Stealing Home. Sherryl Woods

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      Maddie stopped at Wharton’s for a hot-fudge sundae on her way home. Learning that her son was in trouble not only on the ball field but in his classes, then giving her soon-to-be ex-husband a wake-up call had drained her. She needed chocolate. Over the years, she’d discovered that there was very little that couldn’t be made better by thick, warm, gooey chocolate poured over vanilla ice cream, and no place in town offered a better sundae than Wharton’s.

      Slipping into a booth by the window, she toed off her high heels and sighed with relief.

      “Another job interview?” Grace asked sympathetically.

      “Not today,” Maddie said. “Just a couple of meetings.”

      “Looks to me as if they didn’t go well,” the older woman said. “A hot-fudge sundae kind of day?”

      Maddie gave her a weary smile. “Exactly.”

      “Coming right up.”

      Maddie closed her eyes as she waited, only to snap them back open when someone slipped into the booth opposite her. She scowled when she saw it was Helen. Normally that would have been a good thing, but right this second she was in no mood for a pep talk.

      “You ever think of warning a person instead of sneaking up on them?” she snapped.

      “Most smart people are more alert to their surroundings when they’re out in public,” Helen retorted mildly.

      “It’s Serenity, for goodness’ sakes,” Maddie said. “There haven’t been a lot of assaults in Wharton’s.”

      “Definitely moody,” Helen assessed. “That fits. I was on my way home when I spotted your car. I thought you might want some company.”

      Maddie regarded her curiously. “Why would you think that just from seeing my car parked on Main Street?”

      “It’s outside of Wharton’s in the middle of the day. That can only mean one thing—a sundae emergency.”

      Maddie laughed despite herself. “I’m making a vow right this second and you’re my witness. I am changing my predictable ways.”

      “Really? How?”

      “I’m not sure. I’ll keep you posted.” She shrugged. “Or maybe I’ll just surprise you.”

      Grace returned with two hot-fudge sundaes. “Figured you’d be wanting one, too,” she said as she set one in front of Helen.

      “I was just going to taste some of hers,” Helen complained. But she took a huge spoonful, then sighed blissfully.

      Grace grinned. “From the looks of her, Maddie’s not eating much these days. She needs every one of those calories.”

      “Hardly,” Maddie said. “Since all this mess with Bill started, I’ve been stuffing my face with everything in sight. I weigh more now than I did right after Katie was born. Maybe opening a new gym is a good idea.” She savored her first bite of the decadent hot fudge.

      “Not a gym, a spa,” Helen corrected.

      “What’s the difference?” Grace inquired, pulling a chair up to the end of the table without waiting for an invitation.

      “For one thing, ours won’t smell to high heaven like Dexter’s,” Maddie said.

      Helen gave her a sour look. “It’s more than that. We’ll pamper women. We’re going to offer facials and massages and a steam room and sauna.”

      “Really?” Maddie and Grace said at the same time. Grace sounded intrigued, Maddie skeptical. Saunas and steam rooms were bound to be expensive.

      “Was that in the business plan?” Maddie asked.

      Helen grinned. “We don’t have a business plan,” she reminded Maddie. “Unless you’ve written it. Have you?”

      “I’ve made a few notes,” Maddie admitted.

      Helen tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “Interesting. Then you’re on board?”

      “Even though you were out of town on a case, I’m sure Dana Sue told you I was crunching numbers, so don’t act so shocked,” Maddie told her. “And I’m not on board. I’m exploring the situation.”

      “She’s in,” Helen said to Grace.

      Grace chuckled. “I’d put money on that, too.”

      “Watch it, Helen,” Maddie warned. “I’m not sure I want to go into business with a smug know-it-all. I can still look for another job. The Charleston want ads were fairly extensive in yesterday’s paper.”

      “You’d spend every penny you earned on gas for the commute,” Helen countered. “And you’d never have any time for the kids.”

      “The sacrifice might be worth it just to make sure you don’t get your own way yet again,” Maddie told her.

      Helen held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I will await further word on your decision.”

      “A brilliant grasp of the situation,” Maddie said approvingly. “No wonder you excelled in law school.”

      “Sarcasm doesn’t become you,” Helen said.

      Maddie grinned. “Frankly, I’m rather enjoying this new, say-what-I-think side of me.”