Read The Lost Women of Lost Lake for Free Online

down a little. Tomorrow I get the air splint and a walking boot. I’m supposed to let the pain guide me in how much and how fast I get back to walking.”
    Which means, thought Jane, that she’d be up and around by next Christmas.
    â€œThis is absolutely wretched timing.”
    â€œBecause of the stage piece you’re directing,” said Jane.
    Tessa’s gaze drifted out the front windows. “Right.”
    â€œA true bummer,” said Cordelia. “Although, I suppose there’s never a really great time to tear ligaments in your ankle.”
    Jane thought Tessa looked restless, even a little jittery. Her hair was shorter than it had been the last time Jane had seen her, a spiky platinum instead of the dark blond pageboy she’d worn for so many years. She was an attractive woman, with beautiful aqua eyes, long lashes, and a smile that could melt ice—when she chose to bestow it, which wasn’t often.
    â€œHow’s everything at your restaurants, Jane?” called Jill from the kitchen.
    â€œThe economy has taken a toll, but we’re holding our own.”
    â€œSame with the lodge,” said Tessa. “Things have looked up a little since spring arrived, although not as much as we’d hoped.”
    â€œAnd your love life?” called Jill.
    Jane hated the inevitability of that wretched question. The fact was, when it came to her professional life and her family she felt lucky, and yet after her partner of ten years, Christine Kane, had died, her luck with women seemed to have tapped out. “Nonexistent at the moment.”
    â€œWhat about that woman you were dating? Kenzie? Was that her name?”
    â€œWe broke up. It was mostly my fault.”
    â€œDon’t be so hard on yourself,” said Cordelia. “You simply haven’t met the right woman yet. There’s a goddess out there waiting just for you.”
    â€œI’m not sure I’m up to a goddess.”
    â€œPiffle.”
    â€œLet’s change the subject,” said Jane, leaning forward to grab a few nuts from a bowl on the coffee table.
    â€œCordelia, how’s your little niece?” asked Tessa.
    â€œHattie is brilliant, as always. She’ll be starting kindergarten this fall. She’s in South America at the moment with Radley Cunningham, her surrogate father.”
    Sailing past them with several terry cloth towels in hand, Jill opened the screen door and stepped out onto the deck. “Thought we’d eat outside. It’s turned into a beautiful evening. I’ll get the table and chairs all cleaned up, light some candles, and then we can move out here.”
    Cordelia rubbed her hands together. “I’m starving. With the right sauce, I could probably manage to eat one of your Navajo rugs.”
    â€œCan I help?” asked Jane.
    â€œThis will just take a sec.” Jill tilted the cast aluminum table and chairs sideways to drain off the standing water. Once she seemed satisfied, she set about drying the furniture with the towels.
    â€œWhere are your crutches?” asked Cordelia, looking around.
    â€œLeaning against the bookshelf next to the fireplace,” said Tessa.
    â€œThey should be closer to you.”
    â€œI don’t need a lecture.”
    With a huff, Cordelia got up and collected them, and then tried to help Tessa to her feet, but Tessa was having none of it.
    â€œI’m not some helpless old woman,” she said testily.
    â€œYou’re hardly old,” said Jane.
    â€œWhat would you know about aging? What are you? Fifteen?” Brushing off Cordelia’s hand, she said, “I can get up by myself.”
    Jane wasn’t used to being compared to a teenager. She would be forty-five in the fall. Not exactly the flower of youth.
    When Tessa almost fell, Cordelia righted her. “Don’t be so pigheaded.”
    â€œI hate being like this.”
    â€œWell, suck it up because the age of miracles is