The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2019-03-04T16:52:09+00:00

twenty-three

* * *

Alex

“Sweetie Pie’s Bakery. How can I help you?” Alex answered the bakery phone as she pulled off her apron. It had been a long day and the last thing she wanted was another order coming in at closing time.

“How you doing, Red?” asked a low voice she’d recognize anywhere. No one had ever called her Red except Mack Morell.

She leaned back against the counter, crossed her long legs and relaxed. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, Mack. The kids will be home for Christmas break in a few days and you haven’t been here to help with the remodel. Your daughter calls Emily every other morning to keep up on the progress.”

He laughed. “Sorry. I forgot I have another job. Saving the world is taking all my time right now. I’ll get back to lay tile as soon as I can.”

“It’s all right. I haven’t been over much either. The tiles might be done. I’ve been too busy to check the progress. Name a holiday, and everyone heads to the bakery. We’ll get Emily’s place fixed up after Shannon and Jack get home.”

“What about your Zoe? She getting too famous to work?” Mack teased.

“Oh, big news. Zoe got a bit part in an off-off-Broadway play and can’t get home till after the New Year. She’s only in one scene and the rest of the time she’s part of the crew, but she thinks this will be her big break.”

“I’m tied up until after Christmas too. Maybe longer.” He sounded sad.

She smiled. “You’re in a play?”

“Something like that.” When he laughed, a bit of the tension left his voice. “Tell Shannon I wouldn’t miss Christmas if it wasn’t very important. She’ll understand. She’s a soldier’s daughter. I’ve tried to call her, but she wasn’t in her room, and I don’t think she carries her cell. She’s probably pulling a few all-nighters studying at the library.” He paused, then asked, “Can she stay with you over the holiday? My mother will want her to go to Dallas with her, but I know Shannon will think she’ll need to be home to help Emily move.”

“Of course. You know she can, Mack. It’ll help me not miss Zoe so much. We’ll pal around. Maybe go shopping. She’ll be fine.”

“They’re growing up, Alex. Before long they won’t need us anymore.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. It seems about the time I get parenting figured out, the job’s over.”

“I know. I feel the same. What should we talk about? I need to hear a friendly voice. How about the bakery? What’s cooking?”

“Very funny.” She lowered her tone, as if there were someone in her empty store that might hear her. “How about I ask you my first question? I never got a chance on the way back home from Lowe’s. We were too busy talking about the kids.”

“I thought you forgot about that bet. I still can’t believe you ate that entire steak.”

“You lost the bet, Mack. You have to answer ten questions.

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.