Read Online Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith - Free Book Online

eyebrows rose. “Your sister won’t mind that you don’t have a properly furnished dining room?”
    He laughed. “I’ve given you a bad impression of Karen. She’s really great. In fact, she’s a lot like your sister Tori, energetic and funny and beautiful. Smart like Tori too, and she has a heart of gold. I admire her more than anyone else I know.”
    For the briefest of moments, Joan’s features became immobile. Then the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile that failed to light her eyes. “I can’t wait to meet her. We’ve got some bar stools over here.” She walked away and left him sitting on the sofa.
    What did I say? Surely she wasn’t jealous of Karen. Some women were like that, though. Didn’t want to hear a guy say anything nice about another woman, even a relative. Ken had no patience for people like that. Spending time with someone who insisted on being the center of attention was just plain tiring.
    But Joan didn’t seem like that sort of woman. He probably just read her wrong.
    He got up off the sofa and followed her, but their easy banter had turned cold. She was all business as he selected four stools and filled out the rental application. Try though he might, he couldn’t coax a genuine smile back to her face.
    His furniture deal settled and delivery arrangements made, he stepped outside into the hot sunshine. As he walked toward his car, he shook his head. He must have been wrong about her. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with a jealous woman.

    Joan stood behind the counter, Ken’s application in her hand. She watched him get into his car, close the door, and pull out of the parking lot.
    He liked Tori.
    The knowledge burned in her stomach like she had swallowed a lemon. Why was she surprised? Of course he liked Tori. Everyone did. She was everything he admired, like he said. Fun and pretty and smart and . . .
    Her throat tightened. Who would choose Plain-Jane-Joan over Perky-Pretty-Tori?
    Nobody, that’s who.

~ 6 ~
    Joan closed the car door and walked across the driveway toward the front porch, her step slow. The morning might have started out dead, but the afternoon brought a steady stream of customers that kept her and Rosa running. She rejected the thought that Ken’s huge sale, the first of the day, had brought her good luck.
    She glanced at his empty driveway. What sort of shift did he work? He seemed to always be gone whenever she was at home. She could ask Mom . . .
    Not a good idea. Knowing Mom, she’d feel the need to drop a few hints like Gram had. Besides, he was a nice guy, but he was interested in Tori, not her.
    She pushed the front door open, stepped inside onto the landing, and inhaled. Supper smelled heavenly. Gram said this morning she planned to make lasagna, and Joan detected the spicy odor of tomato sauce. Her stomach gave an expectant rumble.
    “Gram, I’m home.”
    From the direction of the kitchen, she heard a soft sob. Her heart stuttered. “Gram?”
    Joan threw her purse to the floor and dashed through the living room. She catapulted through the doorway and stopped.
    The oven door stood open, and heat poured into the room. A mound of browned mozzarella and long ribbons of pasta formed an untidy lump in the center of the tiled floor, midway between the oven and the counter. Splatters of thick tomato sauce covered the floor and cabinets, and left a red trail where chunks slid down the lower half of the refrigerator. In the middle of the mess sat Gram, surrounded by shards of glass and the splattered remains of supper. Hands resting motionless in her lap, shoulders wilted, her chin trembled as she surveyed the wreckage.
    Joan’s pulse thumped in her ears. “Are you alright?” With an effort, she kept her tone even. “Are you hurt?”
    Her grandmother drew a shuddering breath, and then raised a tear-streaked face to Joan. “I dropped it. I was taking it out of the oven like I’ve done a thousand times, and I dropped it.” A sob broke her