Read Online Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) by Connie Stephany - Free Book Online Page A

on with your boring lives.”
    Cassandra was nodding her head in agreement to what Mandi said.
    Jennifer opened her mouth, but closed it without knowing what to say.
    Mandi was right. She was avoiding Adam, but not because she was mad at him. They both made mistakes and both were hurt. She was avoiding him because she was afraid if she saw him she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from wanting him again and she didn’t know if her heart could survive being rejected.
    “Okay, enough of this guy talk.” Mandi tapped her hands on the table. “Who’s ready for a shot?”
    Cassandra groaned the same time Jennifer did. “You’re crazy, girlfriend.”
    The rest of the night flew by. They had a few too many drinks, played too many pull-tabs and even won a big package of pork chops. That would never have happened in California or Arizona, she was pretty sure about that.
    Jennifer took a cab home, stumbled inside and went to bed without taking her clothes off. To her frustration, she woke up after a vivid and very steamy dream about Adam.
    Talking about him messed with her head. It was so lifelike that she sat straight up in bed and looked down beside her.
    She had to make sure she was, in fact, alone.
    *****
    On Sunday, Jennifer went back to her parents’ house to pick up Amber. They moved out to Annandale a couple years after she graduated high school. They owned the property for a long time, but after her dad retired, they built their dream house out on the lake.
    Jennifer slowly got out of the car and walked up the front walkway. Her dad had a green thumb. He planted several different colors of clematis, which were in full bloom and climbing almost wildly up the trellis. The colors were amazing; violet, raspberry, blue and deep purple flowers covered the sides and front of their house.
    The peonies in pink, white and dark pink surrounded the well and he planted a magnolia tree since she was last there and the blooms were fragrant and absolutely stunning. The only thing she missed were the lilacs, which were already done blooming, and she was sad not to see those.
    Their yard was meticulously kept, with grass so perfect she could envision him on his hands and knees cutting it with scissors.
    She finally stopped gazing at the flowers and was about to knock on their front door when it opened and her mom came out, pulling her into a tight hug.
    “Well, hello, mom,” Jennifer said in a muffled voice with her face in her mom’s shoulder.
    “Oh, honey, we had the best time with Amber. She is absolutely a treasure! We’re so glad you’re back in Minnesota. We missed you so much.” Her mom said all this in a rush, tears in her eyes.
    “I’m glad to hear it, mom. Where’s my little girl?”
    “She’s taking a nap. I thought maybe we could talk a little while she’s asleep. Would you like some coffee?” Her mom reminded her of a hummingbird. She never stopped moving for a minute, always wanting to be sure everyone had what they needed.
    “Sure, that sounds great, mom.”
    They walked into the kitchen where her dad was sitting at the kitchen table, coffee cup in hand, Sunday paper open to the crossword puzzle. He had a pencil in his hand and he was swearing at the paper.
    As soon as he saw Jennifer, a smile formed and he tossed the pencil aside. “Jennifer! I’m so glad to see you! That little Amber of yours is a sweet little girl. We had so much fun together! We took her on several boat rides, she caught a fish and she went swimming with grandma.”
    Her dad’s excitement made his eyes shine.
    “That’s great, dad. I’m glad you took her out on the lake. She’s never been on a boat.” Jennifer smiled.
    Her mom spoke up then, nodding in agreement and saying, “She loved it! She reminds me so much of you when you were little, honey. We’re so glad you and Amber are home! We want to make up for lost time!”
    Jennifer stood there and looked back and forth between her parents.
    “I’m really glad too, mom.