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

you thosesigns were what we needed to bring folks into town? And you fought me ever’ step of the way. Now I want you to tell me that I was right and you were wrong.”
    Russ sighed. “Rita, those signs have been out there for two and a half years, and as far as I know, this is the only time they ever brought anyone to town. You know full well that if it weren’t for me and a couple others on the town council, you’d likely drive this town into bankruptcy with all your schemes.”
    â€œI know no such thing!” Rita’s brown eyes shot sparks, and she looked as if she had plenty more to say, but Elizabeth broke in.
    â€œAll right, you two. This isn’t the council room. It’s the Lord’s house. You can save this for the town council when you’re ready to share your new ideas, Rita.”
    Russ looked like he couldn’t take much more good news. “Ideas? Good night, what are you up to now, Rita?”
    â€œNever you mind. You just sit on that chile farm of yours and watch the town crumble to dust if you want to, but some of us believe in the future. You can help us grow, or you can just stay home. In fact, I’d rather you stayed home.”
    Russ heaved another sigh and turned back to his table. “Oh, I’ll be there all right. Count on it.”
    Rita’s eyes glistened with tears. “That man makes me so mad! I declare he’d audit a Sunday school picnic. ‘How much did that watermelon cost? Were those the cheapest paper cups you could find?’ Well, would someone tell me just exactly what’s wrong with believing in the future?”
    Elizabeth patted Rita’s hand. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Russ is who he is. And when you get down to it, that’s probably exactly why he was elected to the town council. And why he’s the church treasurer, for that matter. We need both types, I think—visionaries like yourself and the more practical types like Russ.”
    â€œI, for one, would not mind one bit if Last Chance got a little bigger.” Fayette rummaged around in a diaper bag and pulled out some wipes. “I could use the customers, and I could use the help. Thanks to Carlos’s big family, I can usually get help in the summer, but Tina goes back to college next week, and then I don’t know what I’ll do.”
    â€œWhat kind of hours are you talking about?”
    All three ladies stopped talking and looked at Lainie.
    â€œWhy?” Fayette stopped scrubbing, and the twin she was working on took the baby wipe out of her hand and dropped it on the floor. “Are you looking for work?”
    Lainie shrugged. “Maybe.”
    Fayette sat back in her chair and looked at Lainie. “Have you ever done waitressing?”
    â€œI’ve done all kinds of things, including waitressing.” Lainie waited while Fayette looked thoughtful. “So?”
    â€œYou know, Fayette, this could be just the thing,” Elizabeth said. “You know you need the help. And here’s Lainie needing a job. I call this more than coincidence.”
    â€œIf it weren’t for Matthew, I could keep on going just like I always have.” Fayette still sounded like she was thinking about it. “But I just worry about him so. School’s going to be starting soon, and it would make such a difference if I could be home after school.”
    â€œWorry about Matthew? Why, that’s just silly. Not that you shouldn’t lighten your load, but Matthew is one of the finest boys in this town. Always has been.”
    â€œHe is a good boy, but he’s getting awfully restless, Rita. Being tied to the diner like I am, I don’t know where he is half the time. Up until this summer, he was in and out of the diner all day, mostly coming in for something to eat, bringing his friends with him. But I don’t see him now till I get home. And when he does come in withfriends, half the time I