Serendipity Read Free Page B

back to wait for Kate Andrews, her best friend since kindergarten. Kate was the only person Faith had kept in touch with when she’d left for college, through her more isolated married days, till now. And Kate was the one person Faith trusted in a world that had proven unworthy.
    Faith was halfway through her drink when Kate rushed in harried as usual but predictably upbeat and bubbly. “Sorry I’m late. I had a dentist appointment that ran longer than I planned.”
    Faith laughed. “Your appointments always run over.” And Kate never learned to budget for extra time.
    Kate grinned. “And you love me anyway.”
    â€œYou know I do.” Faith felt herself relax for the first time since her run-in with Ethan.
    â€œWell, the feeling’s mutual,” Kate said, then turned, her auburn ponytail flipping around with her. “Hello?” She waved at the woman behind the counter, trying to get her attention.
    â€œHang on!” the woman, a different person from the one who’d waited on Faith, yelled back.
    Faith recognized Elisabetta Gardelli from high school. Elisabetta, known as Lissa, was one year older and one of the local town kids who’d hated the rich girls, like Kate and Faith.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Faith asked.
    â€œHang on a sec.” Kate waited for Lissa to look over before yelling back once more. “I’ll have the usual, please!”
    â€œAre you kidding me? You have to go up to the counter and order,” Faith said.
    â€œComing right up!” came Lissa’s surprising reply.
    Kate swiveled back around in her seat, a smug look on her face. “Waiting in line is how it works in a Manhattan coffee joint. Here, you just have to know someone. And when you never leave this burg, you know everyone. ”
    Faith glanced at Kate’s grin. “Fine. I stand corrected.”
    Unlike Faith, who had gone to New York City and lived away from home, Kate had opted to stay home. Despite her family’s ability to pay for her to go away to college, Kate liked it here. She’d attended a local university where she received her teaching degree and master’s. Typical small-town-girl story. The only thing missing was the husband, but Kate claimed she just hadn’t met the right man, and unless someone new moved to Serendipity, she was in trouble on that score.
    â€œSo, Lissa doesn’t mind serving you like that?” Faith asked.
    The other woman shook her head. “I guess we all grew up.”
    Faith took the last sip of her frozen drink. “Good to know.” Maybe there was hope for Faith’s relationships here, but considering how her parents had treated people even before her father’s fall from grace, she doubted it.
    â€œCoffee for Your Highness!” Lissa said, interrupting them with a good-natured laugh as she placed a tall cup in front of Kate.
    Kate handed the other woman a ten-dollar bill. “Want another one, Faith?”
    She shook her empty cup. “Sure. But I’ll have a hot one this time.”
    Lissa’s expression turned frosty. “Then get in line with the rest of the working people, hon. Now that you’re one of us, I mean.” She turned her back on Faith and sashayed her way to the counter.
    Faith’s stomach cramped at the latest humiliation, so sorry Kate had to witness it.
    â€œNo way will I let her get away with that crap!” Kate, face flushed red, rose from her seat.
    Faith grabbed her friend by the arm, stopping her. She didn’t want or need Kate fighting her battles. Besides, she knew it would take time for the people in town to realize she was nothing like her father or mother and accept Faith as one of them.
    â€œIt’s okay. Lissa’s not the only one with a chip on her shoulder. I’m getting used to some people snubbing me.” Faith couldn’t deny the mean-girl treatment at this stage of her life hurt, but she’d manage to