Read Online The Homecoming Baby by Kathleen O`Brien - Free Book Online Page B

taking an order. “As soon as the dinner crowd thins out I should be fine. And I have triplets coming in for an interview any minute now. Unless they’re morons, I’m going to put aprons on them and get them on the floor tonight.”
    Celia glanced at him to see if he was kidding, but his plain, friendly face looked quite sober as he made his way back to the kitchen. And sure enough, fifteen minutes later, she saw him escorting three identical giggling blondes back to his office.
    She walked over to the register, which Trish was manning. Trish had been refusing Mitch Dixon’s romantic advances for a full year now, but she was too kindhearted to refuse his request for help.
    â€œDid you see that?” Celia tilted her head toward the back office. “Trixie, Dixie and Kicksie just came in looking for jobs. Mitch says he’s going to hire them on the spot.” She smiled. “I think he’s just trying to make you jealous.”
    Trish didn’t answer for a minute, busy adding numbers in her head. She was the only person Celia knew who double-checked the computer’s math.
    Finally she looked up. “I think he’s just trying to survive.” She glanced in the direction of Mitch’s office, and Celia was pleased to see a soft, concerned expression in her eyes.
    â€œPoor man. He’s swamped. Marcy should be horsewhipped for leaving him with all this.”
    â€œMarcy can’t be found,” Celia reminded her. “And besides, I’m glad she’s gone. I don’t know why such a nice man married someone like that in the first place.” She grinned. “Unless it was because the woman he really cared about wouldn’t give him a chance.”
    Trish went back to counting receipts. “Give it up, Celia,” she said. “I’m not interested.”
    But Celia had seen the faint coral spots that flared along Trish’s cheeks, and she was satisfied. Trish might not be ready to admit it, but she was definitely interested.
    And besides, Celia was too happy to get into an argument tonight. She had called Patrick Torrance at the B and B this morning to thank him for his help with Rose, who had checked out just fine and had gone to stay with her mother. Patrick hadn’t been in his room, so Celia had left a message, inviting him to dinner here at the Silver Eagle.
    The wait for a response had been long and nerve-racking. What if he wasn’t interested? What if he had checked out and gone back to San Francisco? What if Enchantment simply didn’t hold enough excitement for a man like him?
    But when she got out of her last session this afternoon, her message light had been blinking. Patrickhad called. He might be late, he said, but he’d be there by seven.
    It was six-thirty now, and she found herself looking up every time the silver bell over the front door jingled. She couldn’t remember feeling this antsy and excited since…
    Well, since ever. The men she’d dated over the past few years weren’t exactly the type to make anyone’s heart go pitter-patter, as Trish was always pointing out.
    The bell jingled once more, and Celia looked up eagerly. But it still wasn’t Patrick. A stocky young man stood at the edge of the lobby, his gaze searching, obviously looking for someone in particular.
    Trish smiled. “Look, Celia,” she whispered. “It’s one of your Scratch and Dent grads.”
    â€œShh—he’ll hear you.” Any other night, Celia would have been pleased to see Jerry Killebrew, who had been her boyfriend for about six weeks last Christmas. But not tonight.
    Trish chuckled. “Well, Madame Makeover, I guess I’ll let you handle this one yourself.”
    â€œOh, Trish, don’t—”
    â€œSorry. I’ve got to make the bank deposit before it gets too late.” She raised her eyebrows. “Besides, I’m sure you two need a little private time to catch up