alive.”
“Why did you work tonight after you worked the morning shift?” I pour her a shot of tequila.
“Mary Burns has been sick all week, so I worked her shift. I need the money.” She shrugs.
“Who’d you work with?”
“Reenie, but that wasn’t the problem. The place was a nut house tonight. Who’s that?” She changes track so quickly, I need a moment to realize she’s looking at the new guy.
“That’s Taylor’s friend Andy. Cute, huh?” I smile at Taylor.
“Okay, let me go get him so you ladies can work him over,” Taylor offers as he pushes away from the bar.
“I think Emma Rae would appreciate that,” I tell him with a laugh.
Diane drops Jake and me off a little after one in the morning. I’m quiet on the way home, letting Diane and Jake fill the silence. It has been a fun night, getting together with old friends and forgetting all the troubles coming. I can’t help but wonder why Nick never showed.
It feels good sleeping until almost noon and then lying in bed a while longer, relishing the comfort and warmth. I have several things I want to accomplish before my date with Nick. The first: organizing and putting away my new wardrobe.
I slip on my new flannel robe and make my way to the kitchen. One of the things I love best about this house is all the windows, making every room bright and cheery. It might be just an old farmhouse, but it means a lot to me. The kitchen is sunny and warm as I fix myself a cup of coffee. Jake left earlier with Sawyer and Sam so they could help him feed cattle before they all go on to cut wood. I hope he doesn’t overwork himself.
My afternoon flies by as I do my chores while talking on the phone with Diane. I called my uncle Ben the day before to thank him and ask him to come by when he got the chance. He stops in, and I show him the clothes he and Jake have paid for.
“I can’t help feeling guilty, Ben,” I tell him.
“Why?”
“I think we got a little carried away and—”
“You did not , Sofie. You spent far less than we had figured, especially with my wife and sister along. We set this up before you came home from California.”
“You did?” Their generosity is just one more display of the remarkable love and care they’ve shown me through the years.
“Yes, we wanted to do something for you. It’s not as if you let us give you anything for Christmas or your birthday,” he admonishes. I have a problem with people giving me gifts. “You wouldn’t even accept our help while you were in California.”
I duck my head; he was pretty upset about that situation. I’m teary eyed as I hug him good-bye. Emma Rae pulls into the driveway as Ben is leaving.
“Hey girl,” she calls to me. I’m still standing on the front porch after seeing Ben off. “You okay? You look as if you’ve been crying.”
“I’ve just been thanking Ben.” She smiles in understanding. “Come on in. You want a cup of coffee?” We head toward the kitchen. “You look nice.”
She takes off her coat, revealing a dark blue pantsuit with a silky, lace-trimmed white cami under the jacket. Having curled her shoulder-length hair, it’s full and bouncy. She is also wearing more makeup than usual.
“I revise my comment—you look gorgeous.” She beams. “What’s the occasion?” I ask.
“I have a date with Taylor’s friend Andy.” She takes the cup I hand her and reaches into the fridge for the cream.
“That was quick.” I’m surprised, which, thinking about it, shouldn’t be so surprising; it was obvious the previous night the two hit it off.
“Right before I left last night, he asked if I wanted to go out tonight.” She props her chin on her hand and leans on the table with a dreamy expression. “Did you know he’s six feet tall? I can wear heels with him.” Emma Rae, at five foot nine, is forever on the lookout for tall men. She refuses to go out with anyone shorter than herself.
“Are you sure you should go? I mean, you just met
“Why did you work tonight after you worked the morning shift?” I pour her a shot of tequila.
“Mary Burns has been sick all week, so I worked her shift. I need the money.” She shrugs.
“Who’d you work with?”
“Reenie, but that wasn’t the problem. The place was a nut house tonight. Who’s that?” She changes track so quickly, I need a moment to realize she’s looking at the new guy.
“That’s Taylor’s friend Andy. Cute, huh?” I smile at Taylor.
“Okay, let me go get him so you ladies can work him over,” Taylor offers as he pushes away from the bar.
“I think Emma Rae would appreciate that,” I tell him with a laugh.
Diane drops Jake and me off a little after one in the morning. I’m quiet on the way home, letting Diane and Jake fill the silence. It has been a fun night, getting together with old friends and forgetting all the troubles coming. I can’t help but wonder why Nick never showed.
It feels good sleeping until almost noon and then lying in bed a while longer, relishing the comfort and warmth. I have several things I want to accomplish before my date with Nick. The first: organizing and putting away my new wardrobe.
I slip on my new flannel robe and make my way to the kitchen. One of the things I love best about this house is all the windows, making every room bright and cheery. It might be just an old farmhouse, but it means a lot to me. The kitchen is sunny and warm as I fix myself a cup of coffee. Jake left earlier with Sawyer and Sam so they could help him feed cattle before they all go on to cut wood. I hope he doesn’t overwork himself.
My afternoon flies by as I do my chores while talking on the phone with Diane. I called my uncle Ben the day before to thank him and ask him to come by when he got the chance. He stops in, and I show him the clothes he and Jake have paid for.
“I can’t help feeling guilty, Ben,” I tell him.
“Why?”
“I think we got a little carried away and—”
“You did not , Sofie. You spent far less than we had figured, especially with my wife and sister along. We set this up before you came home from California.”
“You did?” Their generosity is just one more display of the remarkable love and care they’ve shown me through the years.
“Yes, we wanted to do something for you. It’s not as if you let us give you anything for Christmas or your birthday,” he admonishes. I have a problem with people giving me gifts. “You wouldn’t even accept our help while you were in California.”
I duck my head; he was pretty upset about that situation. I’m teary eyed as I hug him good-bye. Emma Rae pulls into the driveway as Ben is leaving.
“Hey girl,” she calls to me. I’m still standing on the front porch after seeing Ben off. “You okay? You look as if you’ve been crying.”
“I’ve just been thanking Ben.” She smiles in understanding. “Come on in. You want a cup of coffee?” We head toward the kitchen. “You look nice.”
She takes off her coat, revealing a dark blue pantsuit with a silky, lace-trimmed white cami under the jacket. Having curled her shoulder-length hair, it’s full and bouncy. She is also wearing more makeup than usual.
“I revise my comment—you look gorgeous.” She beams. “What’s the occasion?” I ask.
“I have a date with Taylor’s friend Andy.” She takes the cup I hand her and reaches into the fridge for the cream.
“That was quick.” I’m surprised, which, thinking about it, shouldn’t be so surprising; it was obvious the previous night the two hit it off.
“Right before I left last night, he asked if I wanted to go out tonight.” She props her chin on her hand and leans on the table with a dreamy expression. “Did you know he’s six feet tall? I can wear heels with him.” Emma Rae, at five foot nine, is forever on the lookout for tall men. She refuses to go out with anyone shorter than herself.
“Are you sure you should go? I mean, you just met
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