,” I said, getting straight to the point.
    “Sure, what’s up?”
    “Spencer and I are both traveling, and I’m hoping you can stay at the house with the kids for a few days.”
    “Of course. I’d love to stay. Brandon is away for some training thing and it’s been so lonely around here.”
    “Oh, Sara, thank you. You really are the best.”
    “You know I love staying with them, Izzy. How about I come tonight?”
    “Sure. Come anytime.” I couldn’t help but think how blessed we were to have someone like Sara in our lives.
    When I walked inside the house an hour later I could hear Anna and Drew laughing. The smell of shrimp flowed from the kitchen, pasta and garlic too. Putting my bag down on the entryway table I walked toward the sound.
    “Mom,” Anna squealed when she saw me.
    “Look, Sara made dinner, angel hair pasta with shrimp and a white wine garlic sauce,” Drew said.
    “Wow, thanks, Sara. It smells delicious.”
    Sara poured a glass of wine and handed it to me. “I hope it tastes okay. I’m still getting a grip on the whole cooking thing.”
    “I’m sure it’ll be amazing,” Drew said.
    “I’m so grateful you could come on short notice. I don’t know what we’d do without you, Sara.”
    “Don’t be silly, I’m glad you called. I was going out of my mind in that house all alone.”
    The timer buzzed. Drew pulled a tray of garlic bread out of the oven. Sara drained the pasta. Anna began setting the table. All three moving in synchronized rhythm. A smile crossed my face as I soaked in the moment, doing my best not to think about how much I was going to miss this when they left for college in a couple of months.
    When the dinner mess was all cleaned up, I kissed the kids goodnight, thanked Sara again, with a big hug this time, and headed upstairs to get ready for bed, more than exhausted now.
    I picked up my phone to do a final check of email but thought better of it and dropped it on the side table. Turning off the light, I laid my head on the pillow. The moonlight flooded my room, enveloping me like a blanket, soft and comforting with a gentle ease. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
     
    • • • • •
     
    The next morning I woke up early, relieved I hadn’t had another nightmare. After washing up I pulled on my running clothes then headed downstairs for a cup of coffee. Sara was