Hope Reborn by Caryl Mcadoo Read Free Book Online Page A

spinsterhood!
    All the attractive men who caused such a reaction inside her had been snatched up and married. “Thank you, sir. It smells wonderful, and I’ve never seen greener greens.”
    He extended his hand toward Mary Rachel, who took it then held his other out to her as did the young lady. May looked from one hand to the other. What were they doing?
    They obviously wanted to hold her hands. Perhaps a Texian tradition. She placed hers into their open palms, then the girl and her father bowed their heads.
    How quaint. He was going to bless the food right there in public. She had landed in the middle of a gathering of religious zealots? She resisted the urge to look around for Chester.
    The cad probably was grinning from ear to ear.
    Praying at a restaurant. Indeed.
    “Amen.” Henry released her hand and went to work on his side of beef.
    May allowed herself three extra bites of the best tasting filet mignon she’d ever eaten in her life. It literally melted in her mouth.
    And as for the greens, she’d never cared for the vegetable, be they turnip, collard, or mustard. Started not to even try them, but the pigment was so intense, she forked one small bite.
    Beyond belief, they tasted delicious. And the roll. Everything about the meal, exceptional!
    These Texians had to be serious about their eating. Hardly a word passed until their plates lay emptied. “Would you care for dessert, ma’am?”
    His daughter smiled. “The Donoho’s known for their wonderful assortment of pies.”
    “Well, if it’s anything like the meal, I’m certain it would be scrumptious, but I couldn’t eat another bite. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a meal more.”
    Once the waitress cleared the table, Henry turned to her. “I want to thank you, ma’am.”
    He was as bad as Chester ma’aming her. She tilted her head ever so slightly, and shamelessly stared into his eyes. “Whatever for, Henry?”
    “Writing books that my daughters can read.”
    “Oh, why, thank you.” She found no lust in the windows of the man’s soul, but something else tugged at her heart. Though not quite sure of what she saw, she didn’t think it had anything to do with her.
    Was he so in love with his wife that all other women paled in comparison? And why hadn’t she accompanied him? Had May ever known such a devoted man?
    “Daughters you say? You have another?”
    Mary Rachel touched her arm. “Yes, ma’am. I have four sisters and one little scalawag brother.”
    “Oh, Mary Rachel, Houston isn’t a scalawag.”
    The girl gave her father a stern look as though she the parent and he the unruly child. May loved it. A doting father and his patronizing daughter. Reminded her a bit of her and the commodore before….
    She’d certainly have to work those two into a book.
    “Daddy! You proclaim to be a guardian of the truth. You know you don’t switch him near enough.”
    He nodded, and gave her a let’s-not-get-this-old-debate-going look, before facing May. “A few years back, Mary Rachel wanted something different to read. I asked around, and your name kept coming up, so –”
    “I’ve read all your books. Every single one. At least twice, some even three times.”
    The young lady’s enthusiasm tickled May. “Well, you have no idea how that delights me. Penning love stories is…well….” She shrugged. “To be honest, at times I get so bored.”
    “How could you? It must be so much fun.”
    “Yes, most of the time, but this last one presented a real struggle for the first half or better. Then after that, the characters took over their own tale. That’s when the story caught a strength. A good portion of what I’d written needed reworking.”
    She looked to Henry. “There’s nothing more tedious than rewrites. Hopefully, I can finish it in a day or two. I’m nearing my deadline.”
    “Really? Who gave you a deadline?”
     

     
    Henry enjoyed how the novelist mesmerized his daughter with her explanation of publishing. He’d known