Tatted Cowboy Read Free Page A

why she is such a bitch, but I know one thing; age hasn’t mellowed her any.
    By the final game, Maude’s won a chook and Gran and I are empty handed.  The quilt is the final prize, because the last game is a double.
    Gran looks over and down at my game card.  She nudges me and I can’t help the grin that creeps over my face.
    I’m close.
    “Sixty-six, clickety click,” the announcer calls. My heart sinks as my ears prick, waiting for someone to call out bingo.
    Silence.
    “Eighty-eight, two fat ladies.”
    Come on, I silently plead.
    “Eleven. Legs eleven.”
    “Bingo!” I rise up out of my chair as I shout the word, resisting the urge to bring my knee up as I bend my elbow, curl my hand into fist and hiss Yes!
    Gran and Maude clap and I turn to look at them.  Both are sporting proud-as-punch grins and I can’t help but smile big back at them before throwing my excitement in Josie’s direction.  She gives me an evil glare back and her lip curls up in disgust as I bounce over to the prize table to collect the gorgeous quilt.
    After folding it up and putting it inside a protective plastic sleeve, Gran, Maude and I drive down to the Coffee House to have some lunch.
     
    ***
     
    “This place is gorgeous,” I remark, looking around.  I pick up a gorgeous little hen and rooster salt-and-pepper shaker set, check the price on the bottom and decide to buy them before we leave.
    We order lunch and agree to sit outside.
    “Oh, look, here comes the new Mrs Henley.”  Gran grins, looking over my shoulder.
    I turn and my eyes narrow.  The girl looks really familiar but I can’t place her.  Well, not until she gets closer.
    I rise from my seat and gasp. “Ava?!”
    She blinks, taken aback.  Then she races towards me and her arms go wide as her body collides with mine.
    “Oh my god, Laura!”
    “I can’t believe it.  Look at you! You’ve barely changed a bit.”  I look her over.  Of course, she’s filled out, grown taller and aged in the fifteen plus years since I’ve seen her, but she’s still got that same glow about her.  She’s always been stunningly beautiful.
    She sits down at our table, after saying hi to Gran and Maude.  “So, how long are you in town for?” she asks, resting her elbow on the table and bringing her hand up to support her chin, showing off the beautiful diamond rings on her left hand.
    “I’ve just moved back, actually.”  I bite my lip as my heart pangs, reminding me exactly why I moved back.  Not that I need a reminder.
    “That’s great.  We’ll have to have drinks and catch up properly.  I’ll bring Jules and Edie.  They’ll love to meet you.”
    “Who are Jules and Edie?  And, before we go any further, I hear congratulations are in order,” I grin.  “I’m so happy for you.”
    “Thank you,” she sighs dreamily.
    “Gran said Mrs Henley, but I remember there being two Henley boys, so which did you snag?”
    Ava laughs before answering, “Jeremy.”  I knew she would! She has been in love with Jeremy Henley since we were kids.
    “I’m so happy for you. I can’t believe you married your childhood crush.  So, who are the girls?”
    “Edie is Jackson’s wife.  She moved here a couple of years ago from Sydney.  And, Jules is her best friend.  She’s married to Clay Forde.  Do you remember him from school?”
    “Umm…” I think back but I can’t place him, so I shake my head and ask when they all got married.
    “Well,” she lights up.  “Edie and I had joint weddings on Christmas Eve and Jules married Clay on New Year’s Eve.”
    “Wow. You guys must have been crazy busy, planning three weddings within a month.”
    “Oh yeah,” she nods.  “It was hectic. Especially because Edie had a baby not long before our wedding day – which, by the way, Jackson delivered on their bathroom floor - and Jules went into labour on their wedding night.”  She starts laughing and I can’t help but join in.  Gran and Maude laugh as well but