Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Faith clicked her pen open. “There’s been talk of putting up a new gazebo in the town square,” Faith said, sounding like she disapproved. “Why?”
“Well, I had a thought. I know for a fact nobody would take anything I said seriously—”
“Why not? When Caroline Bretton told me we’d be working together, she said you’ve been on this committee for the last couple of years. Why wouldn’t they listen to you?” Faith asked.
Liza dropped her stare to the table. And here it came. The thing she hated talking about. “The McKnight name doesn’t exactly inspire confidence unless it’s in architectural design. At least not in Serendipity.”
“Because of Brian?” Faith asked softly.
Liza met her gaze. “You’ve heard, huh?”
Faith sighed. “Well, of course I remember the party all those years ago and Stuart Rossman’s death.” She spoke low, with sympathy and no rancor.
At the mention of the teenager’s senseless passing at a party thrown by her brother, nausea rose in Liza’s throat. “Yeah. And my brother hasn’t changed or sobered much since.” If anything, he’d gotten worse and a part of Liza blamed herself. “Brian’s been pretty much in and out of jail on one minor charge or another.”
“I’m sorry.”
Liza shrugged, pulling her armor around her emotions like she always did when it came to Brian. “Thanks, but it is what it is. Anyway, that’s exactly why nobody on the committee would listen to my ideas. You know what most of those old women are like. They barely tolerate me.”
Faith sighed. “Considering they ostracized my mother and the only reason I hold this position is because they need my house? Yeah, I know. I believe it’s called guilt by association.”
Liza couldn’t help but smile. “Good thing misery loves company then.” She shook her head and laughed. “Gotta love those clichés. They’ve been around so long for good reason.”
Faith inclined her head. “So what’s your idea?”
Liza warmed her hands against her coffee cup. “Instead of using the money to beautify the already-perfect parts of town, which really makes this a committee in name only, I thought we could donate the proceeds to the youth center downtown.” She went on to explain why the center was important to her, but Faith’s eyes had already lit up and she was nodding in agreement.
“You’ve sold me without the explanation! My best friend, Kate Andrews, is a teacher who volunteers there after school and during the summers. My brother-in-law Dare works with the kids, and Tess spent some time there last summer. The center is important to my family too.”
Faith’s eyes sparkled as much as excitement pulsed inside Liza. Ignoring the mention of Dare, which wasn’t easy considering her body’s eager response to his name, Liza met Faith’s gaze. “You’re really on board!”
The other woman nodded. “Doesn’t mean the rest of the committee will be, but that will be our first order of business. Lobbying the members we know we can sway.”
Liza’s adrenaline spiked and she was unable to contain her enthusiasm. “You’re amazing! We’re amazing. We can do this. I know we can.”
“You bet we can. It’s time to change up the way this town does business and make a difference.”
“Here, here,” Liza said.
They touched their coffee cups together in a toast. “Let me do some prep work and see who I can get on board with the idea before we broach it at the next meeting. I’ll call you and we’ll get together soon to talk actual gala details, okay?”
Liza nodded. “Sounds great.”
Faith grinned.
Their cause was worthy, making Liza proud. And for the first time in years, Liza felt a kinship toward someone again and she looked forward to the renewal of their friendship, something she hadn’t had in her Serendipity life for way too long.
* * *
“Change your grip!” Dare called to fourteen-year-old Charlie Skeets, “Skeeter” for short.
The fourteen-year-old choked up higher on the baseball bat and got into position, waiting for the next pitch.
Dare coached a youth league, and this was the end of practice at the field near the lake on the edge of town. All he had left was Charlie’s at bat, a pep talk, and then Dare was out of here for the night.
Ten minutes later, he’d given each kid a summary of their strengths and weaknesses. When he finished, the kids scattered, some walking home together, a few lucky others picked up by their parents.
Dare put his spare equipment into the large duffel he kept in his trunk, hefted the bag over his shoulder, and headed for his car, a black metallic Ford Edge. He tossed the bag into the back and wiped his dusty hands together before slamming the trunk, then walked over to the water fountain and rinsed off his hands.
No sooner had he finished and turned to leave than he collided with a jogger on the sidewalk. He’d raised his hands to block contact and he realized he now braced his palms against a very feminine chest. Soft, round, full breasts molded to his hand.