The Hot Flash Club Chills Out Read Free Page B

which she truly appreciated. He was a retired schoolteacher with lots of hobbies and interests. Thank heavens
one
of them was cooking.
    Alice left her car and entered the elevator. As it ascended, the sleek chrome box soothed her. She felt as if she were in one of
Star Trek
’s transporters, conveying herself from chaos to calm.
    Gideon looked up at her from his recliner when she entered the living room. “Damn, Alice. You look beat.”
    It was the wrong thing to say.
    “I look
beat
?” Alice burst into tears. “What you mean is I look old, right? Just go ahead and spit it out, don’t pussyfoot around!” Slinging her purse onto a chair, she stomped into the kitchen and snatched out the ice-cube tray. She wanted a drink. A nice cool vodka tonic. She twisted the tray to release the ice, but she must have used more force than necessary, because ice cubes exploded from the tray, flying around the room like manic ping pong balls. “Damn!” she cursed.
    “Alice.” Gideon was calm, in control. “Go sit down. Let me make you a drink.”
    “I’ll do it myself! I’m not too
beat
to make my own damned drink!”
    “Really.”
    Alice glared. “Don’t you go all superior on me!”
    Gideon stared at her. He looked sad. He said, “Alice.” The warmth in his voice made her cry even harder. He took the ice tray from her, set it in the sink, and wrapped his huge arms around her, pulling her against him. He was so big, so strong, so calm. He was infinitely comforting.
    “Why don’t you go sit down and take your shoes off, and I’ll fix your drink,” he suggested.
    She gave in. “All right.” She sniffed. “Thanks.”
    Man, it felt good to sink down onto her sofa. She eased off her shoes, brought her legs up, and stretched out. Gideon brought her the drink, then sat at the other end of the sofa, taking her feet in his lap. He began to massage them gently.
    “Heaven,” Alice sighed.
    “I’ve had a thought,” Gideon said.
    “Oh, yeah?”
    “Yeah. I think Jennifer’s mother ought to come up for a while. I’m sure she’d love to spend some time with her grandchild.”
    “Jennifer’s mother is a babbling hysteric.”
    “Not really. She was pretty upset when Jennifer was having such a tough time when the baby came early. But that’s only natural. She did manage to raise Jennifer, after all, and Jennifer’s a gem.”
    “She was younger when she raised Jennifer.”
    “And you were younger when you raised Alan.”
    Alice closed her eyes. She really was too tired to argue.
    “I worry about you, Alice.” Gideon’s voice was soft. With his thumbs, he pressed the balls of her feet, then the arches. “You’re not taking care of yourself. When was the last time you went to yoga or rode your exercise bike? I’d bet all the money I have you’re having heart episodes you’re not telling me about.”
    “This really isn’t fair.” Alice forced herself to pull her feet away, drawing her legs under her as she readjusted herself on the sofa. She was relaxed now and had regained her sense of humor. “Seduction by foot massage—if men only knew, they’d never have to buy flowers.”
    “Have you been hearing a word I’ve said?” Gideon looked stern.
    “I hear you.” Alice stared at her glass, rattling the ice cubes. “Gideon, I appreciate your concern. But first, I’m just fine. And second, the kids really need help. They want to buy a house. They need someone to take care of Aly. Otherwise, they’ll have to hire help in the bakery, and there goes part of their profits. Besides, I love taking care of little Aly. She’s the light of my life.”
    “But why not let Jennifer’s mom take over now and then?”
    “I don’t know if she’d do it.”
    “You don’t know that she wouldn’t. Has Jennifer asked her?”
    Alice shrugged. She thought of Jennifer’s mother, whom she’d met only a few times. The woman was like some kind of overwound mechanical toy, talking incessantly, throwing her arms out in manic