Abound in Love Read Online Free

wouldn’t be able to write so expressively to your ol’
aunt.”
    Krissy
grinned.  “I’m going to be a writer like you, Aunt Laura.”
    Laura
pulled her into a hug.  “That’s terrific.  I know you can do it.”  She nudged
Kenny.  “How ‘bout you?  What do you want to be when you grow up?”
    “I’m
going to be a cop, like my dad,” he said proudly.
    “You’re
not going to be a teacher like me?” Thomas said, his voice incredulous.  His
sparkling eyes belied his surprise at his nephew’s announcement.
    The
little boy shook his head briskly.  “Sorry, Uncle Thomas.  But I want to be
just like my dad.”
    Thomas
pretended to grumble, as he turned back to the stove and picked up a wooden
spoon.  He waved it mock-threateningly at his nephew, and then began stirring
the pot.  Finally, he took the large pot off the stovetop.  “Chili,” he
announced proudly.  “Just like Mom used to make.”
    Laura,
Macy, and even the children couldn’t help the grimaces that marred their
faces.  Their grandmother was a notoriously bad cook.  Thomas laughed.  “Okay,
well, not so much like Mom used to make.   My chili actually tastes pretty
good.”
    “It’s
true,” Kenny said, nodding his head.  “Uncle Thomas makes really good chili.”
    “Okay,
you’re back in my good graces,” Thomas told the boy.  “Will you grab the
bowls?”
    Kenny
hurriedly retrieved them from a cabinet and set the table, while Krissy jumped
up from the bench where she’d been sitting and pulled spoons out of a drawer. 
    Soon,
the group was enjoying the chili, and reminiscing about old times.  The kids
sat back, listening, and smiling at the adults’ recounting of their adventures
and misadventures.  On several occasions, as Thomas spoke, Laura covered
Kenny’s ears, lest he get any ideas about following in his uncle’s footsteps. 
Laura remembered Thomas had been a notorious prankster.
    When
they’d finished eating, and the dishes cleared and washed, the group retired to
the living room.
    “May I
play video games upstairs for an hour before bedtime?” Kenny asked his uncle.
    Thomas
nodded, and directed his attention to Krissy.  “It’s time to get busy with
homework.  Do you need some help?”
    “I do,”
she groaned.  “I’m having trouble with long division.”
    “Well,
you’re in luck,” he announced.  “That’s my specialty.”
    After
excusing himself and promising his fiancée and sister he would return shortly,
Thomas led Krissy back into the kitchen to work on homework at the table. 
Laura found herself alone with Macy.
    “It
really is good to see you again, Laura,” she said.  “It’s been too long.”
    Laura
nodded.  “It has been a long time.”
    “Thomas
really misses you, and so does Candace.  She talks about you all the time.”
    Laura
was taken aback.  “Candace … talks about … me?”
    “All
the time.  She often says how much Krissy is like you, and how glad she is that
she seems to have your talent for writing.  She’s even remarked a time or two
that she’s glad she has your sweet nature and tender heart.”
    Laura
was stunned.  It was difficult to fathom that Candace viewed any of Laura’s
traits in her daughter with pride.  In the past, she had laughed at her
attempts at writing.  Once, she had even found her diary and read it aloud to a
group of visiting girls.  That particular incident still stung.  She still
heard the girls’ laughter, and biting sarcasm as each had taken a turn reading
passages of that very personal journal.
    To this
day, she wondered if any of those girls had told Dalton about her heartfelt
longing for his attention and affection.  She reddened at the prospect, but
forced the thoughts away.  “I guess I’m surprised Candace said such nice things
about me,” she admitted.
    Macy
reached for Laura’s hand and gave it a squeeze.  “Candace is having a hard
time,” she said softly.  “She’s changed, Laura.  I wish there