Read Online Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie - Free Book Online

“Carter,” she said, and waited until he looked up, his brown hair flopping in his eyes. “I’ll make sure you’re not sent away from Alice again.”
    His blue eyes stayed as flat as ever, and then he went back to his book.
    Maybe she didn’t need them to like her. Maybe she just needed them to trust her for the next month. If she got them books and clothing and whatever else they needed, maybe they’d trust her enough to let her take them away from the hellhole they were living in. One step at a time.
    When they got to New Essex, she pulled into the Dairy Queen. “Hamburgers and ice cream for lunch,” she said, and when they were surrounded by food, she went to the pay phone and dialed.
    If she got Carter cable, he might even speak to her.
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    North looked up as Kristin came into the office. “I’ll see Mrs. Nash now.”
    Kristin closed the door. “Miss Miller is on the phone. I know she’s supposed to talk to me, but she insists on speaking with you.”
    Andie. Well, if he was going to act on stupid impulses, he was going to pay the price. “I’ll take the call. You stall Mrs. Nash.”
    Kristin nodded and faded out the door, and North thought,
Make it quick and hang up fast,
and picked up the phone. “Hello?”
    â€œYou weren’t kidding about rural,” Andie said, her voice low, the laugh that was always there underneath making it richer. “I had to leave the house to make a phone call.”
    â€œWhere are you?” North said, trying not to be seduced into prolonging things just to listen to her.
    â€œThe Dairy Queen in New Essex. The kids are inhaling food at a picnic table over by the car, so I can talk. Have you been to that house? It’s like something out of Dickens.”
    â€œBecause you had to leave to make this call?”
    â€œBecause it’s bleak as hell. We need cable TV, North. I can’t believe Carter is surviving without it.”
    â€œFine. Call the cable company.”
Get off the phone,
he told himself.
    â€œI just called them and they were unhelpful. The house is too far out. I need somebody with clout.”
    â€œI don’t know anybody at a cable company.”
Get off the phone.
    â€œWell, you undoubtedly know somebody who does know somebody at a cable company. Put Kristin on it. She looks like she’d enjoy a challenge.”
    â€œI will do that,” North said.
For Christ’s sake, get off the phone.
    â€œAlso, have you been here lately?”
    â€œNo. Is there a problem?”
    â€œThe place is falling apart. The stone’s crumbling, there are weeds everywhere, anything that’s metal has rusted and run down the outside of the house, and the drive is a real hazard.”
    â€œDamn it,” North said. “I sent funds to fix all of that two years ago.”
    â€œTo Mrs. Crumb?”
    North pictured the housekeeper. Elderly. Dyed red hair. Smelled like peppermint and rubbing alcohol. “Yes, I sent a check to Mrs. Crumb.”
    â€œWell, the funds stayed with Mrs. Crumb. I suggest you hire people directly this time.”
    â€œI’ll have a contractor come out and look at the place.”
    â€œTell him to talk to me, not Mrs. Crumb. And to look at the inside, too. The kitchen is awful. I can’t even bake here.”
    He closed his eyes and remembered late afternoons, Andie home from teaching and doing the Four O’Clock Bake, the smell of banana bread or chocolate chip cookies or cinnamon rolls, dozens of different smells telling him the day was almost done—
    â€œNorth?”
    â€œRight,” North said. “Contractor. I’ll put Kristin on it.”
    â€œAlso, if anybody calls from this end of the world, we’re still married.”
    North stopped looking at his watch. “What?”
    â€œIt’s the only thing that gives me clout. They’re very impressed with you here. I figured, what could it