Stef Ann Holm, Lucy Back [paper ebook reader .TXT] 📗

opposite sex to feed her ego. And Jacquie’s ego was so big, she couldn’t fit it under the hood of this big Jag.

Jacquie felt every bit of her loneliness fill her heart. She hated being alone. Hated not having a man. Hated Spin for making her promise not to date. She wished she could retract it, go back to having sex for fun. Life was too short. Pleasures were too wide and too enjoyable to live like a recluse.

But as Jacquie turned into the drive of the Sunrise, she hated to think that maybe Spin was right….

Maybe she wasn’t capable of going solo. And what did that say about her? Did she have such a fear of herself that she couldn’t stand the woman she’d become?

Dammit. She didn’t want Spin to be right.

Once she had Spin back in her room, Jacquie broke the frosty ice. “Are you sure you’re up to going to the picnic tomorrow?”

“What?” Spin made an adjustment on her hearing aids.

“About tomorrow. Are you sure you’re up to going to the picnic?”

Lying back on the bed, Spin gave an audible sigh of tiredness. She looked unwell. Feeble. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I’m thinking about missing it.” Jacquie mused on the various reasons why, then spoke the one at forefront of her mind. “I have no desire to run into Lucy Carpenter at the picnic. I heard she’s been riding on Drew’s boat with him. I think they’re dating.”

“It’s not your concern anymore, Jacquie.”

Jacquie swallowed and tasted bitterness. She’d loved Drew in so many ways. Seeing him with another woman was like salt in the wound.

“I want to find out more about this Mackenzie,” Spin said, sitting up taller on the bed.

That was another thing…. Jacquie knew damn well who Mackenzie was, and it chapped her hide knowing the whole truth, yet being one big outsider on the entire deal. Several times, she’d almost dialed Drew to ask him how that had all played out—how had he managed to get Mackenzie to come see him? And for the summer.

Jacquie felt cheated for not yet being introduced to Mackenzie, when she was the only one in Red Duck who knew who the girl was. Sadly, she and Drew just didn’t swim in the same circles anymore.

A burn of tears threatened and Jacquie tried to stave off the empty ache in her heart. She wasn’t so much missing Drew these days, rather, missing being with someone who cared about her.

“I heard that young girl is a love child Drew had with Sophia Loren.”

“Sophia Loren?” Jacquie snapped. “Loren is old enough to be Drew’s grandmother.”

“But she was a real dish back in her day. I always wanted to be her.”

Jacquie glanced at the many photos of Spin as a young woman, displayed in various places around the tiny room. There were ones of Spin by the Boise courthouse, and others of her and Wally with a fish or dead animal, hunting and fishing.

Spin had been really pretty.

“I’m tired, Jacquie. I need a nap.”

Jacquie went to her, put a hand on her arm. “Okay. I’ll pick you up at six tomorrow.”

She nodded with her eyes closed, looking pale. Frail. Aged. Her thin skin like parchment.

Before Jacquie left the room, she gave the sleeping woman a fond smile.

“Matt, move the cheese spread over there. And Jason, I think the asparagus pasta should go here.”

As her sons made the necessary changes, Lucy placed her hands on her hips and assessed the table.

She’d borrowed a folding picnic table from Sue Lawrence for the Fourth of July picnic at Big Eddy’s. Several days ago, Lucy had had an inspiring idea on how to drum up more business. To date, her clients included Drew, the Dickensons and the Gentrys. Word of mouth went only so far; food to mouth went further.

Lucy had spent the last several days cooking and preparing dishes she knew were crowd pleasers. It had cost a small fortune to buy all the ingredients, and then the time to put everything together. But in the end, she was certain that having a table set up, and offering free samples at the town’s biggest summer gathering, would be worth every dime and minute she’d invested.

“Can we go now, Mom?” Matt asked, nabbing a butter cracker, which, thankfully, he didn’t swipe through her feta and roasted garlic paté. “I want to watch the guys set off firecrackers.”

Dusk wouldn’t descend for another couple hours, but already the boys were down by the water shooting off smoke bombs and devil rays.

“In a minute, honey.”

“But, Mom,” Jason complained, looking over his shoulder as if he were trying to be nonchalant about his actions. But it was obvious to Lucy he was looking for Mackenzie.

“Jason, come here.”

A worried expression crossed his face. “I didn’t do anything.”

“I know you didn’t. Matthew, come, too.”

The boys rounded to her side of the table, but before she reached under the tablecloth, she put her hands on their shoulders.

Jason was the first to speak, his tone sarcastic and low. “Gary’s not coming.”

That thought hadn’t crossed Lucy’s mind—at least not at the present time. Last week, Gary had called the boys and said he’d be coming to Red Duck for a visit. She wouldn’t count on him being here until he actually showed up at the house, but he had promised the boys. She could only hope he’d follow through. The fact he’d bring Diane with him wasn’t something Lucy looked forward to, but she was an adult and, for the boys’ sake, she had to be civil. Even if it was to the woman their father had had an affair with.

“As far as I know, your dad’s still coming.” Lucy’s reassurance was met with lukewarm reception. “I have something I want to tell you boys.” She affectionately squeezed their shoulders. “I’m very proud of you both for doing such good jobs. Matt, I didn’t think you’d keep up with the dog walking, but you have.”

Yesterday, she’d picked Matt up at Ada’s and taken him out