Read Where Azaleas Bloom for Free Online Page B

you okay? You’ve been crying. What can I do to help?”
    “Just a frustrating day,” Lynn told her. “Is Mitch here? Do you
suppose I could borrow him for a minute? I have an impending plumbing disaster
and I’m at a loss. He offered to help out if I ever needed anything.”
    “Of course he will,” Raylene said. “I’ll get him and send him
right over.”
    “Thanks.”
    Raylene started away, then came back. “Lynn, if you ever need
anything at all, you know Carter and I will be happy to pitch in. Mandy adores
Lexie, and we love having her over here anytime she wants to come. You and
Jeremy are always welcome, too. I imagine it’s been tough since Ed left. I put
that much together when you came to me for a job.”
    “We’re managing,” Lynn said tightly, wondering if Helen had
filled Raylene in on how bad things were, if Raylene had only given her a job
out of pity. She immediately stopped herself from even considering such a
possibility. Helen’s ethical standards were too high for her to be blabbing
about her clients’ woes.
    And after all Raylene had been through—her first husband’s
abuse, a bout with agoraphobia and a final confrontation with her ex after his
release from jail—Raylene was quick to lend a hand to everyone these days. She
said it thrilled her to finally be able to repay some of the kindness extended
to her when she’d been psychologically trapped in her own home for so long.
    Lynn forced a smile. “Thanks for offering, though. You’ve
already done plenty for us.”
    “We’re always happy to help. I mean that.”
    Lynn nodded. “I know you do.” For the second time that day,
she’d been reminded that she did have friends, people who would be there for her
if only she asked.
    “Okay, then,” Raylene said, then left to get Mitch as Lynn
walked back home.
    When Mitch appeared at her house and immediately set to work on
repairing the knob, she couldn’t help noticing how quietly competent he was. He
was also a man of few words. She liked that he didn’t ask a lot of questions
about how she’d managed to break the stupid thing in the first place. Ed would
have turned the whole incident into a flurry of accusations about her
incompetence.
    When the job was done, Mitch washed his hands, then smiled at
her. “Good as new,” he declared. “Or as good as a twenty-year-old fixture is
likely to be. You might think about replacing it one of these days.”
    “I’ll put it on the list,” she said.
    He gave her a chiding look. “Is this one of those long lists
that no one ever gets to?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “I could get one for you at cost and replace it in no time,” he
offered.
    Lynn shook her head. “That’s okay. This one will have to hold
up a while longer.”
    “Okay, then,” he said, not pressing. When they got to the
kitchen, he hesitated. “Other than that knob coming off in your hand, has
something else happened since I saw you earlier? You look even more
stressed.”
    “How flattering.”
    He winced. “Sorry. I’m not up on polite chitchat. If I want to
know something, I figure the best way to find out is to ask. The kids are
okay?”
    She smiled at his determined attempt to try to pry information
out of her. “They’ll be home from school any minute. I’m sure you’ll see Lexie
next door and can determine for yourself how she’s doing.”
    He looked vaguely chagrined. “Okay. Message received. I didn’t
mean to pry. Sorry if I struck a nerve.”
    “I’m the one who’s sorry, Mitch. It’s just been a tough day,”
she said. “You were right. I am stressed out.”
    “Take a break and put your feet up,” he advised. “I’ll be over
in the morning.”
    “See you then.”
    He started to leave, then turned back. “Hey, I don’t suppose
you could convince Lexie that it would be politically correct to play the local
country station at full volume, rather than that crazy stuff she and Mandy
like?”
    “I haven’t had any luck around here,” she