Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel Read Free

to keep forgetting, old lady.”
    Oh, I haven’t forgotten.
“Madison, thanks so much for the lovely necklace. Nicolina Diamante makes such beautiful handmade jewelry. It was so sweet that you remembered how much I adore her creations.” Jessica put the
Modern Bride
magazine on the glass coffee table and dusted her hands together. “Now, I really should get home and start working on the menu. Summer will be here before you know it,” she added breezily, but it was true. She had invested so much time and money into revamping the diner and she was really starting to feel the heat. “I’m thinking about adding a mango salsa, cold corn, and black bean dip—”
    “Come on, Mom!” Madison pleaded firmly, but her expression was soft and knowing. “The menu can wait until tomorrow. Let’s go celebrate. You deserve it.”
    “Sweetie, I love my gift! And, look, I know I’m turning forty, but like I said, to me it’s just another birthday. You know I don’t want to make it a big deal.”
    Madison pressed her lips together, which was a sure sign she wasn’t giving up. “Well, then, let’s go out and celebrate my teaching position at Cooper. You promised we’d go out and clink glasses together, but we never did.” Her chin came up in challenge.
    Damn
 . . . Madison had her there.
    “Besides, I’m hungry and I don’t have anything in the fridge to fix.”
    “Imagine that.” Jessica cocked one eyebrow. “You really need to learn your way around the kitchen, Madison. Jason is a small-town boy used to home-cooked meals.”
    “I can’t believe my ultraindependent, modern mother just said that to me,” Madison muttered.
    “The boy’s gotta eat . . . and so do you.”
    Madison bounced around on the sofa cushion to face her mother. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal. Come with me to Sully’s and I’ll find some time soon to come over to the diner for some cooking lessons.”
    “Oh . . .” She really wasn’t playing fair.
    “Come on, Mom.” Madison pounced on her slight wavering. “Jason is working more long hours at the baseball stadium. I’m bored. And hungry!”
    Jessica rolled her eyes. “Girl, you want some cheese with that whine?” She kept her voice light, but she truly didn’twant to celebrate. What she really wanted was to go home, get into her pajamas, and wallow with a bottle of merlot. The fact that this so-called milestone was hitting her hard took her by surprise! But deep down, Jessica knew the reason why.
    Her birthday reminded her how many years she’d been living without any real romance in her life. It was something she thought she’d never missed, but now her heart kicked into high gear every time Tyler McKenna walked through the door of her restaurant. She wanted to box his ears for making her long for a hot kiss and strong arms wrapped around her.
    “Yes! I do want some cheese. Mozzarella sticks will do nicely.” With a laugh, Madison stood up and tugged on Jessica’s hand. “Let’s go. Pete Sully declared Monday as martini night in my honor.”
    Jessica gave her daughter a pointed look. “That might not be something you want to be proud of.”
    “But I am.” In true Madison form, she gave her hips a sassy wiggle that had her blond curls brushing against her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and Jessica felt another wave of emotion wash over her as her own eyes misted. This unfortunate
mistake
—as her parents had called her teen pregnancy—had become a lovely, talented, vibrant young woman, and Jessica was abundantly proud of her daughter. Hot moisture gathered in her throat, but she swallowed hard. Tears were for the weak, and over the many years of working endless hours in the restaurant industry with temperamental men, she had developed a backbone made of steel that refused to bend beneath the constant pressure. On the toughest of long days, it had been Madison’s golden curls and smiling face that had kept her from collapsing. And now her sweet