CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

FRIENDS?

Kelly remained seated as she was. She was used to the common reaction like Cassia's. Not that it would ever make her sad. She, like most, had not given her an opening and that was all she could do, just make first contact. Now it would be with Cassia.

Kelly went into the pool for a while and then came out, grabbed a book from her purse to read. Hearing the squeals of joy from her stepdaughter and her little friend Sula, Kelly lowered the book onto her thighs, finding it strange that Sula was still there. Her hat wide over her head, the sun strong, she frowned and covered the sun with one hand; she saw the two little friends playing right in the pool in front of her. Sula's little brother was with them and was banging his little hands in the water, splashing the girls with his childish squeals.

The three of them were playing together, and she hadn't seen them coming. Looking around, she saw Cassie sitting on the chair next to her.

Cassia was looking straight ahead, sitting sti