LITMIR.BIZ

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      Rachel had called Julia soon after Charlie went down for his nap. But her friend had been busy with a client and was out last night on a date, so they’d never caught up.

      “George Nolan left me hanging for a week, then bailed out on me totally. He said he was backed up on a bigger job and wouldn’t get to the cottage for a month or more.”

      “You’re kidding? That’s the last time I recommend him for a job. I’ll tell him myself, too. Here’s your salad. And if that’s too healthy for you, I also brought some chocolate chip cookies from the bakery.”

      “Thanks. This looks great.” Rachel flipped the container lid and took a bite. Julia did the same.

      “There must be someone besides George who could do it.” Julia shrugged. She speared a hunk of lettuce with her plastic fork. “Do you need some more names to call?”

      Rachel’s well-connected pal knew just about every guy in town who owed a hammer or knew how to handle a paint brush. Without Julia’s advice and recommendations, Rachel never would have been able to renovate her house and set up her shop in so short a time. But everyone on Julia’s list for the roofing job had either been booked solid, not interested in such a small project, or asked too high a price.

      “I found someone.”

      Julia squinted at her. “Already?”

      Rachel nodded. She knew Julia was surprised that she’d managed that feat without her help. “He’s even dropped off his estimate, references and a contract.”

      Rachel had found the thick manila envelope stuffing up the mail box when she’d opened the store that morning.

      “He said he needs the work and I know he wants to start quickly. He’s either efficient and responsible…or totally desperate.”

      “Maybe a little of both,” Julia offered. “How did you find this guy again?”

      “He just walked into the store. Yesterday afternoon. He was standing near the counter when I took the phone call from George, so he heard everything. We started talking and it turns out he does that type of work and is in between jobs. He looked at the cottage and had some really great ideas, too. He showed me how he could open up the ceiling to show the rafters and add skylights. That would really look nice, don’t you think?”

      “Definitely.… What’s this guy’s name? Maybe I know him.”

      “Jack Sawyer.”

      “Hmm…not ringing any bells.” Julia sipped her coffee and Rachel couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Probably that it wasn’t wise to hire a guy who just walks in off the street, from out the blue. Even if he does have good ideas. “Is he from around here?”

      “I’m not sure,” Rachel said honestly. “I mean, I didn’t ask. His letterhead has a local P.O. Box. But his references were all from Connecticut and New York.”

      Julia glanced at her, but didn’t say anything. They both knew that could mean anything. Anyone could get a post office box.

      She reached for a roll, unwrapped it and then broke off a small bite. Julia was a few years older and sometimes took on a protective attitude. Not in a bad way, though. It was just that Julia had lived in Blue Lake all her life, except for college, and was totally familiar with small-town ways. Which were mostly friendly and helpful…but sometimes not. Especially to someone considered an outsider.

      “Can I see his card? Maybe I’ll recognize the name of his company,” Julia said.

      “He didn’t have a card handy.” Rachel forced a small smile. That didn’t sound very good either, did it? “But all of his paper work looked in order—the estimate, the contract. He gave me some references, too.”

      “Did you call them?”

      Rachel nodded. “They all checked out fine. Glowing reports. Said he was reliable. Neat. Creative.”

      Julia shrugged. “Sounds like you caught a good one, Rachel.”

      “Right, let’s hope.”

      She nearly blurted out that he was absolute eye candy. Though she didn’t know yet if that was a plus or a minus.

      Rachel had finished her salad, but hesitated reaching for the bakery bag of cookies. Wasn’t she supposed to start a diet today, to take off the rest of her baby weight?

      Funny how a few friendly smiles from a handsome guy could get you motivated about your appearance again. Rachel knew she’d even gone to a little more trouble getting dressed this morning. Jack Sawyer had caught her yesterday looking like a total mess.

      She sighed and reached for the cookie bag. “How did it go with Gary? Did you have a good time?”

      Julia fiddled with her fork, then tucked a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. “It was fine. We had very nice time. It was…nice.”

      “That bad, huh? I’m sorry,” she said sincerely.

      “Gary can be very funny. He makes me laugh. I mean, that’s why I agreed to go out with him in the first place, you know?”

      Rachel nodded. She knew Julia certainly had not starting seeing Gary Kramer because of his looks. He wasn’t awful looking. Maybe even cute, in a geeky way. Just not the type of man she’d match with Julia, who was more than pretty. Gary looked every inch an accountant, which was still at least an inch or two shorter than her tall, leggy friend who was over five feet ten in heels. It wasn’t just his looks. Rachel wasn’t so superficial to judge people on those terms.

      There was just something lacking about Gary, a passive quality maybe that didn’t seem a match to Julia’s vibrant personality.

      It was a mystery to Rachel as to why Julia couldn’t meet the right man and find a serious relationship. She was a tall, lithe blonde with a big blue eyes, intelligent, successful and the sweetest, most loyal soul in the world. If that wasn’t enough, she was a great cook, too.

      But just like so many single women their age, Julia was stuck on the dating treadmill, putting in a lot of time and effort, but getting nowhere. Julia had been married once, right after college to her high school sweetheart. If not for that choice, she may have never returned to Blue Lake. But now she was settled here, with a successful business, not to mention her sweet but flighty mother who needed Julia’s level-headed supervision.

      Julia thought she’d kissed just about every frog in this very small pond and still hadn’t found her prince. All she wanted was to meet a nice man, get married and have a baby. Why was that so hard? Rachel thought it was so unfair that the happiness so many women found so easily seemed to constantly elude her friend. She never lacked for dates. But nothing ever lasted.

      Rachel knew the feeling. She’d been through it all herself the last few years. Then she’d met Eric Rowland at a party and it seemed she’d finally met the perfect man. They’d gotten very serious very quickly and soon made plans to marry. But Eric had called off their wedding at the very last minute. Rachel was devastated and disillusioned.

      After Eric, she didn’t have the heart to start dating again and she’d lost all her trust in the opposite sex.

      Rachel mourned the new life she had hoped to start with Eric. But one night, she decided she’d make a new life herself—rich, fulfilling, meaningful life with everything she ever wanted. Her own home, her own business and her own children. Without the help of any man.

      She knew that Julia hadn’t reached that point yet. But sometimes it seemed she was getting close.

      “Are you going to see Gary again?” Rachel asked.

      “Oh…I don’t know. He said he would call. I usually have a three date rule. In Gary’s case, I might reduce it to two.” Julia sighed. “Maybe I should just do what you did, Rachel. Skip the husband all together and go straight for the baby.”

      Rachel would have

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