LITMIR.BIZ

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Chapter Three

      “He has to hate me.” Fiona pushed up the sleeves of her sweatshirt and picked up the pace, glancing over at her friends Susan and Daisy. She’d tried to back out of their planned morning walk, but they must have heard something in her voice, because they’d come over anyway and insisted that she join them. And they were right: it did feel good to get out and move in the fresh spring air.

      “I doubt he hates you,” Daisy said. “Okay, it sounds like it was awkward, and maybe you hurt his feelings, but Eduardo’s an understanding guy.” She looked slyly over at Fiona. “Handsome, too.”

      “Daisy!” Susan fake-punched her. “Remember what Pastor Ricky said last week. We need to focus on what’s inside people, not what’s outside. Although,” she said, her voice thoughtful, “Eduardo is one of the best-looking workers at Hinton Enterprises. Almost as handsome as the boss.”

      “Biased much?” Daisy teased. “Sam’s my brother, and I love him, but even I think judging a beauty contest between Eduardo and Sam would be a tough job.”

      “Would you guys stop?” Fiona dug in her pocket for a ponytail holder. “How Eduardo looks is the least of my worries. I kicked him out in a mean way after he’d come over to my house to make a landscaping estimate. I didn’t even show him the carriage house. I’m an idiot.” Her cheeks heated at the memory of looking up during her meltdown to see Eduardo’s concerned face, of blurting out something, anything, to make him go away.

      She’d regretted it only moments later, but by then he’d collected his kids and left. “I wasn’t just rude to him. I disappointed and confused his kids, too. They were expecting to look at the carriage house. I’m sure he’s decided to rent something else, now that he realizes what a loon I am.”

      “You’re not a loon,” Susan said. “You’re a human being with emotions.”

      “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Daisy added. “We all make mistakes.”

      “I guess.”

      Daisy squeezed her arm and Susan patted her back, and the tightness in Fiona’s chest relaxed just a little bit. A woman out weeding her garden called a greeting, and two mothers with babies in strollers waved from the other side of the street. In a fenced front yard, a toddler squatted to pet a puppy while his father talked on the phone.

      Life went on.

      “If it makes you feel any better, I’m the queen of saying the wrong thing, and most people forgive me for it,” Susan added. “I’m sure Eduardo will forgive you if you apologize nicely.”

      “I can’t apologize. I’m too embarrassed that he heard my mom calling me fat.” Fiona could barely squeak the words out in front of her friends. “I mean, it’s out there for everyone to see, but still...”

      “You’re not even close to fat!” Daisy sounded indignant.

      “That’s ridiculous,” Susan said. “When you came to town, everyone talked about how you looked like a model. I was totally jealous when Sam’s old mother-in-law tried to fix him up with you.”

      “I remember.” Fiona thought back to that Fourth of July picnic almost two years ago. “I was such a mess then. Reggie had died earlier that year, and then I found out about his second family. I’d just moved here, and the kids were really struggling.” She sighed. “But at least I was thin.”

      “Listen to yourself!” Susan scolded. “Would you trade where you are now for where you were back then, just to wear a smaller pants size? I mean, look at me.” She patted her rounded stomach. “I’ve got baby weight I need to lose, sure, but I wouldn’t trade it for the figure I used to have, no way.”

      “Of course you wouldn’t.” Daisy sounded just a little wistful. “And Sam wouldn’t, either. He claims Sam Junior is the perfect child, and you’re the perfect wife for producing him.”

      Susan snorted. “If he said I was perfect, he’s delusional.”

      They reached Rescue River’s small downtown and walked down Main Street. Early on a Monday morning, pedestrian traffic was light and most businesses were still closed. There was Mr. Love, though, sweeping the sidewalk in front of Love’s Hardware, whistling a quiet tune. At eightysomething, he had more energy than most twenty-year-olds.

      “Hey, Mr. Love,” Daisy called.

      The stooped dark-skinned man stopped sweeping and looked slightly to the left of them, leaning on his broom. “Who’s that now? Is that you, Daisy Hinton?”

      They came to a halt to chat with the man whose visual impairment didn’t stop him from doing anything and everything.

      “Me, and Susan, and Fiona Farmingham. Do you know Fiona, Mr. Love?”

      “Oh, we’ve met,” the old man said before Fiona could answer. “I’m blessed to get a morning greeting from the three prettiest ladies in Rescue River. Excepting my Minnie, of course.”

      Daisy arched an eyebrow at Fiona and Susan. “Are you two finally out in the open?” she asked Mr. Love.

      “Thinking about shopping for an engagement ring. At my age!” He shook his head, a big smile creasing his face. “God’s been smiling on me in my golden years.”

      “That’s wonderful news.” Daisy gave him a gentle hug while Susan and Fiona offered their congratulations.

      “Don’t rush into congratulating me. She hasn’t said yes.” Mr. Love put a hand on Daisy’s arm. “You listen to what I’m saying now. Life’s short. Too short for avoiding love due to fear.”

      Daisy’s cheeks went pink. “You’re not giving me advice on my love life, are you?”

      “My name is Love, after all,” he said with a chuckle. “And at my age, I think I can claim a little wisdom. Now, you ladies get on. I know you’ve got more exercising to do on this fine day.”

      As they walked on through the downtown, the old man’s words echoed in Fiona’s mind. Was she avoiding love due to fear?

      Well...yeah. She was. But in her case, she had every reason to.

      “Fiona! Listen to me.” Susan glared at her.

      “Sorry, I was spacing out,” Fiona said. “What did I miss?”

      “I was saying that it’s important for those of us raising girls, especially, to help them grow up with a healthy body image.”

      “That’s true,” Fiona said, thinking of Susan’s stepdaughter, Mindy, as well as her own three. “I wouldn’t want to do to my girls what my mom does to me on a regular basis.”

      “Kids learn by example as much as by words,” Susan said. “I’ve learned that during ten years of teaching elementary school. If you put yourself down in front of them, or if you’re always on some crazy diet, they’ll notice.”

      “Exactly,” Daisy said. “Besides, some men like women who enjoy their food. Dion says—” She broke off, blushing.

      Susan cocked her head. “Is there something you want to tell us, about you and the police chief?” she asked Daisy.

      “No. Anyway, today isn’t about me.” Daisy turned away from Susan and looked at Fiona. “What are you going to do about Eduardo?”

      What was she going to do? She couldn’t let the discomfort between them fester—if for no other reason than that they’d see each other at kids’ events all the time. “I guess I could text him an apology.”

      “Text him? Really?” Daisy stepped in front of Fiona, making her stop. Susan came to her side, blocking Fiona’s way.

      “Call him?” Fiona asked weakly.

      “God didn’t give us a spirit of fear,” Daisy said.

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