His Best Friend's Wife by Gina Wilkins

Author:Gina Wilkins
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Renae thought she had prepared for the crowds on the day after Thanksgiving—“black Friday,” as it was known in retail parlance—especially since she wasn’t trying to hit the big sales. Still, traffic was even more hectic than she had expected when she drove Lucy and the kids to a movie theater that afternoon, where they then stood in a long line with other holiday-hyper children. By the time the theater lights dimmed and the family-friendly film began to play, Renae gave a long sigh of relief that she wouldn’t have to go back out for another hour and a half or so.

Fortunately, the crowds had thinned some by the time the movie ended. Renae figured the predawn shoppers had crashed for the remainder of the day with Thanksgiving leftovers and televised football games.

“We’re still going ice-skating, aren’t we, Mama?” Leslie reminded as soon as she and her brother were strapped into the backseat of the car. “You promised.”

“I remember.” Exchanging wry glances with Lucy in the passenger seat, Renae started the car.

Several of the twins’ friends would be gathering at the River Market Pavilion downtown that evening to admire the decorations and skate on the outdoor ice rink installed there through the holiday season. Glancing at the clock, Renae noted that they still had an hour before everyone was to meet. They’d be early, but there wasn’t time to go home first, and she supposed they could stroll through the Market Hall until the others arrived, though the twins would surely beg for snacks from the many internationally themed food vendors who operated there.

Leslie and Daniel settled for cups of hot cocoa, topped with whipped cream and a little peppermint cane. The cocoa looked so good that Renae and Lucy each had a cup, as well, drinking them at a table inside the open Market Hall, which buzzed with shoppers, diners and visitors. Doors led out from the hall to the pavilions where the ice rink was now set up, but which hosted farmers’ markets and merchandise vendors in the warmer months. Through the glass, they could see people already circling inside the rink.

Renae loved coming to the farmers’ markets on Saturday mornings for fresh produce, and the kids always enjoyed coming with her to gape at the colorful displays of fruits, vegetables, herbs, breads and flowers. Many of the shoppers brought dogs on leashes—though Renae had refused to bring irrepressible Boomer into the crowds—and there were always street musicians and clowns and other entertainers to hold the twins’ attention while Renae filled her market bags.

She had such a good life, she reminded herself, sipping her cocoa and watching the twins chattering happily with their grandmother as they waited impatiently for their friends to arrive. How could she possibly ask for more?

She glanced at her watch. “It’s almost time to meet everybody at the ticket booth. Finished with your cocoa?”

The kids hopped up to toss their mostly empty cups into a trash bin.

“I’m going to duck into

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