once upon a romance 08 - making a splash by leclair laurie

Author:leclair, laurie [LeClair, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Laurie LeClair
Published: 2015-08-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The warm sun beat down on Annabelle’s exposed neck. That’s what she got for wearing her hair in a ponytail in the middle of the day.

Her crew had broken for lunch and she pressed on, trying to make up for the sprinkler pipe debacle last night.

She groaned at the mishap and at the man trying to help, but making another mess of things. “Max,” she whispered his name, feeling it on her still throbbing lips.

“Wicked, wicked man.” Her smile came quick and easy at the memory of the aftermath mud fight and angel making.

Funny how she’d felt more of a woman in those few hours spent with him in her filthy clothes, no makeup, and clunky work boots than she had in ages.

He made her laugh at life and herself.

She spread out the sand, smoothing it in nice long sweeps to even out the resting place where her soon to be delivered ginormous birdbath would sit in all its glory.

Mentally, she went through her checklist on the flowers she’d place around the edge of stone at the base. The garden center order, filled and ready to pick up in the morning, seemed more than enough to complete the job. However, she’d added two rose bushes to plant in a spot nearby as a surprise for the sweet, older couple. A small gift from her for their upcoming fiftieth wedding anniversary.

“Fifty,” she muttered, in awe of the sheer number of years they’d been devoted to each other.

Annabelle had less than five total, but far fewer days with her own husband after Joseph had decided for them that he would enlist. He’d made that choice without consulting her.

It still rankled every time she thought about his highhanded arrogance for their life path. He wanted to serve yes, but he wanted to give her and their baby a steady income, benefits, and later college for him. A future.

“But you robbed us all.” She smashed the rake down. Sand flew up.

It’s only four years, babe. I’ll be out in no time.

“Ha!” Annabelle beat the sand down and then tossed aside the rake in disgust. She looked up, tilted her head from side to side, trying to work the kinks and knots out.

“Joey,” she said, aching for her son. At first he was confused, thinking his dad still worked away from home, and then he’d cry his little heart out, and now he clung to his pretend superhero world, telling her that’s where his daddy was because he was a hero, too.

Just a few days ago, the counselor at his school suggested outside therapy. Her insurance didn’t cover it. “I’ll help you, Joey. I promise, I will.” That’s when she’d gotten the bright idea of finding him a real life male role model after seeing the ad in the paper for the Whitfield’s Sports Bar opening. Jay Whitfield had been one of Joey’s heroes.

At least she’d given him that. The signed football now rested in the case Max had brought over. “Max,” she whispered, emotions warring in her at the thought of him.

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