LITMIR.BIZ

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the chair and sighed once more. “Still, it’s just you and him alone. Night after night.”

      “The kids are here,” she reminded her friend. “You’re trying to make this into something it’s not. Mike is Grace’s brother. I’m doing this for her, not him. As for him being attractive...” Beth looked at her. Cindy held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, I’ll admit he’s pretty good-looking.”

      “Good-looking? The man could jump-start a person in a coma.”

      “Beth!”

      “Well, he could! I just wish he’d wake up so I could see his eyes. What color are they?”

      “Brown.”

      “Oh.”

      Cindy looked up from the cookie batter. “You sound disappointed.”

      “I was hoping for something more exciting. Gray maybe, or a nice—” She broke off and frowned. “You know, there aren’t many colors for eyes to be, are there? Okay, brown.”

      The timer on the oven beeped. Beth stood up. Like Cindy, she was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. The Houston summer heat required a minimum of clothing, even in the air-conditioned house.

      Beth grabbed the pot holders resting on the counter and took the baked cookies out of the oven. She set them on the cooling racks on the edge of the island, then grabbed the filled pans Cindy had prepared.

      Cindy smiled. This was one of the things she liked about where she lived. Being friends with her neighbors and sharing time with them. She, Beth and Grace had canned fruit together, baked pies and even prepared holiday dinners. They ran back and forth when ingredients were low, the days too long or something bad happened in their lives. Both women had been there for her when Nelson had walked out. She would never forget that.

      Beth closed the oven, then tossed the pot holders on the counter next to the cooling cookie sheets. She grabbed a spatula, slipped a cookie off and picked it up. “Hot!” she said, bouncing it from hand to hand and blowing. When it was cool enough, she took a bite. Her eyes closed and she smiled. “Perfect.” She offered half to Cindy.

      Cindy tasted the cookie and had to admit, she had a way with peanut butter. She took the glass of water Beth had filled and sipped. “I miss Grace,” she said.

      “Tell me about it. I miss her, and I miss my kids.” Beth returned to the kitchen table and sat down. “I know, I know. I’m the one who couldn’t wait for them to leave. They annoy the hell out of me. I mean, they’re practically teenagers. That’s their job. When they said they wanted to go to camp I was thrilled. But it’s only been a few days and the house is so quiet and boring.”

      Cindy smiled. “I thought you and Darren were going to plan things for the two of you to do.”

      “We are. It’s kind of fun, actually. But I still miss the kids. I guess this is what the empty nest is like. I’ll end up like those old women who keep their children’s rooms as shrines. Everything in its place.”

      “I don’t think so.”

      “Yeah, me neither.” Beth looked up and shook her finger. “Don’t try to trick me into changing the subject. How’s it going with Mike?”

      Cindy thought about pretending ignorance, but there was no point. Beth was like a bulldog. Once she got hold of something, she never let go. “It’s not going anywhere. I don’t want it to go anywhere. He’s just a houseguest. Grace’s brother, nothing more.”

      “He’s a single, good-looking guy.”

      “I’m not interested in getting involved with him or anyone.”

      “We only want you to be happy.”

      “We?” She didn’t like the sound of that. She picked up the last two unused cookie sheets and began scooping dough into neat rows. “You and Darren, or you and Grace? You haven’t been trying to set me up, have you?”

      Beth’s eyes widened with exaggerated innocence. “Set you up how? The man fell off a building, Cindy. As much as I want you to have a date, I wouldn’t send a man close to death just to get you alone with him.”

      “I suppose.” But she was going to grill Grace the next time she spoke to her.

      “It’s been two years.” Beth wasn’t smiling now. Her blue eyes were dark with concern. “It’s time to let go.”

      Cindy shifted uncomfortably. When the cookies were laid out neatly, she dipped a fork into a small bowl filled with flour and began making crisscross marks. “I have let go,” she said. “I don’t want Nelson back. In the last few months, I realized I hadn’t loved him for a while. Even before the divorce. But I thought we would stay together forever. I thought we would be friends and offer a stable home to our children. Dating is so—” She shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it. I’m not ready.”

      “What are you waiting for?”

      “Inspiration.” Cindy smiled.

      “Someone to fall into your lap, so to speak?”

      “Don’t start on Mike again. I barely know the man.” She set the fork down and faced her friend. “It’s not as easy as you think. Not many men want a woman with children. Even if I was interested, where am I supposed to meet these guys? I work at the middle school. I’m surrounded by kids all day. I love my job, but it doesn’t make it easy to socialize. It’s not as if I’m going to meet some cute man at the water fountain.”

      Beth rested her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands. “I see your point. No offense, Cindy, but you’re not really the bar type.”

      “I agree.” She shuddered again. She’d been to a bar once, with a friend from work. Another single teacher. It had been hideous. “Check on Allison and Jonathan, will you?”

      “Sure.” Beth leaned toward the window. “I can see them playing in the yard. It looks like a game that involves far too much running for the time of day.”

      Cindy glanced at the clock on the oven. It was nearly two. “The swim meet is at five. I should probably bring them in to rest for an hour or so.” She walked to the window and stared out.

      Their house was at the end of the cul-de-sac. Beyond that was a wide expanse of grass and trees with a walking path down the center. The greenbelt was the main reason she and Nelson had bought this particular lot when they’d had the house built. It gave the kids a great place to play. The area was quiet and secluded, safe.

      “Don’t you ever get tired of being alone?” Beth asked.

      “You mean lonely?” Cindy glanced down at her friend. She shrugged. “Sure, but I don’t want the kids hurt again. It was hard enough for them when their dad left.”

      “Maybe they’re not the only ones you’re scared about. Maybe you’re also worried about yourself.”

      “I can’t deny that. I’ve been hurt, too. I’m beginning to think it’s easier not to try.”

      The timer went off. Cindy moved to the oven and pulled out the cookies. She couldn’t imagine herself dating. When would she have time? Nelson only took the kids every other weekend. She wanted them to remember their childhood as happy, not a collection of baby-sitters because their mother was too busy trying to have a social life.

      “We’ve had this conversation before,” Beth said.

      “Yes.”

      “You’re being very stubborn.”

      “Probably.”

      “I care about you because you’re my friend.”

      Cindy set two trays in the oven and set the timer again. “I know you do. I also know you’re sweet enough to change the subject.”

      Beth pursed her lips as if she wasn’t going

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