Forgiving Patience by Jennifer Simpkins Read Free Book Online

who thinks he’s in charge of my life
and a father who thinks I’m still five,” she commented while grabbing two more
glasses of wine. After handing one to Anna, she added, “And I do work hard.”
    “I’m sure you do,” Anna agreed.
Having a family, no matter what their flaws, must be rewarding. Even though
Jesse was complaining, she could sense that the woman adored her family.
    Anna had always wished to have a
brother or sister, someone she could experience life with. The closest thing
she had to a sister was Em. Em was indeed sister material. Anna had been sworn
to keep secrets from her friend’s parents, was given advice about boys, and
even had someone to fight with on occasion. Overall, Anna was thankful to have
her bossy friend in her life.
    They sat and talked about high
school. Jesse asked what it was like to live somewhere different. Anna told her
small details about Linden and how at first it felt strange to be in a town she
hadn’t grown up in, but soon grew to love.
    She couldn’t help but notice Jesse’s
eye wandering several times as they talked. She was looking to her left at a
man slow dancing with a long-legged redhead. They were the same couple Ms. Edna
had pointed out earlier—during their need to forget sex talk. Bradley Lawrence
was holding the woman close while they swayed to the newest country song. He
looked ruggedly handsome—much like his older brother. Instead of the typical
suit and tie most of the men dressed in, Bradley had on Wrangler jeans with a
blue-and-white plaid western-cut button-up rolled up to his elbows. His cowboy
hat was pulled down low, allowing him to only zone-in on the woman he was
grinding on. She doubted he noticed anyone else was in the room—including
Jesse.
    From the look on Jesse’s face, she
didn’t appreciate the couple or their dancing skills. A look of hatred mixed
with love filled the woman’s eyes.
    Anna approached the subject
obliquely. “Is that Bradley Lawrence?”
    The soft color filling Jesse’s cheeks
told Anna that the usually confident woman was slightly embarrassed at being
caught watching Bradley and his date. “Yeah, that’s him. Same ‘ole, same ‘ole
with him.”
    Anna didn’t know exactly what same
‘ole, same ‘ole meant, but whatever was going on, it wasn’t a topic she cared
to embark on at the moment. Still, she couldn’t help but to be a tad curious.
    There was a tap on Anna’s left shoulder.
    “Excuse me, miss?”
    Anna turned in her chair, away from
Jesse, to come face-to-face with Kevin Costner.

 
    * * * *

 
    “How’s the house coming along?”
    Jake shifted his weight off his bum
knee to his left leg without making it obvious to Tex. He’d grown up with Tex,
and it wasn’t like his buddy didn’t know he was in pain a lot of the times
because of the old baseball injury. But he didn’t want anyone to look at him
and think he was some washed-out-ex-ballplayer.
    “It’s coming. I finished up the
exterior painting this week.”
    “I stopped by there a couple days ago
and saw the side porch you were adding. If you need any help, just holler.”
    Jake only nodded because he and Tex
both knew he wasn’t going to ask for help. It seemed lately he was out to prove
he could do all the repairs with minimal assistance. Every day he pushed
himself a little harder and was now finally getting his life somewhat back
together. He was far from normal, but he was better than he’d been not too long
ago.
    “Who’s the hot babe sitting with
Jesse?”
    Jake took a swig of his second beer
of the night. “That there is Anna Kelly.”
    “Woo- hoo .”
Tex whistled. “She’s some kind of pretty. When did she get back?”
    Jake’s jaw tightened at the thought
of Tex scoping out Anna. The guy was not harmless when it came to beautiful
women—and Anna sure looked beautiful. Her honey hair hung loosely past her
shoulders. Every now and then she would sweep back a tendril falling in her
face back behind her ear. Her