Surrendered Hearts by Turansky Carrie

Author:Turansky, Carrie [Turansky, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Flowing Stream Books
Published: 2011-04-02T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Jenn leaned back and looked up through the lacy branches overhead. The silver birch leaves flickered in the wind, revealing patches of azure sky and sending shifting patterns of sunlight over her face.

Closing her eyes, she felt the breeze on her neck and arms and released a deep sigh. This was bliss. The weather had changed, bringing cooler temperatures and blowing away much of the uncomfortable humidity.

They’d finished a delicious picnic supper a few minutes earlier. Jenn had enjoyed the barbecued chicken, oriental coleslaw, fruit salad, Tilley’s homemade rolls, and Bill’s special fudge brownies.

While they ate, Tilley shared memories of celebrating the Fourth of July with her family on the coast of Maine when she was young. Toby entertained them with some silly jokes he had learned from his friends at school. And Bill told several crazy stories about his college days when he and Wes were roommates. Wes denied them, but Bill insisted most of the stories were true. Lauren and Jenn laughed so hard they begged Bill to stop and give them a break. Jenn couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a day more, and she tucked away all those happy moments in her heart.

Lifting her hand, she shaded her eyes and searched the park. She spotted Bill, Wes, and Toby just past the gazebo, lined up to take part in the watermelon seed-spitting contest. Tilley sat nearby in a lawn chair, chatting with an older man who held tightly to his dog’s leash while his excited Boston bull terrier pulled to keep moving.

Lauren kneeled beside her on the picnic blanket, cleaning up the remains of their meal. She snapped the lid on the brownie container and placed it in the basket. “You look great in that outfit.”

Jenn smiled. “Thanks, but I still feel bad about borrowing it without asking.”

“Stop apologizing. I’m glad you did. I hope you’ll keep it.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that.”

“Please?” Lauren wiggled her eyebrows and grinned. “Then I can put a new shorts outfit on my honeymoon shopping list.”

Jenn chuckled. “Okay. If you put it that way, I guess I could keep them.” She loved the cute denim shorts and red t-shirt with the American flag on the front. Wearing them made her feel cool and comfortable, and so far no one had said anything about her scars.

She gazed across the park at Bill. He was probably right. It didn’t bother Wes and Lauren, and Tilley was so sweet she’d never say anything unkind.

Toby raced across the grass toward them. “Bill spit farther than anybody!” He plopped down on the blanket beside his mother. His face was red and sweaty from his time in the sun. Watermelon juice stained his mouth and ran down his chin.

“Come here, sweetie.” Lauren reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a container of wipes.

Toby leaned forward, squeezed his eyes shut, and pressed his lips together tightly, while Lauren wiped his cheeks and chin.

“Are your hands sticky?” she asked, and he held them out for her to inspect.

Bill strode toward them and took a seat on the blanket next to Jenn.

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