Sparing the Heart (Pastime Pursuits #3) Read Free Page B

from my red heels to my black skirt to white blouse. “You can’t be much older than me. What are you, maybe thirty-five or thirty-six?”
    She waits for a reply, but I’m not telling her my age.
    “There comes a time in your life when you have to take what’s rightfully yours. The money this house can make, well that’s mine .” She sticks her finger in her chest. “You’re hired, and I’ll give you no more than ninety days. Got it?”
    Ninety days to sell a fixer-upper at a premium price? Sure. Why not? “Got it.”

Chapter
  Three

    I’m happy to be joining Gretchen for lunch today. After meeting with Janice, I need a friendly face, even if another new one. She texted me last night and suggested we have lunch at a small cafe. Our conversation at the bowling alley was hardly enough time to familiarize ourselves with each other. I’m grateful because I don’t want to show up at the first practice only knowing her name.  
    Tula’s Cafe is quaint and reminds me a little bit of home. While set deep in the heart of Madison, the inside is cozy with touches of country everywhere. The tables are small and round with wooden chairs. They’re weathered, giving them an antique appearance. I love the defined rings and their offbeat patterns in the table tops.  
    I scan the room for Gretchen. The cafe isn’t too busy, but her face isn’t etched into my brain yet. A baby cries, echoing through the room, and Gretchen waves when I look over.  
    “Good morning,” I greet her as I sit down, wrapping my purse around the chair.  
    “Hi! I’m glad you found the place. Parking is horrendous, but the food is worth the pain. I love coming here. They serve breakfast all day. You must try it. You must .”
    Well, if she’s insisting, I guess. I don’t have a craving for anything in particular, so if she can pick for me, great. “Who’s this little girl?”
    “This is Mona. I’m sorry. I forgot to mention her the other day.”
    “No, no, that’s fine. I didn’t realize you’re a mom. That’s wonderful.”
    Mona is cute and chubby with light blonde hair that’s stick straight and thin. Her big cheeks are puffed out and she’s smiling now, bouncing her arms up and down.
    “How old is she?” I’m so bad with ages, especially in regards to babies and kids. I’m not around them very much, either.
    “Almost six months. I’m so glad she’s here. After fifteen years of marriage, we finally got pregnant. We were ready to give up when a test came back positive! Tracking my ovulation and needing Clark to be ready to go at any minute was wearing me down.”
    The waitress interrupts us and takes our drink order. Gretchen sticks with water, and I request an iced tea. Even in my thin strap tunic and floral skirt cut right above the knee, I’m still hot. Summer will be over soon, though, so I should enjoy these eighty and ninety degree days while I can. Soon winter comes. Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?
    Once the waitress leaves to get our drinks, I scoot my chair in some more. “Wow. You’ve been married fifteen years?” I’m not even sure I own anything that old.
    Mona tries to grab the menu from Gretchen, who gives in and lets her take it. “Yep. We’ve actually known each other our whole lives.”
    That’s amazing to me, to be friends with someone your entire life and then marry that person. Besides my brother and my aunt, I can’t think of one person living I’ve known fifteen years. I don’t keep in touch with anyone from high school and my last job didn’t allow any sort of a social life. The time between that I like to forget.
    “What do you do, Gretchen? When you’re not bowling and taking care of Mona?”
    “Not much else. I’m a stay at home mom and I love every minute. This girl keeps me busy.”
    I imagine she does, in between Gretchen giving her kisses. She’s adorable, but a sad reminder I’m not even close to this stage of my life. At this point, I doubt I’ll even be blessed