Low Country Hero by Lee Tobin McClain

Author:Lee Tobin McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2018-12-14T15:51:41+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

RITA WIPED THE café’s already-clean counter and straightened already-organized napkins and silverware as she waited for her friend Norma’s arrival. She loved the woman, no question, and they’d been strong supports to each other in Maine. Her visit would probably be great.

It was just that Norma knew why Rita had come to Safe Haven, and she would realize, instantly, that Rita was doing nothing to pursue her goals. No way could Rita distract her for the entire week of her visit.

Thing was, the bad possibilities had gotten more vivid to Rita since she’d moved here. What if her child had been taken away from her by social services? What if she’d been an unfit mom, even a criminal?

But ambivalence wouldn’t wash with Norma. She was direct and blunt and sure of herself, and she’d push Rita further than she necessarily wanted to go.

Still, when she looked out the window and saw Norma’s aqua-blue vintage Plymouth Falcon, top down, her friend grinning and waving from the driver’s seat, she couldn’t restrain her own big smile.

Leaving your home behind, everything and everyone you’d known for twenty years, was exciting, and it was working out well. But there was a lot of loss, too.

She ran out into the parking lot and caught Norma just as she was getting out of her car. “You came! I didn’t know if you really would!”

Norma hugged her close, then put hands on her shoulders to hold her at arm’s length. “Let me look at you.” She cocked her head to one side, swooped her eyes down Rita from head to toe, then back up. And then she smiled. “This place agrees with you,” she said. “Must be all the sunshine. I want me some of that.”

“Come in. I’m working until six.” She slung an arm around Norma, escorted her inside and sat her down at the counter next to Pudge LeFrost and his son. “I’ll bring you a milkshake. You’ve lost weight.” She studied her friend. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Just skinny.” Of course, there was a lot Norma wasn’t saying, a lot they had to catch up on. Norma had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer a couple of years ago, and the treatments had been rough. Hopefully, though, her remission would last.

Rita hurried around to her tables, taking care of everyone, explaining about her best friend, and soon lots of people were talking to Norma. Which was good. Rita was hoping that, once Norma saw what it was like here, she might move down. Not much keeping her up North at this point.

Claire sat at the counter, too, eating salad, so Rita leaned over to her. “Make sure Norma is okay,” she said, knowing Claire liked to make herself useful and had never met a stranger.

“Yes, ma’am. We’re walking tomorrow, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. As long as I can bring Norma along.”

“I don’t have the wind I used to,” Norma admitted.

“Quitting smoking would help.”

Norma stuck out her tongue. “Know-it-all.”

Next, Jimmy came out of the kitchen and Rita introduced him, hoping her face didn’t color up too much.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.