Read Happy Hour for Free Online

lot said that you needed this.”
    “What? What gentleman?” She scanned the area and didn’t spot anyone that
she knew. All she saw was luxury car after sports model after luxury car, their
gleaming paint jobs reflecting spotlights of the sun’s rays.
    “I don’t know. He gave it to me and said that it was important and that
you needed it.”
    She sighed, handed him five bucks, and got behind the wheel. Could the
day get any stranger? Other cars were pulling in behind her so she had to drive
instead of looking inside the mystery envelope.
    A glance in her rearview mirror reflected the young redhead and her
friend standing under the awning in front of the hotel. Danielle shook her
head, knowing that tonight she was going to the cellar to pull out a bottle of
the good stuff, even though Al insisted it was only for special occasions. This
was a special occasion—she was losing her sanity.
    Maybe the panic had something to do with Shannon’s impending departure
for college, thousands of miles from home. Could this be the beginning of that
empty nest syndrome she’d heard so much about?
    At a stoplight, Danielle finally had a chance to open the envelope.  She
took a handful of papers out and read the first few words.
    Her heart raced.
    She reread the words, blinking her eyes in disbelief. Her hands shook.
Cramps seized her stomach so tightly that she almost vomited as she audibly
gasped. It was like getting sucker-punched.
    Who would do this?
    The person in the car behind her laid on the horn. Danielle jerked,
glancing in her rearview mirror, and yanked the wheel.
    This could not be happening. This was a joke, a cruel joke. But as
Danielle read over the papers again, she realized this was no joke.
    Her husband wanted a divorce.

 
CHAPTER FOUR
Jamie
    God, the traffic was a mess today. Probably an accident. Someone who’d
had too much wine visiting the local wineries. Thank God, Jamie Evans’s exit
came before she reached what might possibly be a grisly scene. Sighing as she
turned her Volvo SUV onto her street, her stomach coiled. It had been one of
those days that started out kind of depressing, then with an ironic twist
turned into massive excitement. Now hope filled her, causing her to wonder if
the day would end on a high or low note. It all depended on the little bird.
    That morning her six-year-old daughter, Maddie, while eating her silver
dollar pancakes and watching Charlie & Lola, said, “Mommy, what is
that noise?”
    Jamie came from behind the kitchen counter where she’d quickly tried
wiping up the coffee grounds that Nathan had spilled in his early morning rush
to make coffee. Already dressed for work, Jamie needed to get Maddie to kick it
into high gear. “What noise, pumpkin?”
    “At the door. Don’t you hear it?”
    Jamie walked to the French doors where she heard a faint repetitive thud
against the pane. She opened up the door and gasped. “Oh. Oh, no.” Jamie knelt
down.
    “What is it, Mommy?” Maddie swung around in her chair and bent over her
mother. “What is it?” she demanded again.
    “It’s a baby bird! It must’ve fallen out of its nest.” Jamie looked up
into the eaves of the patio overhang and spotted the remnants of a bird’s nest.
The baby sparrow flopped pitifully against the window. Jamie gently scooped it
up. “You poor thing. Maddie, go out to the garage and get that cage we had for
Bunny. It’s in the corner by Daddy’s camping stuff. Can you carry it?”
    Maddie nodded, her dark curls falling into her blue eyes. 
    Maddie went to get their old rabbit’s cage while Jamie examined the baby
bird. It didn’t seem badly injured, but it was certainly a bit frightened. She
was an animal lover, but no expert, and she knew nothing about birds.
    “Here you go, Mommy.” Maddie bounded in and set the cage down on the
kitchen table.
    Unsure of what to do, and racing against the clock, Jamie told Maddie to
sit down and she handed the bird to her. “Don’t squeeze. Hold it