GNELFS Read Free

it."
    "Maybe you're right."
    "My little monsters are always up to something. I'm always right where kids are concerned."
    "I hope so, and I'm not overlooking some deep hidden stress syndrome in her or something."
    "Gab, the kid's not even five years old. She's interested in dolls and playing. There're just too many damn books full of ideas that make you worry these days. If we just let babies be babies it'll be all right. If she's scared of those green monstrosities the kids all like, get her some of those books about that French elephant or something." She sipped some more of her drink. "You think you got problems you ought to try to find a black doll in this town. I ought to go to the ordering clerk at Toy World and let him explain to my little girl why she doesn't have a baby doll with skin the same color as hers."
    Eventually their sandwiches arrived. They were finishing the last bites when a silver-haired woman strolled into the room and, noticing Katrina, extended a hand to wave.
    "Barbara Richardson," Katrina said. "Dr. Richardson's wife."
    "Friends?"
    "Clients."
    The woman now stood by their table, a broad smile on her face. "How are you doing today, Katrina?"
    "Wonderful." The formal tone had arrived, and Gabrielle knew Katrina's forced smile when she saw it.
    "I'm glad I ran into you," Mrs. Richardson said. "I wanted to invite you to a function my writing club is sponsoring."
    "How nice," Katrina said. The “nice” was exaggerated.
    "It's on Saturday morning, at eleven, and you just have to come."
    "Well …"
    "Oh, you'll love it. We have Jake Tanner lined up to read from his new book."
    Katrina frowned. "Tanner? Tanner? Where do I know that name?"
    "He's the mystery writer that lives in town. He wrote The Spanish Moss Killings , Tuesday's Alligators and all those. They aren't best sellers, but they are fairly popular."
    “I don't think I'll have time Saturday—"
    Mrs. Richardson turned to Gabrielle. "And who's your friend?"
    "Gabrielle Davis. She works with me."
    "Well, that's wonderful. Why don't you come along, dear?"
    Gab gave her a nervous smile. "Actually it sounds interesting. I've always liked books."
    "Have you read any of Mr. Tanner's?"
    "I'm afraid not. I haven't even heard of them."
    "That's no problem. You can pick one up at the Book Palace. I'm sure he'd be glad to autograph it for you. He's a wonderful young man."
    "I see," Gab said. “Even though he does have a harsh imagination. Aligator killings, ooohh . We meet at the library. Just join us."
    She turned and fluttered from the room.
    "Social butterfly strikes again," Katrina said, returning to her less formal tone.
    "She seemed nice enough," Gab said.
    "She is, really," Katrina conceded. "I just tend to get tired hearing about her writing. She wants to do romances, but she's not really very good. That poor writer is probably going to wind up reading some thousand-page epic she's working on."
    "I think I'd like to go," Gab said. "I didn't know we had a writers' club—or any writers around here."
    "I forgot. You're the paperback queen."
    Gab usually had a book in her purse, and that qualified her as an avid reader in Katrina's eyes. Katrina read Danielle Steel almost exclusively.
    Most of Gab's books came from used shops of late since books were low on the necessity list, but she had always harbored a desire to write.
    Maybe slipping out to the meeting would be good for her. She had been somewhat reclusive since the divorce, pleading Heaven as an alibi when she was invited to parties or other activities.
    Finding a place for Heaven to spend a little time on Saturday shouldn't be a big problem. If Katrina didn't want to go she'd take care of her. Provided Heaven wasn't showing any more signs of being upset.
    ~*~
    Heaven sat with Terry on the bench at the   edge of the playroom, a broad space akin to a gymnasium. Black electrical tape had been stretched on the floor to designate various play areas, and several different games were going on. But