Read Online Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online

house with my parents. Frankly, I’d rather avoid any social functions that involved my mother. She would be sure to use it as an opportunity to match make. I simply couldn’t bear another awkward meeting with some unsuspecting guy. The second invite had come from a fellow teacher, but it was a couples event. Being odd woman out held little appeal.
    Jo Marie continued to study me.
    “Any particular reason you ask?” Naturally, I had my suspicions.
    Jo Marie placed her hands between her knees as if she found it difficult to ask for favors. “My brother is having a cousins’ reunion in Seattle and I’d really like to go. It will only be the one night. One of my favorite cousins is in town. Karen lives in Omaha and I haven’t seen her in two years.”
    “In other words, you’d like me to watch the inn for you?”
    “Would you?” Her wide, bright eyes were filled with hopeful expectation.
    “Jo Marie, of course I would. I’d welcome the opportunity to be more than just a tenant.” Our arrangement had worked well for us both. Looking after the inn for a day or two was one small way I could show Jo Marie how grateful I am to live here for an unspecified amount of time.
    “I have only one couple scheduled for the night. They’ve stayed at the inn before and are easy guests. They’re older and don’t want a large breakfast. I know they’d be happy with fresh fruit and yogurt and perhaps a couple sweet rolls.”
    “Like I said, I’m happy to do it.” I actually looked forward to it, seeing that it would give me a legitimate excuse to turn down both invitations. Mom would be disappointed, but she’d get over it. Severing ties with my family had never been my intention, but I welcomed a bit of distance as I settled into my new life.
    “I’d need to leave Rover here,” Jo Marie continued. “I’m sure he won’t be a problem.”
    “Of course you should leave Rover with me.” I’d gotten seriously attached to Jo Marie’s dog. He was her companion, constantly at her side. If she left the house, he sat by the door and patiently waited for her return. I found him endearing.
    On hearing his name, Rover lifted his head and cocked it to one side. Studying him reminded me that I wouldn’t be seeing Elvis again. Right away I felt disappointed. I’d grown rather fond of him.
    “I’m grateful, Emily,” Jo Marie said.
    “Hey, like I said, it’s no trouble.” No doubt she could do with a break. Although we hadn’t talked about Mark since she’d first mentioned him, I knew worries about him weighed on her. Time away would do her good, and being able to make that happen made me feel good.
    I was eager to see Dana, anxious to hear what she’d learned about the house and Mr. Dickhead.

Dana arrived that very afternoon. I’d baked cookies earlier in the day before the weather grew too warm to use the oven. Most of my baking went into the freezer; I kept a dozen out and set them on a plate along with a pitcher of lemonade for Dana’s arrival.
    Emily had cooled down from her encounter with the man she’d dubbed Mr. Dickhead. After hearing the things he’d said and the way he’d acted, I could appreciate her indignation. I wasn’t sure how I would have responded to him, either. I admired Emily’s restraint. I wasn’t sure I would have been able to bite my tongue.
    Mark and I had had our fair share of flare-ups over the years. He could be demanding and unreasonable, bad tempered and moody, and at the same time the most generous, caring man I’d ever known. Despite my best efforts to maintain an emotional and mental distance from him since he’d left, I failed nearly every single day. Hardly a minute passed that Mark wasn’t in the forefront of my thoughts, especially since the arrival of that postcard.
    I had everything ready for Dana’s arrival. Emily invited me to join them, so I’d set up the small wicker table on the porch. Puget Sound had been blessed with wonderful weather this month, and it looked