Read Online A Mother at Heart by Carolyne Aarsen - Free Book Online

again.
    Fool that he was.
    He wanted to leave as if to outrun his own feelings, but there was no polite way to do so. He had invited her here.
    The door opened and a woman called out a greeting to Peter, then walked over to their table.
    â€œHey, Jake, how are you doing?”
    Jake looked up and met the smiling face of Donna Kurtz. “Doing good, Donna. How about you?”
    â€œBusy. I just took a break from working at the church.” She pulled at her paint-splattered T-shirt and flashed a crooked grin. “I thought you were going to come?”
    â€œI’m sorry. I forgot they’re painting there today.” Jake felt guilty. “I’ll be right over.”
    He turned to Miriam, who was looking up at Donna with a wistful expression on her face. “Miriam, you remember Donna, don’t you?”
    Donna’s mouth fell open as she recognized her old friend. Then she was leaning over, hugging Miriam hard. “My goodness,” she said breathlessly, “Look at you, Miriam Spencer.” Donna clutched Miriam’s shoulders, and shook her head in disbelief. “Have you ever changed! What are you doing back here? How come I never knew?”
    â€œI just came back yesterday,” Miriam replied.
    â€œReally?” Donna glanced at Jake and then back at Miriam, her smile changing. “And you and Jake already met up with each other.” The innuendo in her tone was unmistakable.
    Jake figured he’d better dispel that notion immediately. “Miriam’s car broke down not far from our place. I brought her into town to get it fixed.”
    Donna nodded, but her smirk showed that she didn’t quite believe it. “It’s just like old times, seeing you two together again.”
    Jake wished she would stop assuming a relationship between them. It made him yearn for something that wasn’t going to happen—Miriam’s next stop was a real estate agency.
    He glanced at his watch. He had other things to do, other obligations. If Denny was as fast as he said he could be, Miriam didn’t have much longer to wait. “I should go and help at the church,” he said to Miriam, trying for a light tone. “If you need anything, you can find me there.”
    She nodded as her eyes met his, then looked back at Donna. He felt dismissed, and pushed his chair back.
    â€œSee you back at the church,” he said, sending her a quick grin.
    Donna nodded, then took his place opposite Miriam.
    He stopped at the till and paid for their coffees, then walked to his truck. As he got in, he could see Donna and Miriam through the window of the café. Donna was leaning forward, and Miriam’s face held that same wistfulness he had seen before.
    As he started the truck, he wondered what was going on behind those deep brown eyes of hers. Once he would have been able to read the slightest nuance, but now she was as unreadable as a legal document.
    He sighed and pulled away. As if he didn’t have enough on his mind, now he had to go and complicate his life with this woman who was so different from the one he had once loved.
    â€œI still can’t believe you’re here.” Donna rested her elbows on the scratched red Formica tabletop, sipping her coffee, smiling across at her old friend. “It’s been years and years. Too long.”
    Miriam acknowledged the comment with a nod, and kept folding the napkin on the table in front of her. More guilt. “I know and I’m sorry.” She lifted her eyes to Donna. “I don’t think there’s anything I can really say to excuse or brush it all away.”
    â€œI heard a few bits and pieces from Paula just after you left, but that’s about it.”
    â€œPaula and I stayed out of touch, as well—” Miriam stopped, sorrow over their mutual friend thickening her throat. “Sorry.” She looked down, blinking quickly. “I still can’t get past her