Chances Are by Barbara Bretton

Author:Barbara Bretton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-15T05:25:01.403000+00:00

BESIDES THEIR BAD luck with men, DiFalco women were known for their high energy levels which, in most cases, translated into nonstop talking. Gina was a perfect example. Maddy and her cousin were the first to show up at the bus stop that afternoon. Gina had stopped off for a late lunch at O’Malley’s with the PBS crew, of all things, and so far she hadn’t stopped for breath in the retelling.

“. . . Lassiter is such a doll, and that Crystal—what a hoot! We’re going out together Saturday night. I promised to show her some of the best spots on the shore.”

“You and Crystal?” Maddy asked.

“Sure,” Gina said with a shrug. “Why not? She’s young, but I think she can keep up with me.”

“Does she know you like Barry Manilow?”

Gina grinned and gave Maddy a soft punch in the shoulder. “I’ll take her to the karaoke place near Wildwood. Her tattoos and piercings will fit right in.”

“Will you?”

“I fit in everywhere,” Gina said. “It’s all in the attitude.”

Gina talked. Maddy drifted. They had reached that accommodation years ago, and it still worked for them.

“I don’t believe it.” Gina nudged Maddy and tilted her head in the general direction of the post office. “So how long has that been going on?”

Maddy turned to look.

Then she looked again.

Claire and David Fenelli were deep in conversation near the bank of mailboxes. David downright glowed with pleasure as something he said was greeted with a loud whoop of laughter from Claire.

“I’ve never heard her laugh like that,” Maddy said. “Have you?”

It was a perfect straight line, a softball Gina would usually hit out of the park. “No,” she said, surprising Maddy. “Not for a very long time.”

“Isn’t David the one whose wife—”

“Yep,” said Gina. “She walked out and left him with three kids.”

Maddy whistled softly. “Do you think they’re dating?”

“You’re the one who’s almost an O’Malley. I was going to ask you.”

“I’d be the last one she confided in.”

They tried very hard not to stare, which meant that they couldn’t take their eyes off the pair. Maddy had planned to ask Claire if she wanted to check out Cuppa with her after the school bus arrived, but she couldn’t muster up the guts to walk over to where Claire and David were standing and insert herself into the conversation. Not too many months ago it had been Aidan and her laughing together on the corner while everyone watched and wondered.

Denise almost tripped over her baby’s stroller as she wheeled past Claire and David. “So what’s that all about?” she asked, gesturing toward the two—Maddy didn’t dare call them a couple—who were still acting like they had invented laughter.

“Five dollars if you go over there and ask them,” Gina said with a wink.

Pat didn’t know either. Or Fran. Or any of the other mothers who joined them.

“She’s been holding out on us,” Fran said.

“Fenelli?” Pat sounded dubious. “I thought he was still carrying a torch for his ex.”

“You’re way behind the times,” Vivi said. “He took Deby Bartok out to dinner twice last month.

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