Read Online The Bride Takes a Powder by Jane Leopold Quinn - Free Book Online
Authors: Jane Leopold Quinn
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gorgeous
plantings and art pieces in the center dividers and parkways in front of the
businesses, but had she ever stopped just to admire them?
There weren't any unique sculptures
here in Birchwood Falls unless you counted the funny decorated trash cans, but
flowers and blooming trees dotted the park at Courthouse Square and filled planters
in front of the stores.
Sipping coffee on the McMillan
House porch with no work, no legal documents, no interruptions felt truly
decadent. The house, perched on the corner of Birch Boulevard and Route 20, was
in a good position to see all the action, more than she'd thought for a small
town. From her vantage point she could see a condo complex, Birch Park, the
country club, the river, and shops right across the highway. The courthouse was
only a block in the distance.
The river raced along its banks not
quite so wildly as last night. Seemingly endless rain had the townspeople
concerned about flooding. Businesses closest to the water had even started
stockpiling sandbags. From the comfort of the porch swing, she spotted Phoebe
coming her way and waved.
"Morning, Norah. Beautiful
day, isn't it?"
"It sure is. You were
fantastic last night." She motioned the pregnant woman to join her.
Lifting her coffee mug, she asked, "Something to drink?"
"I have my juice, thank you."
Phoebe held up a glass bottle. "I'm not that fond of it so I use my walk
to distract me."
"Can you sit a while?"
The woman fascinated her, and she wanted to find out more about her.
"I'd love to." Phoebe
slowly lowered herself to a rocking chair.
"You said you'd worked in
Chicago? What brought you back here?"
"Until recently—" She
gently patted her burgeoning belly. "—all I ever wanted was to be in New
York or LA. I was singing here at Marietty's waiting for my big break. Then I
met Marc."
"The cop. Right?"
"He wasn't a cop when we met."
Phoebe gazed off into the distance, a dreamy smile on her face. "I was
never going to stay in this burg," she said but with affection in her
voice. "But between my good friends here and Marc's hunting me down in
Chicago, I realized what I really wanted for my life. And I discovered I
already had it." She stopped to catch her breath, her hand on her chest.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh yes." Phoebe smiled
serenely. "I'm like a convert to a new religion. What I mean to say is
that belonging to a place and being surrounded by love and support are what I
really wanted. Fame was how I thought I'd find it."
Dismay pricked Norah's heart. Life
should really be that simple. She'd never felt a sense of belonging with
Garrett. It was almost as if they'd been entering a marriage of convenience
with no passion on either side. Sex with no passion. Her whole life was
beginning to fall apart. The truth was it had already fallen apart. Did Garrett feel the same way, and that's why he'd fucked
around on her? The thought made her want to vomit.
"And I still get to sing as
much as I want." Phoebe burbled happily on.
"And now you're married with a
baby on the way."
"Yup. Life's pretty good right
now. I saw you and Mike leave last night."
Norah hoped her blush didn't give
it all away. Amazing that she could even still blush. "He walked me home."
"Mike's a wonderful guy!"
Phoebe pursed her lips. "I'm just furious that some jerk has accused him
of being involved in the cheating!"
"Do you think he can prove he
wasn't?"
"He shouldn't have to! Mike is
one of the most honest guys in town, next to my husband, that is. Mike was our
best man. He loves this town and the school. He'd never do anything illegal
like changing test scores."
Norah nodded, amused at Phoebe's
confidence, but she also felt Mike looked innocent. Looks could be deceiving,
but in his case she didn't think they were.
***
School was out for the weekend, and
Mike felt exactly like one of his horny students, something he remembered well
from his own high school days. Kissing Norah had set his heart racing and his
cock throbbing with need.
plantings and art pieces in the center dividers and parkways in front of the
businesses, but had she ever stopped just to admire them?
There weren't any unique sculptures
here in Birchwood Falls unless you counted the funny decorated trash cans, but
flowers and blooming trees dotted the park at Courthouse Square and filled planters
in front of the stores.
Sipping coffee on the McMillan
House porch with no work, no legal documents, no interruptions felt truly
decadent. The house, perched on the corner of Birch Boulevard and Route 20, was
in a good position to see all the action, more than she'd thought for a small
town. From her vantage point she could see a condo complex, Birch Park, the
country club, the river, and shops right across the highway. The courthouse was
only a block in the distance.
The river raced along its banks not
quite so wildly as last night. Seemingly endless rain had the townspeople
concerned about flooding. Businesses closest to the water had even started
stockpiling sandbags. From the comfort of the porch swing, she spotted Phoebe
coming her way and waved.
"Morning, Norah. Beautiful
day, isn't it?"
"It sure is. You were
fantastic last night." She motioned the pregnant woman to join her.
Lifting her coffee mug, she asked, "Something to drink?"
"I have my juice, thank you."
Phoebe held up a glass bottle. "I'm not that fond of it so I use my walk
to distract me."
"Can you sit a while?"
The woman fascinated her, and she wanted to find out more about her.
"I'd love to." Phoebe
slowly lowered herself to a rocking chair.
"You said you'd worked in
Chicago? What brought you back here?"
"Until recently—" She
gently patted her burgeoning belly. "—all I ever wanted was to be in New
York or LA. I was singing here at Marietty's waiting for my big break. Then I
met Marc."
"The cop. Right?"
"He wasn't a cop when we met."
Phoebe gazed off into the distance, a dreamy smile on her face. "I was
never going to stay in this burg," she said but with affection in her
voice. "But between my good friends here and Marc's hunting me down in
Chicago, I realized what I really wanted for my life. And I discovered I
already had it." She stopped to catch her breath, her hand on her chest.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh yes." Phoebe smiled
serenely. "I'm like a convert to a new religion. What I mean to say is
that belonging to a place and being surrounded by love and support are what I
really wanted. Fame was how I thought I'd find it."
Dismay pricked Norah's heart. Life
should really be that simple. She'd never felt a sense of belonging with
Garrett. It was almost as if they'd been entering a marriage of convenience
with no passion on either side. Sex with no passion. Her whole life was
beginning to fall apart. The truth was it had already fallen apart. Did Garrett feel the same way, and that's why he'd fucked
around on her? The thought made her want to vomit.
"And I still get to sing as
much as I want." Phoebe burbled happily on.
"And now you're married with a
baby on the way."
"Yup. Life's pretty good right
now. I saw you and Mike leave last night."
Norah hoped her blush didn't give
it all away. Amazing that she could even still blush. "He walked me home."
"Mike's a wonderful guy!"
Phoebe pursed her lips. "I'm just furious that some jerk has accused him
of being involved in the cheating!"
"Do you think he can prove he
wasn't?"
"He shouldn't have to! Mike is
one of the most honest guys in town, next to my husband, that is. Mike was our
best man. He loves this town and the school. He'd never do anything illegal
like changing test scores."
Norah nodded, amused at Phoebe's
confidence, but she also felt Mike looked innocent. Looks could be deceiving,
but in his case she didn't think they were.
***
School was out for the weekend, and
Mike felt exactly like one of his horny students, something he remembered well
from his own high school days. Kissing Norah had set his heart racing and his
cock throbbing with need.
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