“We should do whatever we can to heal it,” Evie said quietly and Claire smiled at her, grateful beyond words for whatever twist of fate had brought her friend here to the mountains of Colorado.
“What about a day of service? Neighbors helping neighbors,” Mary Ella suggested. For the first time since she came in, her lovely green eyes looked clear and unclouded by sorrow.
“Yes. Yes!” Claire thought of the possibilities. Fences that needed to be painted, windows to be washed, blankets to be knitted. “We could involve every one. Children, families, youth groups.”
“We should have something special planned for the teenagers. They’ve lost so much,” Evie said.
Claire thought of Taryn, a cheerleader and popular girl at Hope’s Crossing High School, lying in a hospital bed in Denver, of Charlie Beaumont, facing serious charges in the accident, of the other teens involved.
And, of course, of Layla.
She leaned forward suddenly, an abrupt movement that sent a pain rippling up her leg that she ignored. “What if we end the day with a dinner dance and benefit auction. The proceeds can go to a charity that benefits the entire community. Maybe something with particular impact on the young people.”
“A scholarship in Layla’s name,” Ruth said abruptly.
“Oh.” Mary Ella’s features softened.
Claire beamed at her mother. “Oh, perfect, Mom. Just perfect.”
“Maura would be touched, don’t you think?” Evie asked.
“How soon could we throw it together?” Claire asked. “Would a month give us enough time?”
“Layla would have turned sixteen on June forth,” Mary Ella offered.
Claire calculated. Three and a half weeks. Could they make it happen in that short amount of time? “A little less than a month, then.”
“It’s too much work,” Ruth said.
“No, we can do this. I can’t imagine a better day for it.”
She pulled the rolling table with her laptop toward her, excitement flooding through her. This is what the town needed, something to hold on to. The bright beam of hope piercing the dark clouds that had lingered since the tragedy.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
