AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She kissed the girls goodbye and quickly left the house.
The coffee shop was crowded, and she was searching for a free table when she saw Zach. Her heart rate revved up, and she was sure her grin said a lot.
“Zach, it’s so good to see you.”
He stood up and grabbed her for a hug, surprising her, but it was okay. He was like an old family friend.
“Boy, it’s so good to see you.” He looked down at her, a concerned expression on his face. “Is the hug okay? I figuredwe’ve known each other for about twenty years. I really wanted to talk to you.”
Lisa laughed, hugging him back. “The hug is fine. You should have called me if you needed to talk. I’m always available.”
He pulled out her chair. “I didn’t get your number. I’m such a dork. Can I have it now before I forget?”
“Of course. You know where I live, so you should have stopped over.”
“I didn’t want to. It might have been awkward for you if your ex was home.”
“He’s going back to his job, evidently today, which I heard through the grapevine. So, after hanging around the house for the last couple of years, the minute he leaves, he goes back to work.”
“Can I ask if you’re working?” Zach asked.
“No, I don’t work. I have money from my father’s estate.”
“Right! I remember now. I was from the other side of town.” He barked out a laugh.
“Is having my own money a problem for you?” she asked.
“No. I’m sorry. I think you’re wonderful. I had a crush on you when we were kids.”
“No way.” Lisa felt a flush creeping up her neck.
“I did. Brent fought me. ‘Don’t mess with my sister!’”
“Why didn’t you remarry?” Lisa asked.
“Just luck, I guess. I must have been waiting for you.”
“Zach, give me a break,” she said, laughing.
“It’s the truth. Brent was supposed to hook us up, but then he died. He was super protective of you, in case you didn’t know.”
“I miss him so much. He had a baby with a friend of the family, and they live a couple of cottages down the beach. His name is Brent, too.”
“Does he look like Brent?”
“Exactly like him,” Lisa said. “He spends a lot of time at my house with my boys.”
“Tell me about your family,” Zach said.
Lisa gave him the synopsis of her four children and the two bonus children, Dan Junior and Miranda, and how they had come to live with her.
“Jeez, you’re a saint.”
“Nah, far from it. I wanted the brothers to stay together, and my cousin was orphaned at birth. She lived with our grandmother for the first years of her life, but that became a problem as she got older. And my grandmother recently died anyway, so I’m glad my cousin came with me before that happened.”
Zach reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
But it felt weird, so she let go. She didn’t feel any chemistry with Zach, thankfully. “I’m talking too much. Tell me about you.”
