Miracles and Dreams Read Online Free Page A

day or two.” His voice was smooth, coaxing. “After all, you need to eat, Misty.”
    “A promise is a promise, and I plan to keep mine.” Misty crossed to the sink, turned on the faucet, and let the water run cold before filling a glass. “Let’s set up a time to meet at your office.”
    “Oh, my office is still under renovation.” He paused slightly. “How about we get together on Saturday morning, say nine o’clock, at Anderson’s coffee shop right across the street from my office, instead?”
    “I guess that will do.” It was an acceptable compromise, and Misty would be delighted to hand off the project. “It won’t take more than an hour to walk you through the program. That should give you plenty of time to get your feet wet before you unveil the new site to the City Commission at the meeting Monday evening. Does that work for you?”
    “I suppose.” His tone deflated slightly. “Although—”
    “I’ll see you then, Mr. Tucker .”
    “Spence.”
    “Right.” She held the phone away from her ear as she put an end to the conversation with a clipped, decisive tone that she hoped drove her point home. “Now, I have a project waiting to be finished. Good night.”
     
    ****
     
    Couldn’t the plane fly any faster?
    Jack shifted in the seat and shrugged the kinks from his neck. A four hour flight had become six due to a detour and delay following a freak thunderstorm that blew in over the mountains. His legs were cramped, his back stiff, and his gut roiled from bobbled take-offs and extended bouts of turbulence.
    Flying certainly wasn’t, for good reason, on his list of favorite pastimes.
    He took Misty’s letter from his shirt pocket, unfolded it, and read it for the umpteenth time.
    You’re going to be a daddy…
    The words shocked just as much, no matter how many times Jack drank them in. Did he have a son…or a daughter?
    Or neither.
    It surprised him how much the thought of that—of the possibility that Misty had terminated the pregnancy—unsettled him. He felt sure she’d never do that. Misty would cross the street to avoid stepping on an ant. As a kid, she was constantly seeking his assistance in doctoring stray animals. She had no fear of raccoons, squirrels, mice, snakes—even spiders didn’t much get to her. It was one of the many reasons he’d fallen in love with her.
    Her child—their child—would be treasured, for sure.
    Jack tamped down the thought. The love they’d shared was a lifetime ago.
    The seatbelt warning light pulsed on, accompanied by a half-dozen staccato chimes of a bell. The plane shifted and began its descent. Jack sighed and lifted the window shade, willing his gut to settle as he peered through smudged glass and into the black of night.
    Below, the winding Tennessee River snaked into view along with a shadow of land speckled by the artificial glow of streetlights. Six years had passed since he’d left Mill’s Landing. He hadn’t meant to stay away for so long—it just happened. But now he was home.
    Home?
    He dismissed the thought as the plane listed right. Soon after, the landing gear kissed the runway, bounced and shrieked. Jack gritted his teeth. He hated flying, preferred his feet on the ground and the hum of his open-air jeep along the highway. But time was of the essence here.
    “Sir, the seatbelt light is still engaged.” A flight attendant paused in the aisle, frowning. One manicured hand propped sharply on her hip. “Your restraint, please.”
    “Oh, right.” Jack clicked the belt back into place, drew a breath, and bit his tongue. Like the thin strap of cloth would make a difference if the plane decided to careen from the runway. Good grief! Nerves coupled with exhaustion stole a chunk of his patience and he was careful to hold himself in check. No point dumping his frustration in the bossy flight attendant’s lap. After all, she was only doing her job.
    The telltale ding sounded, and passengers went into motion like a crew of Pavlov’s