Read Online Dream Chaser by Kate Vale - Free Book Online

“Too many things around here remind me of Brad.” Her voice trailed off. Margaret had never had nightmares. Then again, her husband had been so much older and he hadn’t died after an argument and threat of a divorce from a wife who’d waited too many years to speak up for herself.
    “Have you got a particular place in mind?”
    Suzanna sighed. “I’m not sure.”
    “Why don’t you just do what S ylvia did last year?” Her friend snorted and she began to choke on her tea. After wiping her eyes, she laughed. “ Don’t you remember? She closed her eyes and pointed her finger at a page . Where it landed was where she went. She had a blast!”
    “ And, she went to Be rmuda,” Suzanna chuckled. She reached down to stroke Sam when he laid his head in her lap and looked up at her.
    “ Where she met that fabulous young man, that beach bum she— well, you know—she had fun with. ”
    Suzanna felt herself blushing . “I’m not looking for that. A friend with privileges? I ’m not interested in a man, but if I were, a retired school teacher—someone who likes books as much as I do—that would be more my speed . Not some oversexed beach bum closer to Penny’s age. Didn’t Sylvia say she hardly ever got out of bed when she was with him?”
    Margaret laughed. “You do remember. Maybe I’ll go to Bermuda this year.” She reached for another cookie. “You need to expand your horizons, Suzanna. Since when are you one to spend all your time sitting in an easy chair reading? You n eed to get out more, have an adventure .”
    Margaret was right. Inst ead of planning it, maybe she w ould just go. But where? She was nervous thinking of leaving without a destination in mind. She wandered aimlessly through the house. Maybe I’ll just do that right-hand- turn thing Maude mentioned.
    Suzanna pulled down her list. It was shorter now … get a dog, done; sell Brad’s practice, done; sell Brad’s car, done; let hair grow, a work in progress. But she smiled at how long it had been since she’d seen the hairdresser. What else? Lose weight. Hmm. Another work in progress.
    She’d vowed to walk more, at least three times a week, around Lake Harriet. Somehow, that occurred less often than she’d planned, but her walks in the neighborhood with Sam made that one mostly done. And then she’d unexpectedly met Jonathan Kingsley. That had started her pulse pounding.
    But what else had she accomplished? The Jeep! It wasn’t even on her list, but she’d done it, too.
    It was time to tell the kids. She texted Kevin first. “Dinner on Saturday. Here. Your favorite roast beef.” Then she texted Penny. “Dinner on Saturday. Here. Your favorite chocolate cake for dessert. Seven sharp.” She crossed her fingers that Penny didn’t have a dinner date. Even if he had studying to do, food Kevin didn’t have to pay for or fix himself was something she knew he wouldn’t ignore.
     
    As she prepared the meal two days later, using her best china and silver, her nerves began to show when she dropped the cluster of tulips she’d picked up at the store. The one whose stem had broken too close to the bloom she tucked into the vase, floating it on the water. It’ll last for tonight.
    The front door opened and Penny blew in, her cheeks reddened from the brisk April winds. “The table looks terrific. Is this a special occasion?”
    “Not really.” She gave her daughter a quick hug. “Well, maybe, in a way. Will you help me with the salad, dear?”
    Five minutes later, the back door banged open. Kevin stood in the doorway holding a bone nearly the same size as Sam, who barked and whirled at the young man’s feet.
    “Where did you get that? It looks like it came from a dinosaur!” Suzanna laughed. “Your cheeks are so red. It must be cold out.”
    “I went for a run before I headed over here. This is from a cow—the butcher at the market gave it to me when I told him I was coming to see you. For Sam. I think that man has the hots for