Waking Up Joy by Tina Ann Forkner

Author:Tina Ann Forkner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Western
ISBN: 9781940296715
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group
Published: 2014-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

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As I closed the church doors behind me and took the sidewalk over to Miss Donna’s shop, I felt threads of hope stretching behind me and knew Jimmy and I were still connected. Just how that would look in the coming weeks, I had no idea, but I did know that the feeling of unsettled business that I’d always had wasn’t just my overactive imagination.

In Miss Donna’s, Donna herself greeted me with a smile and poured a cup of coffee.

“You’re up early this morning, Joy.”

I thanked her for the coffee and she set the whole pot beside me before excusing herself for a few minutes. I sat at the café counter and sipped my coffee as the tinkle of the bell signaled a few early morning travelers coming in for Honeybuns and Orange Juice. When she came back, I’d refilled my own cup and helped myself to donuts I knew Ruthie had delivered to her the day before.

“You know,” Donna said. “These donuts are usually fresher.”

I washed the donut down with the coffee, gave her a guilty smile. “I’m sorry to show up before you’re open. I haven’t been home.”

She smiled, as if she’d known. “It’s okay. But you should know that your family was in here looking for you last night. How you doing?”

“Good,” I assured her. “Just been spending time with an old friend.”

“Anyone in particular?” I knew she wasn’t prying and I appreciated her for caring enough to ask.

“Someone I thought I’d lost.”

“So . . . You didn’t lose him? Or her? Is this a romantic thing?”

“Him,” I admitted with a smile. “And I don’t know.”

“Still friends?” she asked.

I nodded yes and she came around and sat beside me at the counter, while we sipped coffee together. That’s what I’d always loved about Donna, even when we were still in high school. She asked questions, but she didn’t really expect you to answer unless you wanted to.

“Do you think men and women can be just friends, Donna?”

She snorted. “I used to say no, but sure. Sometimes, at our age, it’s best to be just friends.”

“Our age?” I chided her. “You may think you’re old, Donna, but I, for one, don’t think I am.”

“Forties,” she said.

“We’re the same age,” I reminded. “But I think I know what you mean.”

“I guess I’ve always thought that friends are forever, so friends might be best. Love on the other hand, isn’t always for that long.”

I sipped the last of my coffee and set the cup down with a sigh, the click on the counter echoing along with the clink of spoons and plates. The diner side had opened up and the two girls who worked for Donna were busy running about in their turquoise aprons and pink waitress dresses.

“I wish we could have both, love and friendship, don’t you, Donna?”

“Sure,” she said. “A girl can hope. I mean, look at you. We thought we lost you, honey. And now here we are having coffee and talking about our man problems.”

“You’re a good friend.

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