Read Online Patchwork Family by Judy Christenberry - Free Book Online

them.”
    “Really?” she asked, her face anxious.
    The ridiculous idea of cupping her cheeks and kissing those luscious lips crossed his mind. He instantly dismissed it. “Uh, yeah, really. I taste one and think it’s my favorite, until I taste the next one. Then it’s my favorite. They’re so moist.”
    “Thank you” was her only response. Then she set a big bowl in front of him.
    He sniffed the steamy aroma arising from the bowl, but before he could identify it, she said, “Potato.”
    She added bowls for her and Sara, and several small bowls of condiments. “Bacon and cheese if you want any for your soup.”
    She returned to the cabinet to load three more bowls onto her tray. This time large salad bowls were placed on the table, along with several small pitchers of dressing. “The salad has chicken and cheese in it.”
    Then she put a glass of milk in front of Sara. “Would you like something else to drink, in addition to your coffee?” she asked him.
    “Some ice water would be nice.” He was beginning to think he was in a four-star restaurant. Thesoup smelled terrific. If it even came close to the perfection of the muffins, he was in for a treat.
    Half an hour later, he wasn’t sure he’d ever need to eat again. Not only had the food been wonderful, but also the company had pleased him. Sara had incredible table manners for a four-year-old. She also had a charm that entranced him. He laughed a couple of times as she entertained him with stories about the preschool she attended at the town’s day care center.
    Molly reminded her of her lunch occasionally.
    Then Molly told her it was time for her afternoon “rest.” It wasn’t a nap, Sara assured him. She was too old for a nap. But Miss Kaitlin said they needed to rest so they’d grow taller. And she was going to grow this big, she told him, stretching her arm as high as she could reach.
    After Molly returned from tucking Sara in for her “rest,” she thanked him again for tasting the muffins.
    He knew he could’ve easily excused himself at that point. She was giving him an opening. But he didn’t take it.
    “I can assure you, Molly, it was a pleasure. Anytime you need tasting done, I’m your man. You’re an excellent cook.”
    She blushed and muttered another thank-you.
    “Have you thought any about my suggestion?”
    “Yes, I have. I’m planning an open house for a week from Sunday. But instead of having only the neighbors and a few dignitaries, I’m opening it to the entire town.”
    “The entire town?” he questioned, frowning. “Isn’t that overdoing it just a little? It’ll cost a lot.”
    “Not that much more. Everyone won’t come, ofcourse, and I’m not serving a meal. Some muffins, some cake, snack food. It will give everyone a chance to look at the house. Of course, I’ll only have the first two suites done because all the quilts aren’t finished, but they’ll be able to see what I’m trying to do.”
    He couldn’t imagine Molly and little Sara getting ready for such a huge undertaking. “How will you manage?”
    “Manage what?” she asked, a frown on her face.
    “All the work, the cleaning, the baking. I don’t even know, but it sounds like a massive undertaking.”
    “It won’t be so bad. I’ve been talking to Eden about the flowers and—”
    “You’re going to have her do flower arrangements?” he asked. The Garden of Eden, Eden Frazier’s flower shop, was the most popular in town. “Won’t that be expensive?”
    “No more than anyone else. We’ve worked out an arrangement where she delivers arrangements once a week for each suite, if it’s being used.”
    “Couldn’t you use some fake arrangements? It would save money.”
    She looked at him as if he’d suggested murder. “Fake arrangements? No, never. Fresh flowers are so much better.”
    “But you said money—”
    She stiffened. “Mr. Spencer, I told you I had my budget worked out. I’m not bankrupt.”
    He caught himself before he could