Forever After by Deborah Raney Read Free Book Online Page B

mother appeared in the doorway. “Good morning, sunshine.”
    He grunted, not ready to engage yet this morning. He was still lost in a dream about Jenna Morgan. A guilty dream, but one he wasn’t ready to surrender yet. It had been good to see her last night, good to laugh with someone and talk about mundane things.
    But why did he have to go and bring up the fire? It had obviously upset her—and why wouldn’t it? She’d clammed up after that. They’d talked for a few more minutes … about her move, about his desire to get back on at the firehouse. But thanks to him, the meeting had ended on a tense note.
    After he got home yesterday, he’d considered calling her, maybe try to apologize for the direction their conversation had taken, and casuallyinvite her to meet him at the coffee shop again. Now, in the light of day, that seemed like a stupid idea. But he’d already decided he would find excuses to hang out at Java Joint, just in case she showed up there again.
    Too bad she was having to put her house on the market. He tried to imagine how he’d feel if Ma were to sell this house—the only home he could remember, and a place where memories of Pop seemed to reside in the very walls. Difficult as it had been at first—to be reminded of Pop in every room—those memories offered comfort now.
    His mother opened cupboards and rummaged noisily through a jumble of travel mugs, mumbling as she tried to find a matching lid, then scolding Lucky when he got underfoot. “This stupid cat is going to put one of us in the hospital!”
    The commotion pulled Lucas from his dreamworld. Just as well. His fantasies were just that.
    Ma poured coffee into a tall mug and screwed the lid in place. She wore a smile that said she was in her own la-la land. He knew exactly who she was with there, too.
    He hobbled across the kitchen to refill his mug. She handed him the creamer, and that’s when he saw it. A ring twinkled on her finger. Not the simple anniversary band Pop had given her, but a sparkly diamond with tiny blue stones set on either side.
    For a minute he couldn’t breathe. So she was really going to do this.
    “Oh, by the way,” she said, gathering her purse and the bag she toted library books in, “I won’t be here for dinner, honey. Can you fend for yourself?”
    “I don’t suppose this has anything to do with that big honkin’ ring on your finger?”
    She gave a little gasp and clasped her hands, covering the ring. But she couldn’t camouflage her smile.
    He held out a hand. “Let me see.”
    She presented her hand, turning her wrist so the stones caught the light.
    “How long have you been carrying this rock around?”
    “Since about nine o’clock last night. Isn’t it beautiful?”
    He shielded his eyes, pretending to be blinded by the glare.
    She rewarded him with a schoolgirl giggle.
    “I’m happy for you, Ma. I really am.” The sudden lump in his throat took him by surprise. He swallowed over it and cleared his throat. “So, have you set a date?”
    “Not yet, but we don’t want to wait too long. It will be a quiet, private ceremony. We’ve talked about one of those wedding cruise packages.” She looked up at him with a little shrug, as if trying to gauge his opinion of the idea.
    “Well, let me know when you decide. I’m trying to set up some people to come in and tear out a couple of walls, maybe paint a room or two black.”
    She stared at him. “You’re going to paint—?”
    “Kidding, Ma. You can breathe now.”
    “Oh, you!” She landed a playful punch to his shoulder.
    “Ow!” He rubbed the spot in feigned agony.
    But she turned serious, cupping his unshaved cheek in her palm. “It’s good to have my Luc back. Even if I do want to clobber him sometimes.”
    He wrinkled his nose and grinned at her.
    She looked at the clock. “You’d better get moving. Don’t you have PT this morning?”
    He nodded. “I don’t know why I’m bothering, though. I don’t think it’s