Read Online The Weekday Brides 04 - Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee - Free Book Online Page B

A little bigger than Hilton with a hotel and a Walmart.”
    “Good times,” Karen teased.
    “Hey, it was a huge deal when the big box store moved in. Half the town was like, hell no. We don’t need it. The other was all for having more options for shopping.”
    They dropped their speed to twenty-five miles an hour as they drove down Main Street. Kids were riding bikes without helmets and a few women were pushing strollers. Flowering plants hung in pots off the streetlights and there wasn’t a sign of graffiti anywhere. “It’s so clean,” she told him.
    “And my dad doesn’t have to lock up the spray paint like they do in LA. The local sheriff would scare the shit out of us as kids with just a look.”
    “I’m sure there are still kids getting into trouble.”
    “Oh, yeah…they just don’t get their kicks by defacing property. Stealing a tractor for a joy ride, bonfires, and beer parties. Deer hunting off season.”
    Karen couldn’t imagine. “Did you hunt?”
    “Been years. But yeah.”
    “Did you like it?”
    He turned off the main road and out of town toward the residential portion of Hilton. “Didn’t hate it. Might have enjoyed it more if I liked the taste of venison. My mom’s a good cook, but I never did like the gamey taste of deer.”
    Karen smiled at a couple who stopped to watch them drive by. “Doesn’t taste like chicken?”
    “Not even close.”
    “Has to be better than snails.”
    Michael made a heaving noise. They’d both tried escargot and both decided the French laughed at every American who ate the crap. “Stupid Americans. They’ll eat anything,” she said with her best French accent. They both laughed at the memory of their time in France.
    There were several cars parked on the streets outside of the houses. Unlike homes in California, here there was sufficient space between the homes, and each one looked different from its neighbor. He slowed down in front of a two-story traditional with room in the drive for their rental. “You ready?” he asked.
    Karen had never had a home to go home to. Although her heart rate had kicked up a notch as he put the car in park, there was an excitement to meeting the people with whom Michael grew up. Regardless of their not truly married status, Michael was a friend,and she couldn’t remember seeing a more genuine smile on his face in the past. That made her extremely happy.
    “I’m ready. Are you ready?”
    Michael no sooner twisted the key away from the ignition than the door to the house swung open and out poured a gaggle of people.
    One step out of the car, and a young teenage girl ran to him with open arms. “Mikey!”
    Here we go.

    Zach held back and let his family welcome home the famous son. Hannah couldn’t hold in her enthusiasm as she jumped into Mike’s arms and he swung her around. Judy quickly followed while little Eli ran around their feet in his excitement. Eli couldn’t really know Mike all that much, except for the pictures and explanation that Mike was his uncle.
    “Is that her?” Zach’s mom whispered to him as they stood on the porch and waited for the youngest girls to give Mike and Karen a chance to get out of the car.
    “Yeah.”
    “She doesn’t look like the pictures.”
    He stared at her now. “No, she doesn’t.”
She looks better in person.
    As if Karen sensed their stares, she looked directly at him.
    He stilled and the air around him charged.
    “She’s hot,” Joe whispered behind him, jolting him out of his thoughts.
    “Aren’t you married to my sister?”
    Joe was Rena’s husband, and had been since they married right after high school. They adored each other.
    “I’m not blind.”
    His mom moved from her perch and the rest of them followed.
    “Hey, Rena.” Mike hugged the oldest sister and tickled the baby’s chin. “She’s grown,” Mike said.
    “Eighteen months next week.”
    Rena stood back and gave their mom her turn. Mike pulled her into a hug and lifted her off the