The Lottery Winner Read Free

was petite and looked to be in her fifties or sixties. “I’m alive. So I guess I’m still in the game. Who are you?”
    â€œJess—” Had her story reached the Florida Keys? Would she be recognized and hounded here? “Jessie,” she amended, giving the nickname her college roommate had used.
    â€œHello, Jess—Jessie. I’m Miri. Short for Miriam. You’re new around here, aren’t you?”
    Keep it simple. Then leave. “Yes. I heard you crying and wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you hurt?”
    â€œNot physically. But I’ve seen better days. Would you like to join me or are you in a hurry to get to work?”
    She should lie and leave. But the thought of going back to the empty house, as nice as it might be, didn’t appeal. “Um...not really.”
    â€œThen pull up a chair. I’ll get you some coffee. My private stash. Good stuff. I don’t share it with just anyone.”
    Jessamine searched for the words to politely refuse.
    â€œPlease, Jessie. Today’s the anniversary of my husband’s death. I’m feeling sorry for myself. I need better company than my own right now.”
    That made two of them sick of their own company. Empathy twined through Jessamine like the flowering vine she’d been named after. She studied Miri’s blotchy cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. How could she say no to a grieving widow? A couple of minutes wouldn’t hurt, would it? “Maybe a quick cup.”
    Miri sprang to her feet and rushed into the building, leaving Jessamine open to an ambush of second thoughts. Brandon would needle her for being a people pleaser again.
    The woman quickly returned, shouldering her way through the door carrying a coffeepot and an extra mug. “Sit. Please.”
    Hoping she wouldn’t regret her decision, Jessamine perched on the edge of the chair.
    Miri took her seat then poured the dark brew. “I’m sorry you caught me with my pants down, so to speak. You’d think I’d be used to waking up alone by now.”
    Jessamine clutched the mug rather than offer the hug she suspected the woman needed. The rich aroma teased her senses. She took a sip and let the dark brew roll down her throat. She hadn’t bothered making coffee since coming to Florida. It seemed a waste to make a whole pot for one cup. But she immediately decided that would change—starting tomorrow.
    â€œI’m sorry, Miri. How long has he been gone?”
    â€œThree years. I miss that old fart.”
    The acidic comment startled a smile from Jessamine.
    â€œYou ever been in love, Jess—Jessie?”
    Jessamine’s smile fell. She averted her gaze. Her thumb found her bare ring finger. Yet another thing the lottery win had cost her. She would never know if a man loved her or her annuity. “I thought I was once.”
    â€œThen maybe you know how it is. You love ’em. You curse ’em. But Jack was mine. And now he’s not. We fought. And we loved. But we fit. Know what I mean?”
    She and Aaron had never disagreed on anything until he’d asked her to choose between him and her family. Not something she wanted to contemplate right now. She gulped coffee and scalded her tongue. “How long were you together?”
    â€œThirty-five years. Sounds like forever, and yet it passed in the blink of an eye. We met when I came down for spring break during college. The weather was horrible, and the boats were stuck in port. He bought me a drink and asked me to dance. Lord, that man could not dance, but he’d been watching me and knew I loved to. So he tried. It wasn’t pretty,” she added with a sad smile. “By the end of that week I was in love. I didn’t want to go back to finish my senior year, but he insisted. Said if I didn’t come to my senses and still wanted to marry a fisherman after I graduated, he’d be waiting. I came back and he was.”
    Why