LITMIR.BIZ

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over brunch with Claudia and John, Claudia said, “You’re awfully quiet today.”

      Lorna blinked. She’d been thinking about Coach again and wondering if she should tell Claudia and John about him, maybe get their opinion of the situation. “Sorry. Guess I was daydreaming.”

      John smiled. “Claudia does that a lot. Must be a female thing.”

      “Excuse me?” Claudia said, jabbing him in the arm with her finger. “That sounds like a sexist remark.”

      “Sexist? Did that sound sexist to you?” John asked Lorna with an innocent look.

      Lorna grinned. Their playful teasing always amused her. “Well, since you asked…”

      “Don’t tell me you agree with her?” he said.

      In answer, Lorna only laughed.

      “What’d you think about last night?” Claudia said, ignoring John, who was shaking his head in feigned disbelief.

      “Except for seeing Nick DeSanto, it was a pretty nice evening,” Lorna said.

      Claudia made a face. “Did you see that babe he was with?”

      “I noticed her,” John said.

      Claudia rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you did. I’m sure every man in the place did. How could they help it?” Turning back to Lorna, she said, “Nick DeSanto sure wasn’t very friendly.”

      “Well, we didn’t exactly act overjoyed to see him.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Lorna wondered why she’d defended him.

      “No, I guess not.” Brightening, Claudia said, “Enough about him. What’d you think of Jonah?”

      “He’s nice.”

      “Just nice?”

      “He liked you a lot,” John said, chiming in. He reached for a roll and broke it in two.

      Lorna sighed. “Look. The thing is, he’s too young for me.”

      “He’s only two years younger than you are,” John pointed out.

      “And he’s really cute,” Claudia added.

      Lorna shrugged.

      “He told me he’d like to see you again,” John said.

      “Please don’t encourage him to ask me out. I’m sorry, but he’s just not my type.”

      Now it was Claudia’s turn to sigh. “Lorna…”

      Lorna swung her gaze to her sister. “I mean it. If he does call me, I’m just going to make an excuse.”

      “We’re only trying to help. Since you’re new in town and all.”

      “I know you are, but I don’t need help.”

      After an awkward moment of silence, John reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re right. You don’t. We should butt out.”

      Claudia fell silent after that, and Lorna felt bad. She knew her sister only wanted her to be happy. But Lorna had to find happiness in her own way. Besides, she wasn’t unhappy. She simply hoped for a future that would yield something more.

      Once again, her thoughts turned to Coach. Maybe she was being too cautious. Who knew? He could turn out to be perfect for her. Go ahead. Take another chance.

      “You’re daydreaming again,” Claudia chided.

      Lorna determinedly cleared her mind and for the rest of their time together, concentrated on participating in the conversation.

      After brunch, Lorna said goodbye to Claudia and John—who were going to a photography exhibit John wanted to see—and headed for the Galleria, where she spent a pleasant couple of hours shopping. She hit Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, the new Foley’s and several of the smaller boutiques. She even managed to find a few Christmas presents, although the holiday wasn’t for months. She was particularly pleased with the gorgeous James Avery crosses she bought for her nieces. She was sure the girls would love them. In a spurt of inspiration, she bought two extra crosses—one for Emily when she was old enough to wear it, and one for Claudia’s baby, in case she had a girl. And if she didn’t have a girl this time, she might in the future.

      Or I might, Lorna thought. Just the thought gave her goosebumps. A little girl of my own… Lorna already knew that if she was ever blessed with a daughter, she would name her Diana after her great-great-grandmother Diana Morgan, who had been married to Jeremiah Morgan. Sometimes Lorna dreamed about her baby, imagining she’d even look like her ancestor, who’d had dark hair and eyes and had been a great beauty in her day.

      At Neiman Marcus, Lorna bought a wonderful deep purple brocade jacket that would look beautiful on her grandmother and also found a wispy gold chiffon scarf for her mother. All in all, a satisfying afternoon.

      After leaving the Galleria, she stopped at the supermarket and stocked up on groceries, then headed home.

      By the time she’d put her groceries away, nuked and eaten some frozen lasagna, and finished reading the newspaper, it was nearly eight o’clock and time to log on to Jamboree. She was really looking forward to playing against and talking to Coach again.

      She logged on and entered the games area. She hadn’t been listed for more than a couple of seconds when Coach sent her an invitation to join him.

      Glad you made it. Ready to lose? he wrote in the chat box.

      She grinned. Them’s fightin’ words, mister.

      Put on your gloves, then.

      He had the first turn and, as luck would have it, made a seven-letter word—Sponges—which gained him not only the value of the letters times two but a thirty-five-point bonus.

      See? he wrote. Told you I was going to skunk you.

      Lorna laughed. You may have to eat those words, you know. She looked at her letters: X, R, I, I, M, A, H. Smiling, she played off his E, making the word Mixer. It seemed only fitting since sponge mixers played an important part in the commercial baking business.

      His next word was Raisin, which he played off the R in Mixer. Lorna shook her head. It was almost as if he’d understood the significance of the first two words in her life and was responding with one of the types of breads Hathaway was famous for. If she’d had the right combination of letters, she would have made the word Bread, but she didn’t. Besides, it would only have been a private joke and would mean nothing to Coach.

      They played quickly after that, neither one taking very long to decide on a word, and less than thirty minutes later, as Coach had predicted, he came out the victor, but she beat him soundly in the next game.

      Told you so, he typed. But then I’m not the type to gloat.

      You’re not?, she responded, then why are you mentioning your win? Don’t know about you, but I call that gloating.

      You’re right, he wrote back, I should just be happy I’m smarter than you are without rubbing it in.

      Lorna laughed out loud. Oh, boy, those are really fightin’ words.

      They played four games in all, and when they were finished, they’d split the wins, two and two.

      Another? he wrote.

      She looked at the clock. I’d better not. I didn’t tell you, but I’m starting a new job tomorrow and I want to get a good night’s sleep.

      A new job at another company? he typed.

      No, not another company, she wrote back. A new position.

      So you got a promotion? Good for you, he answered.

      Lorna didn’t want to lie. But how could she respond to his question truthfully without revealing more than she was ready to reveal? No, not a promotion exactly. Just something different.

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