Read Online A Marriage Takes Two by Janet Lane-Walters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janet Lane-Walters
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bedroom didn’t.
“You gotta help Dad with his. He was gonna be a doctor.”
“I’ll think of something.”
Tony leaned against the wall. “Remember when we bounced around like that?”
“Eons ago. There should be an instant energy transfusion for parents.”
He laughed. “Figure how and you’ll make a fortune. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Being so patient with him.”
“He’s a good kid, especially when he forgets he’s angry. Once he understands how much you love and want him, he’ll be fine.”
And once he sees his mother’s selfishness, she thought. For an instant, she considered telling Tony some of the things Chad said about his mother and her new husband. Would Tony believe her? He seemed to avoid any mention of Marilyn, and he certainly never criticized her behavior. Any attack, even a mild one, would look like jealousy.
“What did you have for supper?” he asked.
“A hot roast beef sandwich. Even Hazel’s left-overs are scrumptious.”
“And I ended up with a thin burger and greasy fries.” He pulled away from the wall. “Let me get up to Chad. His costume is great, but we could have saved you the bother and bought one.”
“Then he and I wouldn’t have had time together. We had fun, and no one will have one like his. He needs to feel special.”
“You’re right.”
Carrie watched until he vanished. A long sigh escaped. Every time she thought he was ready to respond to her as a woman, he backed away.
With a shrug, she went to the kitchen and took a handful of cookies from the jar. Frustration, she thought. If I’m not careful, I’ll gain a hundred pounds.
She savored one of the cookies. Gingersnaps had never been among her favorites, but these were wonderful. Spicy and chewy.
Tony strolled into the room and took one of the cookies from her plate. “That was mine.” She swatted his hand.
“I know.” He took a bite. “Don’t friends share?”
An undercurrent in his voice made her hope. She pushed the plate toward him. “Help yourself. Better for my health if you eat them.”
“But worse for mine.” He nudged the plate back.
“There must be six dozen more in the freezer, plus several other kinds. How often does she bake?”
“About once a week. I’ll take some to the clinic Monday. Hazel thinks she’s still baking for five sons.”
“Five. Do they live around here?”
“They’re off in five directions, all military.” He held out a cookie. “Eat.”
“I would rather steal a blondie. She made three pans of each for the bake sale.”
“I wouldn’t touch. She would know.”
“Then I’ll buy them.”
“Plan on being first in line. Her baked goods go fast.” He filled a mug with coffee. “Chad’s right. I need a costume. Any ideas?”
She had a number of inappropriate notions, mostly involving skimpy clothes, like loin cloths or fig leaves. “Since Chad’s going as King Arthur. I found a crown in one of my boxes. Why don’t you go as Merlin? I still have the robe Mom made for you when you were a wise-man in the Christmas pageant at church.”
“Do you save everything?” Tony chuckled. “It’s a good idea. What will you be? A dragon.”
“That’s Saint George, but something like that. Just say my costume fits the theme.”
“Guinivere? Lady of the Lake? Lancelot?”
“I’ll never tell.” She rolled her shoulders to relieve the aches of the past week’s intensive labor. Tony rose and stood behind her. With a firm touch, he kneaded her muscles. She bit her lip to contain a moan of pleasure. She wished, but he was just being a friend.
“Sorry.”
“Why? Felt wonderful. I don’t have a muscle that doesn’t hurt.”
“You have been busy.” He straddled the chair across from her. “The place is looking great. What’s your next project?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe the living room.” She tried to read the expression on his face, but his eyes were shuttered.
“Again, thanks for being so great with Chad.”
“I’ve
“You gotta help Dad with his. He was gonna be a doctor.”
“I’ll think of something.”
Tony leaned against the wall. “Remember when we bounced around like that?”
“Eons ago. There should be an instant energy transfusion for parents.”
He laughed. “Figure how and you’ll make a fortune. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Being so patient with him.”
“He’s a good kid, especially when he forgets he’s angry. Once he understands how much you love and want him, he’ll be fine.”
And once he sees his mother’s selfishness, she thought. For an instant, she considered telling Tony some of the things Chad said about his mother and her new husband. Would Tony believe her? He seemed to avoid any mention of Marilyn, and he certainly never criticized her behavior. Any attack, even a mild one, would look like jealousy.
“What did you have for supper?” he asked.
“A hot roast beef sandwich. Even Hazel’s left-overs are scrumptious.”
“And I ended up with a thin burger and greasy fries.” He pulled away from the wall. “Let me get up to Chad. His costume is great, but we could have saved you the bother and bought one.”
“Then he and I wouldn’t have had time together. We had fun, and no one will have one like his. He needs to feel special.”
“You’re right.”
Carrie watched until he vanished. A long sigh escaped. Every time she thought he was ready to respond to her as a woman, he backed away.
With a shrug, she went to the kitchen and took a handful of cookies from the jar. Frustration, she thought. If I’m not careful, I’ll gain a hundred pounds.
She savored one of the cookies. Gingersnaps had never been among her favorites, but these were wonderful. Spicy and chewy.
Tony strolled into the room and took one of the cookies from her plate. “That was mine.” She swatted his hand.
“I know.” He took a bite. “Don’t friends share?”
An undercurrent in his voice made her hope. She pushed the plate toward him. “Help yourself. Better for my health if you eat them.”
“But worse for mine.” He nudged the plate back.
“There must be six dozen more in the freezer, plus several other kinds. How often does she bake?”
“About once a week. I’ll take some to the clinic Monday. Hazel thinks she’s still baking for five sons.”
“Five. Do they live around here?”
“They’re off in five directions, all military.” He held out a cookie. “Eat.”
“I would rather steal a blondie. She made three pans of each for the bake sale.”
“I wouldn’t touch. She would know.”
“Then I’ll buy them.”
“Plan on being first in line. Her baked goods go fast.” He filled a mug with coffee. “Chad’s right. I need a costume. Any ideas?”
She had a number of inappropriate notions, mostly involving skimpy clothes, like loin cloths or fig leaves. “Since Chad’s going as King Arthur. I found a crown in one of my boxes. Why don’t you go as Merlin? I still have the robe Mom made for you when you were a wise-man in the Christmas pageant at church.”
“Do you save everything?” Tony chuckled. “It’s a good idea. What will you be? A dragon.”
“That’s Saint George, but something like that. Just say my costume fits the theme.”
“Guinivere? Lady of the Lake? Lancelot?”
“I’ll never tell.” She rolled her shoulders to relieve the aches of the past week’s intensive labor. Tony rose and stood behind her. With a firm touch, he kneaded her muscles. She bit her lip to contain a moan of pleasure. She wished, but he was just being a friend.
“Sorry.”
“Why? Felt wonderful. I don’t have a muscle that doesn’t hurt.”
“You have been busy.” He straddled the chair across from her. “The place is looking great. What’s your next project?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe the living room.” She tried to read the expression on his face, but his eyes were shuttered.
“Again, thanks for being so great with Chad.”
“I’ve
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