Read Online Your Heart's Desire by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online Page A

to think of a logical answer.
    “And why are you still wearing that?” Marjorie demanded. “Good grief, you might as well hang a sign around your neck that says ‘unavailable’ as to go around with your wedding ring on. Really, Caroline. Why? ”
    With a cookie-smeared face, Lulu clapped her hands together, then pointed to the cookie plate, and Marjorie gave her a whole cookie. As the little cherub happily bit into it, Caroline felt her argument against remarriage growing weaker. The truth was, she would love to have a little girl like Lulu. What woman wouldn’t? She looked down at her ring. “I wear this ring because it reminds me of Joe,” she said softly.
    “You think you would forget Joe if you took it off?”
    “No, of course, not. I’ll never forget Joe.”
    “What do you think Joe would want for you?”
    Caroline pressed her lips together. She knew exactly what he wanted. They had talked about it before he’d gone off to war.
    “What would he want for you, Caroline?”
    “Joe would want me to be happy,” she answered.
    “And never marry again?”
    “No, of course not. If you must know, Joe told me that if he didn’t make it back, he wanted me to marry again.”
    “Aha!” Marjorie shook her finger at her. “And you didn’t do it.”
    “There was no one around…I mean no one I felt like marrying. And, besides, I know that Joe told me that because little Joseph was so young. He didn’t want me to bring him up alone. He said he would need a father. But now Joe’s almost ten and—”
    “Are you saying Joe doesn’t need a father now ?”
    “At least he’s got an uncle.” Caroline looked up at the cat clock. “Speaking of that, shouldn’t they be home by now?”
    “Yes. And I should be getting dinner ready. Are you and Joe joining us?”
    Caroline pointed to the kitchen counter where she’d set ingredients for spaghetti. “I thought I’d cook our dinner down here. We can’t keep imposing.”
    Marjorie looked slightly disappointed. “Well, maybe it’s for the best. I think I’ll just fix something fast and easy and get Danny to bed. I’m sure he’ll be grouchy as a bear.”
    “Speaking of the bear.” Caroline leaned her head to one side. “I think I hear a car in the driveway.”
    Marjorie stood with Lulu. “Thanks for tea. And don’t think we’re done with the remarrying conversation, Sis. Really, it’s high time you took off that wedding ring.”
      
    On Monday morning, Caroline donned a serious-looking suit and went upstairs to ask Marjorie if she minded having Joe for the morning. “I want to put in applications around town, and although I could take Joe with me, it might not look very professional. Plus I’m sure he’d be terribly bored.”
    “Joe is welcome here anytime.” Marjorie rinsed a dish. “And since Danny doesn’t have preschool and has ants in his pants today, Joe is doubly welcome.”
    As if on cue, Danny grabbed Joe’s hand. “Come on, buddy, let’s go play outside. Okay, Mommy?”
    “Okay by me.”
    “You be a good helper for Aunt Marjorie.” Caroline blew Joe a kiss as his little cousin tugged him out the back door.
    Marjorie set the dish in the drainer, then turned to Caroline. “And you’re going to apply at MG Chocolates, right? Rich told me to be sure and remind you to go there. Those assembly line jobs will probably fill quickly.”
    “Yes, I’m definitely going there. But I want to stop by some other businesses, too. If I could find a secretarial job, well, I think it would be better than the assembly line…in the long run. Although I’m willing to do whatever it takes to support Joe and me.”
    “Good luck.” Marjorie shook her head as she dried her hands. “Although I have to say you look pretty old-fashioned in that outdated suit. Let me guess—you’ve had it since before the war began. You altered it during the war and then again afterward.”
    She looked down at her somber charcoal-colored suit. “Well, I—”
    “And,