Sweet Revenge by Katherine Allred Read Free Book Online

if this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.”
    “It’s not a dream, Bridg. I’m so happy for you.”
    “He actually told me that he’s been kicking himself since graduation for not getting up the nerve to ask me out. He said he thought he’d lost his chance, that he expected to come back and find me married with three kids.”
    “What does he do?”
    “He’s a CPA .” Bridget hesitated. “I’m sorry I dumped you on Chase yesterday.”
    “Under the circumstances, I’ll forgive you. This time.”
    Bridget curled her leg under her and sat on the corner of the newly made bed. “Chase told me he was interested in you.” Jess turned her back to the room, fluffing the lace curtains on the window as an excuse not to look at her friend. “Right out of the clear blue sky, huh? He just walked up and said, ‘Hey, I’m interested in Jessie’.”
    “Not exactly.” Bridget’s voice was decidedly uneasy. “He wanted to know why you seemed so cool toward him. That’s when I asked him if he was interested, and he said yes.”
    She swiveled back toward Bridget, her eyes narrowed as she studied her friend’s innocent expression. “Why am I getting the impression you spilled your guts?”
    “Come on, Jess,” Bridget pleaded. “Would it kill you to be nice to him? He likes you.” She headed for the bedroom door and Bridget jumped up to follow her. “So he says. But I’m afraid it’s not me he likes, it’s my body.” She stopped so fast Bridget ran into her. “We both know that if I were still overweight he wouldn’t say two words to me.”
    “You don’t know that for sure.”
    “Yes,” she replied grimly. “I do. Chase Martin doesn’t know a thing about me other than how I look.”
    “Jess, any man you meet is going to be attracted to your looks first. That’s life. If you turn them all down on that basis you’re going to spend the rest of your life alone.”
    “A nd that’s a bad thing?” She continued down the stairs to the kitchen.
    “I think it’s horrible. You’ll wind up one of those little old ladies who talks to her plants and has a hundred cats.” She stayed right on Jessie’s heels. “What about children? I know you love them. Don’t you want any of your own?”
    “I have hundreds of children. Every one I teach is mine.” She paused for a moment in contemplation. “Okay, I’ll admit it might be nice to have one of my own someday. But there are other ways, Bridg. I don’t need a man, and I don’t need to be married.”
    “In Rocky Flats, you do,” Bridget replied glumly. “This isn’t New York. The only sperm banks we have are walking around on two legs.
    A nd even with those, the choices are pretty pitiful. A t least you know Chase makes great kids.” Jessie took a head of lettuce out of the fridge. “Want a salad?”
    “Sure. I’ve got some time to kill before my beauty shop appointment.”
    “Speaking of A my.” She tore lettuce leaves into a bowl. “What exactly happened between Chase and Becky?”
    “A h hah! You are interested!”
    “I’m interested in A my. She may be ten, but her eyes…” Jessie shook her head. “I don’t know how to put it. You’ve heard of someone having an old soul? Well, A my has old eyes. Like she’s seen too much. It’s strange. There’s something going on there, but she doesn’t seem to fit the description of a depressed child.”

    Bridget shrugged, then pulled out a chair. “I guess it’s not a big secret. Becky was pregnant with A my when she and Chase got married.
    You know, she always was a little on the wild side, staying out late and partying even in junior high. Everyone thought she’d settle down after A my was born, but she didn’t. A nd being forced into marriage sent all Chase’s plans up in smoke. Especially college. He couldn’t do that and support a family. So he worked for the police department during the day and attended the community college at night.” Her friend sighed. “It got pretty bad,