Lost and Found by Jennifer Bryan Yarbrough Read Free Book Online Page B

that meeting and dinner. Marissa just called and her Maltese has gotten out of the yard and disappeared and she needs me to go home and look for it. Honestly, I hope I can't find it. I think she loves that dog more than she loves me." Thank God! I sure didn't want to have dinner with him. My hope is to NEVER have to see him again. Claudia doesn't have that luxury.
    "That is quite alright. I think I might take advantage of inviting these two exquisite ladies to dinner. Ladies, what do you think?"
    What do we think? Oh, this sounds like a bad idea. I don't know that I would be able to have one decent thought, if I have to sit across the table from him. His eyes! What is going on with me? I've never had a reaction like this to anyone. Oh God! Can he tell that I keep staring at him? I still haven't said one word to him.
    "Oh, of course Cash! That's a great idea. We need to catch up for sure. Do you mind if we stay here in the bar? Something quieter sounds good to me, instead of going out to the main dining area. Does that sound alright to you, Olivia?" I just nod, because she's right. I would rather stay in here where the lighting is dimmer.
    "Ok, we are going to run to the ladies room, so we will be right back." She winked at him and grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom.
     
     
     
    *****************
     
    "So, what'd you think about Cash?" I take it we didn't come in here to use the bathroom, but to talk.
    "Well, he's cute." I wasn't about to say that I thought he looked like he just walked out of a movie screen.
    "Cute? Cute? Are you kidding me? Babies are cute. Puppies are cute. Penguins are cute, but Cash is not cute! He's more like Greek God, totally HOT!  And don't think for a minute I didn't see how you were looking at him either, Miss Speechless!" I know she is probably mad. Derek was her brother and I know it's too soon for me to even glance at another man. She was smiling at me, so maybe she wasn't mad at me.
    "Look, Claud. Ok. He's, well, he's hot, but how come you've never mentioned him to me before? It sounds like you guys hung out in school. I don't ever remember you calling and telling me about a Mr. Greek God, Cash! I would have remembered it. Did you two date? Because you sure never told me about him, if you did." Why it mattered to me, I don't know. Did I just refer to him as a Greek God too? Oh my lord! I've never referred to any man in that way. She must be rubbing off on me.
    "NO! We never dated! Ewww, that would have been like going out with Derek. And I did mention Cash AND Vanessa to you. Remember my best friend from college? Cash was Vanessa's husband." I thought back to her college days and I did remember some friends of hers that she had told me were so madly in love that it gave her hope that one day she could find true love, but then she changed how she had felt about love a few years ago.
    "Yes, I remember now and I can't believe that's him. Now I feel bad, he must feel like he's in hell. There's no way he will ever find a love like that again! Theirs was like a once in a lifetime love, Claud, the way you described them." Wow. I remembered that she had mentioned kids. I remember her telling me that they had a son, but I didn't know they had more than that.
    "How did she die again? I hate to ask, but I can't remember." I looked at her and she seemed truly upset.
    "She died in childbirth, giving birth to their daughter. That poor baby never knew her mother and it was such a sad deal. They went to the hospital, because she was having contractions a month early and when she gave birth, they couldn't stop the bleeding and she died a few minutes after the baby was born. The baby was in ICU for a month. I heard they had to get security to remove him from Vanessa's room after she died. He wouldn't have anything to do with the baby, until she went home from the hospital."
    My heart is breaking for the baby. I can understand him not wanting to leave Vanessa, but to not meet your newborn daughter until a