Read Online Courted by Trouble: A Courting Romance (In Hyacinth Book 3) by Bree Cariad - Free Book Online Page A

moving to Peirsent after the wedding.”
    “Wow. Wait. Dora, are you moving too?” Stephanie wanted her friend to be happy but the thought of losing her was almost too much.
    “Uh, no,” she said slowly. “In fact, that’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
    “What do you mean?” Stephanie sat back down and took a bite of chicken.
    “This house is big. Really big. I hate the thought of living here alone. Wanna be my roommate? There are three bedrooms to choose from. I don’t know why we ever had four bedrooms, but we do. There’s even one on the bottom floor if you’d prefer that, or Mom’s room has its own bathroom like mine.” It was obvious by Dora’s prattle that she was nervous.
    “Thanks,” she said quietly. “I’ll think about it.”
    Looking relieved, Dora nodded. “If you don’t, that’s fine, but I thought… you might like being in town.”
    Turning to Darcelle, Stephanie smiled. “So tell me about George.” Dora’s mother’s face lit up and throughout the rest of dinner and dessert, they learned all about George Leighton, welder, widower, and professional mini-golfer.
    “I had no idea,” Stephanie said with a giggle as she and Dora did the dishes, “that there was such a thing as a professional mini-golfer.”
    Snickering, Dora nodded “I know. But don’t mention that to Mom. She thinks it’s wonderful. She loves to putt-putt and the two of them are going to travel next summer around to all his favorite courses.”
    As they were half way through with the dishes, the phone rang and Dora reached for it. “Lexingtons… Oh, hi, Mr. Covington. Happy Thanksgiving… Yes, she’s still here… Just a second.” Turning, she held the phone out. “He wants to talk to you.”
    Putting the dish rag on the counter, Stephanie took the phone. “Hello?”
    “Stephanie,” Alex Covington said warmly, “having a nice dinner?”
    “Yes, we had a lovely dinner, thank you. How about you?”
    “We did as well. I was wondering if you needed a ride home. It’s beginning to snow again and the bus service is restricted today.”
    Smiling at his kindness, she agreed. “That would be great.”
    “Wonderful. I’ll be over in about twenty minutes if that would work for you.”
    After hanging up, she helped Dora finish the dishes. The thought of moving in with her friend was actually, now that she wasn’t in shock about it, a delightful idea. “Dora,” she said once they finished. “I’d love to move in here.”
    Squealing, Dora hugged her. “Oh, let me show you the other rooms so you can choose.”
    “I’ll need to know what rent would be, though. I don’t pay rent now so I have a tiny budget.”
    “We’ll work it out. To be honest, you’re doing me a favor. I really hated being alone all summer and the thought of being alone all winter was depressing.”
    The bedroom downstairs and Darcelle’s bedroom both had an attached bathroom whereas the fourth bedroom, while big, had no bathroom of its own, she would have to use the hall bathroom. As all of them were a huge step up from where she was now, Stephanie shrugged. “Why don’t I take the one on the first floor? That way when your mother and step-father come to visit they can stay in her room.”
    The doorbell rang and they could hear Alex Covington talking with Dora’s mom as they walked back down the stairs. “Congratulations, Darcelle. That’s wonderful to hear. Of course, we hate to see you leave, but it’s great to see that smile back on your face.”
    “And they invited me to move in here,” Stephanie added as they walked in. His eyes lit up and she hid a smile as he looked rather relieved.
    “Did you decide?” Darcelle asked.
    “Yes, I’ll move into the first floor bedroom.”
    “Oh, lovely. Well, you can move in any time, honey.”
    After giving each of them a hug, Stephanie left with Cami’s father, climbing into his truck.
    “I think it will be great for you to live back in town,” he said as he started