Stepping to a New Day by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page B

Mr. Barbour?”
    A round of applause greeted him and he raised a hand in acknowledgment. He had on jeans and a charcoal-gray turtleneck and Gen found him as attractive in casual clothing as he’d been in the crisp black suit he’d worn at the airport.
    Bernadine leaned over. “Not bad on the eyes.”
    â€œHey!” Mal groused with a laugh. “I’m sitting here, too, you know.”
    â€œI’m just saying.”
    Gen silently agreed but in spite of his good looks and her reactions, she had no room in her new life for a man. If Riley hadn’t taught her that, Clay certainly had. Going forward, it was going to be all Genevieve all the time.
    So for the rest of the meeting, she sat and listened as Trent gave the latest on the new swimming pool he and his team would be breaking ground for in a few weeks and the plan toturn the old dilapidated Henry Adams Hotel into a loft space. He also brought them up to speed on the small strip mall that would be built and opened by the fall. Kelly’s new beauty shop would be one of the businesses going in, along with a pharmacy and real clinic space for Doc Reg so he could move out of the school. Speaking of the school, teacher Jack James stood and announced the opening of the new term for GED classes for those who didn’t want to take the classes online. Over the winter Gen had gotten her literacy certification to teach reading to adults who couldn’t read or wanted to improve and Jack announced that as well. “See Ms. Gen about setting up a schedule,” he said before retaking his seat.
    She saw TC give her a quick glance before returning his attention to the front of the room. She wondered if he knew of someone who needed her help or was checking her out just because.
    New resident and town fire chief Luis Acosta took the floor next to give an update on how his department was progressing. “So far we have twelve volunteers. Some have experience but most don’t. Training and classes are ongoing. Lily has two state-of-the-art engines on order and as soon as the construction on the new firehouse is complete and passes inspection they’ll be delivered and we’ll be up and running.”
    Tremendous applause greeted the news. No one wanted a repeat of last year’s deadly fire set by the now imprisoned Odessa Stillwell.
    After the meeting, the mingling and visiting resumed. Kelly and Bobby were heading home to put the twins to bed. Gen thanked them for letting her ride with them. “I’ll find a way back so go on and don’t worry about me.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Kelly asked. The young family had movedto town that past winter and Gen had come to love them very much. She was also godmother to the twins.
    â€œI’ll be fine.” She kissed the babies. “Be good for your mama and daddy, you two.”
    Both toddlers gave her sleepy smiles.
    â€œWe’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Gen,” Bobby said in parting.
    Gen nodded and watched them make their way to the door. Having them in her life made up for not having been blessed with children of her own. She also watched Clay leave with Bing. Something telling must have shown on her face because Mal walked to her side and asked, “You and my buddy fighting?”
    â€œHonestly, Mal. I don’t know what we’re doing. No, I take that back. I do know. We’ve called things off.”
    â€œReally? What happened?”
    â€œ I happened, I suppose. Clay doesn’t like the new and improved Genevieve. Said he prefers the old me.”
    â€œThat’s asinine.”
    â€œI know, but it is what it is. He said I’m acting like I’m twenty-five.” Once again she refused to let the sadness take hold. “I’m not going back to who I used to be, Mal.”
    â€œAnd no one with any sense wants you to. Nothing wrong with what you’re doing. Sometimes you have to shed the old to be the new. Take it from someone