Just Perfect Read Free

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she could make real money from large orders.  Right now they were barely making
ends meet with what she could do.  If the incident at the grocery store was any
indication, she still wasn't doing enough.  She was only surviving on about
four hours of sleep as it was.  She needed to figure out how to fit a few more
orders in.
    Pulling up to the house, Lily let out a long sigh.  Piercing
blue eyes flashed in her memory.  Samson.  Her stomach fluttered.  Oh lord. 
What was wrong with her?  It had been almost nine years since she felt any kind
of tingle for a man.  She purposely tried to conjure up John in her mind.  The
only picture that came was the face of the son they had created together.  She
named Johnathan after his father so they would never forget him.  She was
determined not to.
    Lily shook her head.  “Help me with the bags, Johnathan,
please.”
    “Okay,” he responded, already jumping out of the car.
    As they walked into the house, they were greeted by the
delicious scent of garlic bread.
    “That smells so good.” Johnathan groaned, setting the bags
on the table.
    “Dinner is just about ready,” Her mom announced, wiping her
hands on a kitchen towel.  She was cooking a lot more these past few months. 
She looked so lovely with her blond hair pulled up and her cheeks flushed from
the stove.  Nobody would ever guess she had a stroke eight months ago.  Or that
Lily wasn't sure her mom would ever recover from losing her husband.  Her
parents were so in love.  Jack and Sarah.  Everyone who ever saw them together
could see how much they cared for each other.  Her father had been quite a few
years older than her mom but it didn't seem to matter to either of them.  Her
dad was a strong, virile man.  He was supposed to live forever. 
    “Good. I'm hungry! Go wash up Johnathan and I'll set the
table.”  Lily headed for the sink to wash her own hands.  “Thanks for cooking
mom, but I could have done it when we got home.”
    “Lily, I told you I'm fine.  The doctor said weeks ago I
could do regular chores.  It's not like I'm plowing fields.”  She said with a
touch of irritation.
    “Okay, I just want you to go slow,” Lily said as she put the
groceries away.
    “I'll eat slowly. How about that?  I'm still alive and
healthy.  I'm not going to sit in a rocking chair and waste away.  That stroke
was a wake-up call for me.”
    “Then you can do the dishes too if you’re feeling so spry.” 
Lily teased.
    “Not on your life.  I can't believe you would make a poor
old lady work so hard.”  Her blue eyes twinkled.
    They set up the kitchen island with plates and silverware
before laying out the meal.
    “Guess what happened at the store Gramma?”  Johnathan said
as they sat down to eat.
    “What?” her mom asked. Worry entering her lovely face.
    “We didn't have enough money at the store for the gun.  The
coupon was spired.”
    “Expired?  Oh no.”  Her eyes went to Lily.
    “It's okay Mom.  We got it covered.”  Lily said quickly not
wanting her mom to stress.
    “Yeah!  Samson paid for everything !”  Her son said as
if Samson was his best friend in the world.
    “Samson?”  Her mom questioned, taking in Lily's flushed
cheeks.
    “A man standing in line behind us at the store.  He paid for
everything before I had time to put anything back.”  She explained.  “And then
he ordered two dozen cupcakes instead of a repayment.”
    “How did he know you baked?”
    “I told him. He was really nice.”  Johnathan said.
    Lily sighed. “No big deal Mom.  I have to take the cupcakes
to his shop next Friday at noon.  Maybe we'll get some repeat business.”
    “I'll ride along.”  She turned her attention to her grandson
asking about his day at school.
    After they finished eating and the kitchen was cleaned, Lily
helped Johnathan with his homework.  She loved this time of the evening. 
Everything was so calm.  Tonight, though, she felt restless.  Almost