Two of Hearts by Julia Gabriel

Author:Julia Gabriel [Gabriel, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Serif Books

Chapter 16

“Hi Jackie!” The Trevor family crowded around Becca’s laptop. The remains of Thanksgiving dinner—the giant platter of turkey slices, balled up linen napkins, dessert plates practically licked clean of pumpkin pie and whipped cream—were pushed aside on the table. On the small screen was a collage of heads in Ohio—Jackie and her adoptive mother, Shari Weber; Shari’s parents, Alice and Robert Weber—everyone smiling and talking all at once.

“How was your meal?”

“I burned the rolls again.”

“Anyone planning to go out shopping later?”

More than one person groaned at the thought.

“What about tomorrow?”

Michelle Trevor had always kept Quilt Therapy closed on Black Friday, despite years of entreaties from Cassidy. The revenue they were forgoing nearly made her sick to her stomach. Cassidy had lobbied hard this year to be open—even if just with limited hours—but her mother held firm..

“People should spend the time with their families,” had been her mother’s verdict. At the end of the day, it was still her mother’s shop. Not Cassidy’s.

She slipped away from the videochat, and touched her mother’s shoulder lightly. When Michelle turned her head, Cassidy mouthed, “I have to go. I said I’d be at Bay Acres by three.”

Her mother nodded, then turned back to Becca’s laptop and her first grandchild. Who’d have thought Becca would be the first one to have a child in the family? Although Cassidy couldn’t imagine any of her sisters with children. Lauren? She and her boyfriend in California were apparently in no hurry to tie the knot. Natalie was too much of a social butterfly, while Charlotte had just finished college last spring and was job hunting in the big city.

And certainly not me. Cassidy grabbed her jacket from the front hall coat closet and headed out to her car. Bay Acres Nursing Home was a one-story brick building tucked in between a residential neighborhood and a strip mall shopping center on the north side of town. Cassidy was a regular volunteer there, spending a few hours once or twice a month, playing cards or board games with residents. She was a favorite with one particular group of five women.

“Cassidy! There you are!” The women, all in their seventies and eighties, were already gathered around a table in the wide open entertainment room. “We’re playing poker today.”

Cassidy pulled out the empty chair, draped her jacket over the back, and sat down. She enjoyed spending time with them. They were sassy and bawdy. As a result, Cassidy knew way too much about the male residents at Bay Acres. In fact, men were the current topic as cards were dealt.

“Francis Jeter wouldn’t give me the time of day in high school, but now he’s all over me like a cheap suit.”

“Did you hear? Santana Cruz might be moving in next month.” In unison, the women cocked their heads to one side, dreamy looks in their eyes. Someone sighed.

“Santana.”

“Mmm.”

“He always was a hot one.”

“How about you, Cassidy? Got any hot prospects on the horizon?”

“Nope,” Cassidy answered. “Not a one.”

“We need to get that fixed.

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