Read Online Forever After by Deborah Raney - Free Book Online

a clue what I’m going to do about the dogs.” Bryn seemed eager to change the subject.
    “You really can’t keep him?”
    Her friend shook her head. “There is no way Garrett and I can have both of the dogs at his place. And believe me, it will be easier to find a home for Sparky than for Boss.”
    Jenna grinned. “I see your point.” Boss was Garrett’s bulldog mutt.
    “Besides, Garrett’s a lot more attached than I am. I’m more worried about how my dad will feel to see Sparky go to someone else.”
    Jenna frowned and an idea started brewing. “You don’t think the fire department would take him, do you? I remember Zach talking about Springfield using arson detection dogs. He was always wanting to get something like that started here. Maybe somebody at the station could train Sparky to be an arson dog?”
    Bryn lit up. “That’s not a half bad idea. He’s definitely got a nose for it.”
    “Maybe I could talk to someone for you. Actually, I ran into Lucas Vermontez the other night at Java Joint. He might know who to talk to at the station.”
    Bryn’s eyebrows lifted. “I didn’t realize he was back to work.”
    “He’s not. But he’s hoping to be soon.”
    “Really? Susan said they weren’t sure he’d even walk again.”
    “He was walking with a cane the other night. He has a pretty bad limp. … He’s obviously not ready to be climbing ladders yet, but he looked great.” She felt herself blush and wondered if she’d sounded a bit too enthusiastic.
    But Bryn didn’t seem to notice. She sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m so glad. That’s good to hear.”
    Jenna recognized the faraway look in her friend’s eyes, and she put a hand on Bryn’s arm. “Stop it right now, B. I see where your mind is taking you. You don’t have to carry this weight anymore. You’ve done everything you could possibly do to make things right.”
    Tears seeped from beneath Bryn’s dark lashes, but she nodded and produced a crooked smile. “Thanks, Jen.” She pushed a plate of pizza crusts away from her and slid off the stool, brushing her palms together like she meant business. “All right, then. If we’re going to get you out of here before the new people move in, we’ve got work to do.”
    Jenna was grateful for the change of subject, but while they worked, she rehearsed her phone call to Lucas.

How could Lucas’s mother say God was good after all they’d been through?

 
    8
    Tuesday, November 25
    J enna dialed the number from the Hanover Falls phonebook, surprised it was still listed as “Manuel Vermontez” more than a year after the fire.
    The phone burred once. She blew out a breath and quickly placed the receiver on the hook. Her home phone was scheduled to be disconnected in a couple of days. Maybe it would be better to use her cell phone so Lucas would have her number in case he needed to call her back.
    She flipped open her cell phone and punched in the number again, hoping it wouldn’t be his mother who answered.
    “Vermontez residence. This is Emily.”
    So much for hoping. “Um … hi, Mrs. Vermontez. This is Jenna Morgan. I’m—” She started to say she was Zach’s wife, then thought better of identifying herself that way. Surely Emily would remember her, even though they hadn’t seen each other since the funeral. “I don’t know if Lucas told you, but I ran into him the other night.”
    “How nice to hear from you. I wasn’t sure if you were still in the Falls or not.”
    Jenna loosened her grip on the phone and cleared off a place on the sofa. “Yes, I’m still here. For now anyway. Lucas may have told you that I sold my house.”
    “Oh? I didn’t know. You say you saw him the other night? He didn’t mention it.”
    Jenna plunged ahead. “We just ran into each other at the coffee shop. It was good to see him looking so well.”
    “He’s doing wonderfully. Better than we ever expected after the first surgeries. God has been good.” Her voice wavered with