A Bridge to Dreams by Sherryl Woods Page B

of the paper.
    â€œHi,” she said in a flat tone.
    â€œI take it you’ve seen this,” he said.
    â€œI’ve seen it.”
    â€œFrank is going to blow a fuse.”
    â€œI don’t doubt it.”
    â€œAnd Mom. What is she going to think?”
    At that moment the doorknob twisted again and Karyn’s mother came in. If she’d worked to learn her cue, she couldn’t have timed the entrance any more effectively. Only the worried furrow between her brows indicated that she was troubled. Her smile was as bright as ever as she sat next to Karyn and wrapped her arms around her.
    â€œAre you okay, Karyn Marie?” she said, studying her intently.
    â€œFine, Mom. I assume you didn’t just drop in. You’ve seen the paper.”
    â€œMrs. Murtaugh brought it by.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œDon’t you be sorry, baby. That old woman’s nothing but a busybody. I’m not one bit concerned about whatshe thinks. I’m just worried about you. Timmy, go make a pot of coffee while your sister and I talk.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œGo. And make it a big one. I expect the others will be here before long.”
    When Tim had gone into the kitchen area, Karyn’s mother laid a work-roughened hand against her cheek. “You in love with this man?”
    â€œYes,” she admitted, relieved to have it out in the open at last. “It doesn’t make much sense, though, does it?”
    â€œWhoever said anything about love making sense? The one thing I do know is that those special feelings aren’t something you turn your back on.”
    â€œBut he’s exactly like Frank and the others. He thinks I need looking after.”
    â€œAnd that’s so bad?”
    â€œI want to be on my own, be my own woman, make my own decisions.”
    â€œDon’t you think he’d let you do that? There’s a big difference between caring what happens to you and taking over your life. A man who cares too much, why, he might make a mistake every now and then and push too hard, but it’s usually in the name of love. That’s not control, Karyn Marie. Not by a long shot. Maybe the very first decision you ought to make to prove you’re all grown-up is whether you really want this man enough to fight for him. Now why don’t you tell me about him.”
    Despite herself, Karyn found that she was eager to talk about Brad, anxious to say his name aloud, to pour out everything to a sympathetic ear. “Actually, we just met,” she began.
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œA couple of weeks ago,” she admitted sheepishly.
    â€œOh, my.”
    â€œExactly.”
    She patted Karyn’s hand. “Well, never you mind about that. Where is this Brad Willis now?”
    â€œBack in Los Angeles, I guess.”
    â€œIs he coming back?”
    â€œI don’t know. I haven’t talked to him.”
    â€œOh, my.”
    â€œNo, it’s not what you think. I told him I didn’t want to talk to him. I told him I couldn’t love a man who wanted to run my life the way my brothers always have.”
    As if on cue again, the entire Chambers part of the world descended en masse, led by a scowling Frank. Before he could say a word, though, Tim asked, “Coffee, everyone?”
    â€œBeer,” Frank corrected tersely, sitting down and eyeing Karyn as if she’d grown two heads.
    â€œDon’t you dare sit in judgment on me, Frank Chambers,” Karyn snapped. “Did I interfere in your life when you got involved with that two-timing little tramp from Oakland? Have I said one word about the fact that it’s taken you five years to get around to proposing to Megan, even though she’s head over heels in love with you and actually thinks you’re the smartest, handsomest man on the face of the earth? Have I? And what about you, Jared? Do I tell you how to live your life?”
    â€œIt’s not the same,”