Angel Wings Read Free Page A

qualifications.”
    “I did.” She nodded to him, wondering if he might really be there. And then shaking that thought away. Of course he wasn’t really there. But, it was strange how her fractured mind had conjured up such a handsome vision. Much more handsome than Rodney.
    The thought surprised her. Could that mean she was starting to get over Rodney?
    No. It didn’t mean that. She would never get over Rodney. But, for the moment, she would go along with her delusions. “So now what?”
    “We have three things to do to get ready for the wedding.”
    “The wedding?”
    He reached across the table, picked up the invitation, and tapped it lightly on the cherry wood. “This wedding.”
    Yes, she thought. Three things. Like a fairy tale. Three magic wishes, or something like that.
    “First you need a dress.”
    “I have lots of dresses.”
    “No, you don’t. You never wear dresses. Personally, I don’t care what you wear.” He looked amused, and charming. “I don’t care if you wear anything actually, but I’m supposed to assist you in purchasing a suitable dress for the occasion.”
    If she was crazy, did that mean Mrs. Hartfield was crazy too? Since, after all, Mrs. Hartfield had been able to see him . . . .
    “Are you paying attention?”
    “Oh yes.”
    “So today after work, I’ll meet you at the Jolie Femme on Seventh Street.”
    “Right.”
    “You don’t know where that is, do you?”
    “I’m sure I can find it.”
    “Work will go well today. You’ll be finished on time.”
    No, she thought, as the tired inevitability washed over her soul and she felt herself slump. Work would not go well. It never did.
    Jessibelle had worked with her friend Hanna at the College Registrar’s office for five years, and she’d enjoyed her job and done it well. A month ago, she’d left, claiming that City Realty offered her more responsibility and more money. Which was true.
    But the real reason she’d left was because of Hanna.
    Jessibelle could not work with Hanna. Not anymore. Not if it meant having to hear about Rodney, every single minute of every single day.
    The job at City Realty had freed her from those reminders but she didn’t enjoy the work, and there was always more of it. City Realty had quickly become a stream of unending, boring drudgery.
    “I’m never finished on time.” Not ever, she thought.
    “You will be finished on time today,” he said. “Now, have a quick shower. Don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll clean up. Do you want this bacon?”
    “No, help yourself.”
    He popped a piece of bacon into his mouth, and closed his eyes, obviously enjoying the flavor. “I forgot how good this tastes,” he said.

Chapter Two
     
    For the first time since she’d started working at City Realty, Jessibelle left the office for her lunch break. She twisted the sign on the window next to the big glass door so it said Gone To Lunch and then she walked out onto the sidewalk. The filing could wait. She needed to buy a dress.
    And not at the Jolie Femme . Boutique shops like the Jolie Femme only emphasized her awkwardness. She had never understood fashion and she dreaded having to deal with the sophisticated salespeople she would undoubtedly meet there.
    Besides, a Jolie Femme dress would be way too expensive. Why would she spend a lot of money for a dress when she didn’t want to attend the wedding?
    Sadness flattened her mood and her energy waned. And then the obvious question popped into her head. Why attend the wedding at all? Why not decline the invitation?
    She had to go. Because if she didn’t, it would mean admitting how much they had hurt her. And she would never do that.
    An image of her grandmother formed in her mind. Her grandmother rocking her, and telling her it was all right to be sad. She shrugged the thought away.
    A different, more persistent, part of her brain took over, with the familiar mantra of move on . . . move on . . . move on . . . . But she could not move on. It was as