She's the One by Sandra Kitt

Author:Sandra Kitt [Kitt, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4804-3881-1
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-07-31T20:34:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

WEAVING HER WAY between the closely arranged tables of Plum Tomato, a quirky café ten blocks from her office, Deanna followed the hostess. She spotted Joy already seated, her menu open over her plate, scowling pensively.

“Sorry I’m late,” Deanna said, squeezing into her chair and putting the blue-and-white shopping bag she carried under the table.

“I’m sitting here waiting for you and you went shopping?” Joy said indignantly.

“I’m only ten minutes late. And don’t even try to tell me you were here that much longer, Joy. I can’t remember when you were last on time,” Deanna said, opening her menu.

“I can’t take extra time for lunch today. I’m meeting this afternoon with the defendants in a case. We’re trying to get them to settle.”

Deanna sipped her water. “I have to get back myself. I’m so far behind in my work …”

“What did you buy at the Gap?”

“Oh, you’ve got to see this,” Deanna said. She reached under the table for the bag. “They were having a sale.” She pulled out a small pink T-shirt for Joy’s inspection. “Isn’t this adorable? And look at this.”

Joy frowned at a diminutive denim jumper that buttoned down the front.

“You’ve got to be kidding, Dee. You can’t wear that to work.”

Deanna made a face at her. “Very funny. Jade doesn’t have a single girl outfit. Everything is jeans and T-shirts. Worn and old. I took a quick look in the Oshkosh store on Fifth the other day. They have some great children’s things too. I’ll have to stop by there later.”

Joy was speechless, watching Deanna carefully fold the clothes and put them back into the bag. She noticed that Deanna’s lipstick had worn off and hadn’t been touched up. Her nails lacked even a clear coat, let alone colored polish. This from a woman who always looked well groomed and elegant. The last clue that her friend had lost it was that she was wearing a pantsuit, something Deanna herself had admitted she only did when she was out of pantyhose.

“Didn’t you buy Jade new shoes last week?”

Deanna began scanning the menu. “Not shoes. Sneakers. I noticed that she was pulling hers off every chance she got. I finally realized she’d outgrown them. What are you having?”

“The chopped salad without olives.” Joy fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers absentmindedly. “You’ve been spending a lot of money on that child, you know.”

Deanna shrugged. “It’s not all that much. And like I told you, Jade didn’t have a lot of things to begin with. I never knew before how hard kids are on their clothes.”

Joy smiled wryly. “I could have told you that. Boys are the worst, which is why I insist on less expensive clothing and better made. Kids also have very expensive tastes. But you know, when it’s your kid you do what you have to do.”

Deanna gazed openly at Joy. “I know Jade isn’t my child. Don’t forget I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be responsible for her. Now that I am, I can’t neglect her needs.

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.