Read Mending Places for Free Online Page B

gestured toward an opposite chair. “My grandmother gave me your application, and I’ve had a chance to review it. Did she fill you in on the nature of the job?”
    “I’d be responsible for maintaining the boats and arranging for their rental. I think your ad said something about running an airport shuttle?”
    “That’s right. Not all the guests require this service. Some of them rent a car and, of course, some of them drive here from their homes. I’m assuming you have a driver’s license, and there would be no problem with that?”
    His lips curved into a smile. “No problem at all. You’ll notice I have experience working with the public.”
    “Yes, I see that.” She set his form aside. “Look, I have to be honest. This job doesn’t pay much.” She named the figure and noticed he didn’t seem surprised. “You’ve held good positions every summer.”
    “I’ve been very lucky in summers past. But this summer is my last break before entering the business world and, quite frankly, I had a heavy course load last semester and will have another heavy load in the fall. I’d really like to take on something less … challenging my last free summer.”
    “Good enough. Do you have your own accommodations, or will you need a room?”
    “I have my own.”
    This was turning out better than she thought. Yesterday she was fretting because she was short two employees, and now the positions were filled with men who were overqualified for their jobs. “I haven’t had a chance to call your references, so why don’t I just plan on calling you tomorrow and letting you know.”
    He stood and extended a hand. “Sounds great.”
    As she watched Devon walk out the door, Hanna felt a great sense of relief Finally, things seemed to be going their way.

    Natalie laid Taylor in his crib and wound up the stuffed bear that would play lullabies for several minutes. “Night-night, baby.” She put up the crib rail and walked out, blowing a kiss before she shut the door. Going through the motions.
    She’d been doing it all day. Reading books to the boys, doing laundry, kissing boo-boos. Her body was doing all the right things, but her mind was numb. Somehow she’d held the tears at bay. After her phone call with Hanna, she’d pulled herself together and had gone from one activity to the next. Her mind had churned all afternoon with questions. Who could
she
be? When had it started? How far had it gone? How could she have been so blind?
    She, volunteer director of Marriage Enrichment. What a laugh. She was arranging for couples to spend weekends away learning how to develop a better marriage, and hers was falling apart at the seams.
    How could she have been so stupid? She picked up Alex’s clothes from the floor and threw them in the laundry basket. She almost wished she’d kept the boys up for a while. Normally she welcomed the quiet after a hectic day, but tonight she dreaded it. She would have time to think, really think, about what Keith was doing. Was he with her even now? She’d called his private line at seven o’clock, and there had been no answer. Her throat clogged with tears she refused to shed.
    How dare he. She’d done nothing but be a good wife and mother. She’d never even looked at another man. No one had been more faithful than she’d been.
    She poured herself a glass of orange juice, knowing she needed something in her empty stomach, and headed back to the family room. A framed eight-by-ten of her and Keith on their wedding day caught her eye. She paused to stare disgustedly at it. How naive she’d been. Standing there, face to face with Keith, with rosy cheeks and adoring eyes. And him. Look at him, staring at her with promise in his eyes, making pledges he was now mocking.
    She tore the picture from the wall and flung it across the room, spilling her juice in the process. The photo hit the brick fireplace and shattered. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. She suddenly understood why cartoon