Read Online Heart of Texas Vol. 2 by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page B

her life and she wasn’t going to start now. She did an abrupt about-face and headed back.
    Dovie looked surprised to see her.
    Jane stopped and, breathing heavily, leaned forward and braced her hands on her knees. “Hello again,” she said when she’d caught her breath.
    Without a pause Dovie continued watering. “Lovely morning, isn’t it?”
    â€œBeautiful,” Jane agreed. Slowly she straightened and watched Dovie expertly weave her way through the garden, pausing now and again to finger a plant or pull a weed.
    â€œDo you have a minute, Mrs. Boyd?” she asked, gathering her nerve. She rested her hands against the white picket fence.
    Widening her eyes, Dovie turned. “What can I do for you, Dr. Dickinson?”
    â€œFirst, I’d like it if you called me Jane.”
    â€œThen Jane it is.”
    The older woman’s tone was friendly, but Jane sensed the same reserve in her she’d felt in others.
    â€œWhat am I doing wrong?” She hadn’t intended to blurt out the question like that, but couldn’t help herself.
    â€œWrong?” Dovie set the watering can aside.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with me? ” she amended.
    â€œI don’t think anything’s wrong with you.” The other woman was clearly puzzled by the question. “What makes you assume such a thing?”
    Attitudes were so difficult to describe. How could she explain how she felt without sounding snobbish or self-pitying? But she had to try.
    â€œWhy am I standing on this side of the fence while you’re on that side?” Jane asked as she paced the cement walkway. “Why do I have to be the one to greet others first? People don’t like me, and I want to know why.”
    Dovie lifted one finger to her lips and frowned, apparently deep in thought. “You did greet me first, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes, but it isn’t only you. It’s everyone.” Jane paused, struggling with her composure. “I want to know why.”
    â€œMy goodness, I’m not sure. I never realized.” Dovie walked toward the short white gate and un latched it, swinging it open. “Come inside, dear, and we’ll sit down and reason this out.”
    Now that Jane had made her point, it would have been rude and unfair to refuse, but to her embarrassment she discovered she was close to tears.
    â€œSit down and make yourself comfortable,” Dovie said and gestured toward the white wrought-iron patio set. “I’ll get a pot of tea brewing. I don’t know about you, but I tend to think more clearly if I have something hot to drink.”
    â€œI… Thank you,” Jane said, feeling humble and grateful at once. The few moments Dovie was in the kitchen gave her time to collect herself.
    Soon Dovie re appeared carrying a tray with a pot of steaming tea and two delicate china cups, as well as a plate of scones. She set it down on the table and poured the tea, handing Jane the first cup.
    Jane felt a bit conspicuous in her tank top, sipping tea from a Spode cup, but she was too thankful for Dovie’s kindness to worry about it.
    â€œAll right now,” Dovie said when she’d finished pouring. “Let’s talk.” She sat down and leaned back in her chair, pursing her lips. “Tell me some other things that have bothered you about Promise.”
    Jane wasn’t sure where to start. “I have this…this sense that people don’t like me.”
    â€œNonsense,” Dovie countered. “We don’t know you well enough to like or dislike you.”
    â€œYou’re right. No one knows me,” Jane murmured. “I needa friend,” she said with a shrug, offering the one solution that had come to her.
    â€œWe all need friends, but perhaps you need to make more of an effort to give people a chance to know you.”
    â€œBut I have tried to meet people,” she said in her own defense.
    Dovie frowned.