Read Online Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

most still stood in a line that snaked toward tables laden with casserole dishes, platters, and slow cookers. Across thehall, under a high window, another table was well stocked with cakes, pies, and plates of cookies. Lainie had never seen so much food in one place before, and except for what was left of Elizabeth’s chicken, a cake or two, and a large bowl of pale green Jell-O with cottage cheese, miniature marshmallows, and pineapple, she couldn’t identify a single dish.
    â€œHi. Mom’s got some places saved for you over there.” Matthew skidded to a stop in front of Lainie and Elizabeth as they finished filling their plates and stood surveying the now crowded tables. “Here, Miss Elizabeth, lemme carry your stuff.”
    He led the way between the tables to the far side of the room where Fayette, flanked by Faith and Grace in high chairs, sat chatting with a small, wiry woman with auburn hair and piercing brown eyes.
    â€œHere they are. Can I go now?” Matthew set Elizabeth’s plate down and unfolded both chairs Fayette had leaning against the table with a single snap.
    â€œSure, go eat with your friends, but I’ll need you to get these high chairs back to the nursery for me, so don’t run off when you’re done.”
    Elizabeth scooted her chair up to the table and leaned past Fayette to speak to her companion. “Good to see you back, Rita. How was the conference? Don’t believe you’ve met Lainie Davis. Lainie, this is our mayor, Rita Sandoval.”
    Rita flashed a smile showing gold-rimmed teeth and stuck out her hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong for such a small woman. “Always good to see a new face in Last Chance.” She turned back to Elizabeth, her voice growing even more animated. “The conference was absolutely tremendous! I got some great ideas about how to put this place on the map.”
    She sat back and took a sip of her iced tea, looking from one face to the other with a mysterious half smile.
    â€œWell, what? Tell us about it.”
    â€œI’m afraid you’re just going to have to wait a while. Good ideas have to incubate. If you break an egg open before it’s ready to hatch on its own, all you’ve got is a mess. But I’ll tell you right now, it’s a winner.”
    Emphasizing the finality of her decision to remain mum, Rita turned to Lainie. “So, Miss Lainie Davis, tell me all about yourself. Where’d you come from? What brought you to Last Chance? Are you planning on settling down here?”
    Lainie was poking something that had noodles and hamburger with her fork. She looked up and shrugged. “I’m from California. My car broke down. I don’t know how long I’ll stay.”
    Rita narrowed her gaze. “Yes, but why here? Last Chance isn’t exactly on the beaten path. How’d you find us?”
    â€œThere were some signs on the interstate, I guess. Last Chance for gas, Last Chance for rest, stuff like that.”
    Rita slapped the table with her hand and sat back. “I knew it. I just knew it. Where’s Russ?” She craned her neck and looked around until she spotted him at another table forking in chocolate cake and coconut pie. “Russ! Russ Sheppard!”
    Russ looked up and Lainie would have sworn he rolled his eyes. But he put down his fork, pushed back his chair and ambled over to their table. “Afternoon, ladies. What can I do for you, Rita?”
    â€œLainie, tell him why you’re in Last Chance.”
    Lainie looked from one to the other in confusion. “He already knows. My car . . .”
    â€œNo, no.” Rita brushed Lainie’s explanation aside as if it were a pesky fly. “Not why you’re in this area, tell him why you are here in Last Chance and not, say, in San Ramon.”
    Lainie finally got it. “Oh. The signs on the interstate.”
    Rita smacked the table again. “There. Didn’t I tell