California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances by Casey Dawes

back at the rushing stream, but he doubted she was seeing the water. Her breath shuddered and she continued.
    “Things went from bad to worse. He always seemed to be drunk. I’d come home from work every night, take care of David, clean up the mess, and try to sleep until he came home. One night I simply had enough. He fell into bed next to me with his clothes on, stinking of alcohol, fell asleep and started snoring.”
    The disgust in her voice was agonizing to hear. He hoped no woman ever talked about him that way.
    She took another sip of water. “I got up, got David and myself dressed, and went to Elizabeth’s to live. I never went back to Fred. We were divorced six months later. Fred didn’t fight for anything, so it went fairly quickly.
    This time he touched her hand. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
    She pulled her hand away, stood up, finished the water, and gave him a sad smile. “It’s over. That’s the important part. But I’m sure you can see why I’m a little reluctant to date.”
    He stood and took her hand again. “I would never treat any woman that way. I have a beer now and then, and I enjoy a good glass of wine with my dinner, but that’s it. You said it yourself. I’m safe. Let me prove it to you, Annie.” He looked steadily into her eyes.
    “I’d like to believe you, really I would. But it will take time. And time is the one thing we don’t have.”
    “Maybe you’ll find a job here.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can’t we just have a nice day and let it go at that?”
    “Sure. Ready to go?”
    She nodded. They saddled up and rode back to the barn.
    Once they’d taken care of the horses, she left so fast that there was no time for any more conversation. She sure was skittish. He wondered if there was more than a bad divorce in her past.
    • • •
    When Annie and David got to Elizabeth’s for brunch after church the following Sunday, Elizabeth was pulling biscuits out of the oven. “Sarah and her new boyfriend Ray got here a few minutes ago from Berkeley. They’re in the living room.” Elizabeth dumped the biscuits into the linen-lined breadbasket and handed it to Annie.
    “Mmm,” Annie said, sniffing the ambrosia of warm butter and yeast. She snagged a crumb from the edge of the basket. “Is there anything you don’t do well? I thought bread-making was my gig.”
    Elizabeth pointed to the stainless steel garbage bin in the corner. The edge of a bright blue wrapper peaked out from under the lid. “You remain queen of the bread.” She picked up a glass casserole containing a kaleidoscope of cheese, eggs, and bright green chiles.
    Annie followed her out of the kitchen with the breadbasket, David trailing her. “Yum, huevos rancheros, my favorite.”
    “Come and get it,” Elizabeth said as she placed the bubbling dish on a long wooden trivet at the end of the oak dining room table set with Italian blue, white, and yellow Fiesta plates perched on blue woven placemats.
    Elizabeth’s daughter, Sarah, walked in from the living room, towing a reluctant Ray. “David!” Sarah said, rushing toward the teenage boy. “You get bigger every time I see you! I’d never be able to babysit you now!” She gave him a strong hug; David patted his hands on her back. In spite of his awkward attempt at a hug, he had a large grin on his face.
    “What’s this nonsense about you getting in trouble with the law?” Sarah asked. “You know better than that!” She shook her finger at him and then turned to Annie, giving her a quick hug before plopping into a chair next to Ray. “And why is Mom telling me you’re moving to New Jersey? You’re not moving anywhere. What would my mother do without you two … she’d start showing up in Berkeley! No, you need to stay here to protect me.”
    “Enough with the inquisition,” Elizabeth admonished her daughter with a smile. “I’m not going to invade your life in Berkeley. I’ve got too much going on