Until She Met Daniel by Callie Endicott Page B

favorite Muenster cheese. Given the time Chris had left, he should be home just as the eggs were ready.
    Sure enough, he came through the door as she pulled the frying pan off the heat.
    â€œThat looks wonderful,” he said, though his voice was tight.
    â€œIs something wrong?”
    â€œI got another earful on that damned water project your father is promoting.”
    Susan counted to ten. “Do you really want to discuss that when we could eat breakfast and then go back to bed? After all, we didn’t get much sleep last night.”
    She could see the internal struggle in his eyes. Chris was fierce on the environment, but debating the subject would put an end to more pleasant activities. That was one thing Susan had remained firm about over the years—she wouldn’t have sex with an angry husband.
    Deliberately she stretched so her silk robe slid across her breasts.
    His face smoothed out and he smiled. “You know, I am kind of tired, and going back to bed for some extra...
rest
sounds like a brilliant idea.”
    Â 

CHAPTER SIX
    B Y   THE   END   of the weekend, Mandy had picked several gallons of blackberries and made twenty-five jars of jam. Most of them she brought to City Hall for the upcoming bazaar, keeping only four for herself. The remaining berries went into the freezer.
    Lou Ella Parsons slid into her office a few minutes after nine on Monday morning, a worried expression on her face.
    â€œHey, Lou. Did you have a good weekend?” Mandy asked.
    â€œYes, I mean, no. Oh dear, I’m not sure.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œIt’s this water issue, luv. I’m hearing they’ll assess each resident to pay for it, and it could be thousands upon thousands of dollars. Do you know anything?”
    â€œI only know there was a discussion at the city council meeting last Thursday. The town needs more water and they’re looking at different possibilities.”
    â€œI’m concerned, dear. My Harold and I, we’re careful, watching our pennies and pounds. That’s how we get by. I...I’m not sure we could handle a large bill of that sort.”
    A couple of thoughts rushed through Mandy’s mind all at once. The first was a warm understanding that Lou Ella must trust her—the elderly woman had never lost her reputed British reserve and wouldn’t think of mentioning her finances to Mandy otherwise. The other thought was that Daniel may have had a
small
point in warning her about appearing to know something extra about the water issue. Well, the solution was to make it clear she didn’t know more than anyone else.
    â€œLet’s try not to borrow trouble,” she cautioned. “Where did the assessment idea come from, anyway? I’ve been reading the newspaper and didn’t see a word about something like that.”
    â€œOh...people. You know,” Lou Ella said vaguely.
    Mandy didn’t say anything, just gave her an encouraging look.
    â€œEr...it was Margaret.” Lou Ella seemed embarrassed. For some reason, most of the seniors took Margaret’s doom-and-gloom pronouncements as gospel, but were reluctant to admit their source. “She read about a town that had such a big assessment, some people lost their homes.”
    â€œAs far as I can tell from the article in the
Willow’s Eve Banner,
the city council is just collecting information. They aren’t close to making a decision,” Mandy said carefully. “Haven’t they had only one meeting on the subject?”
    Lou Ella nodded slowly.
    â€œAnd you can get a copy of the meeting minutes to double-check,” Mandy added. “They don’t have any secrets—doesn’t the
Banner
editor always attend?”
    â€œThat’s true.” Some of the tension drained from Lou Ella’s face. “I suppose I’m being silly.”
    â€œNot at all. You
should
check things out and be involved. If you’re