Ready for Marriage. Debbie Macomber

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СКАЧАТЬ surprised that a maid or other household help hadn’t greeted her. From what she remembered of the older Drydens’ home, Whispering Willows, the domestic staff had been with them for nearly thirty years.

      “Thank you for inviting me,” Mary Jo said, looking around. The house was a sprawling rambler decorated with comfortable modern furniture. An ocean scene graced the wall above the fireplace, but it wasn’t by an artist Mary Jo recognized. Judging by the decor and relaxed atmosphere, Damian and Jessica seemed to be a fairly typical young couple.

      “I fixed us a seafood salad,” Jessica said, leading Mary Jo into the large, spotless kitchen. She followed, her eyes taking in everything around her. Jessica and Damian’s home was spacious and attractive, but it was nothing like Whispering Willows.

      “You made the salad yourself?” Mary Jo asked. She didn’t mean to sound rude, but she’d assumed Jessica had kitchen help.

      “Yes,” Jessica answered pleasantly. “I’m a fairly good cook. At least Damian hasn’t complained. Much,” she added with a dainty laugh. “I thought we’d eat on the patio. That is, if you don’t mind. It’s such a beautiful afternoon. I was working in the garden earlier and I cut us some roses. They’re so lovely this time of year.”

      Sliding glass doors led to a brick-lined patio. A round glass table, shaded by a brightly striped umbrella, was set with two pink placemats and linen napkins. A bouquet of yellow roses rested in the middle.

      “Would you like iced tea with lunch?” Jessica asked next.

      “Please.”

      “Sit down and I’ll bring everything out.”

      “Let me help.” Mary Jo wasn’t accustomed to being waited on and would have been uncomfortable letting Jessica do all the work. She followed her new friend into the kitchen and carried out the pitcher of tea while Jessica brought the seafood salad.

      “Where’s Andy?” Mary Jo asked.

      “Napping.” She set the salad bowl and matching plates on the table and glanced at her watch. “We’ll have a solid hour of peace. I hope.”

      They sat down together. Jessica gazed at her earnestly and began to speak. “I realize you must think I’m terribly presumptuous to have written you that note, but I’m dying to talk to you.”

      “I’ll admit curiosity is what brought me here,” Mary Jo confessed. She’d expected to feel awkward and out of place, but Jessica was so easygoing and unpretentious Mary Jo felt perfectly at ease.

      “I’ve known Evan from the time I was a kid. We grew up next door to each other,” Jessica explained.

      “When I was a teenager I had the biggest crush on him. I made an absolute fool of myself.” She shook her head wryly.

      Mary Jo thought it was no wonder she found herself liking Jessica so much. They obviously had a great deal in common—especially when it came to Evan!

      “As you may be aware, I worked with Evan when he represented Earl Kress. Naturally we spent a good deal of time together. Evan and I became good friends and he told me about you.”

      Mary Jo nervously smoothed the linen napkin across her lap. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Jessica had to say.

      “I hurt him deeply, didn’t I?” she asked, keeping her head lowered.

      “Yes.” Apparently Jessica didn’t believe in mincing words. “I don’t know what happened between you and the man you left Evan for, but clearly it didn’t work out the way you expected.”

      “Few things in life happen the way we expect them to, do they?” Mary Jo answered cryptically.

      “No.” Jessica set down her fork. “For a while I was convinced there wasn’t any hope for Damian and me. You see, I loved Damian, but everyone kept insisting Evan and I should be a couple. It gets confusing, so I won’t go into the details, but Damian seemed to think he was doing the noble thing by stepping aside so I could marry Evan. It didn’t seem to matter that I was in love with him. Everything was complicated even more by family expectations. Oh, my heavens,” she said with a heartfelt sigh, “those were bleak days.”

      “But you worked everything out.”

      “Yes,” Jessica said with a relaxed smile. “It wasn’t easy, but it was sure worth the effort.” She paused, resting her hands in her lap. “This is the reason I asked you to have lunch with me. I realize that what happens between you and Evan is none of my business. And knowing Evan, he’d be furious with me if he realized I was even speaking to you, but…” She stopped and took in a deep breath. “You once shared something very special with Evan. I’m hoping that with a little effort on both your parts you can reclaim it.”

      A cloak of sadness seemed to settle over Mary Jo’s shoulders, and when she spoke her words were little more than a whisper. “It isn’t possible anymore.”

      “Why isn’t it? I don’t know why you’ve come to Evan. That’s none of my affair. But I do realize how much courage it must have taken. You’re already halfway there, Mary Jo. Don’t give up now.”

      Mary Jo wished she could believe that, but it was too late for her and Evan now. Whatever chance they’d had as a couple had been destroyed long ago.

      By her own hand.

      Her reasons for breaking off the relationship hadn’t changed. She’d done it because she had to, and she’d done it in such a way that Evan would never forgive her. That was part of her plan—for his own sake.

      “In some ways I think Evan hates me,” she murmured. Speaking was almost painful; there was a catch in her voice.

      “Nonsense,” Jessica insisted. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”

      Mary Jo wished she could accept her friend’s words, but Jessica hadn’t been there when Evan suggested she hire another attorney. She hadn’t seen the look in Evan’s eyes when she’d confronted him in the hallway of her family home. Nor had she been there when Mary Jo had introduced him to Gary.

      He despised her, and the ironic thing was she couldn’t blame him.

      “Just remember what I said,” Jessica urged. “Be patient with Evan, and with yourself. But most of all, don’t give up, not until you’re convinced it’ll never work. I speak from experience, Mary Jo—the rewards are well worth whatever it costs your pride. I can’t imagine my life without Damian and Andy.”

      After a brief silence, Mary Jo resolutely changed the subject, and the two women settled down to their meal. Conversation was lighthearted—books and movies they’d both enjoyed, anecdotes about friends and family, opinions about various public figures.

      They were continuing a good-natured disagreement over one of the Red Sox pitchers as they carried their plates back inside. Just as they reached the kitchen, the doorbell chimed.

      “I’ll get that,” Jessica said.

      Smiling, Mary Jo rinsed off the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. She liked Jessica very much. Damian’s wife was open and natural and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was also deeply in love with her husband.

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ