The Backup Plan

The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online
Authors: Sherryl Woods
through with Cord. Even so, Dinah wanted no part of it.
    â€œI’ve had it with risk-taking,” she told her friend emphatically. “I think Bobby’s definitely the way to go.”
    â€œBut you haven’t caught up with him yet?”
    â€œNo. I asked Cord to have him call me, but so far I haven’t heard a word.”
    â€œAnd you haven’t gone chasing after him?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œMaybe that should tell you something,” Maggie suggested gently.
    â€œWhat? That Cord didn’t pass on the message?”
    â€œThat, or maybe you don’t care enough to make the effort. Then, again, maybe it means that Bobby’s moved on with his life. It has been ten years. Even an eternal optimist can get tired of waiting around after that long.”
    Dinah studied Maggie. “What do you know that I don’t?”
    â€œJust that I don’t want you to be setting yourself upfor disappointment if Bobby doesn’t fall right in with your plans.”
    That was definitely something Dinah hadn’t considered. Maybe she really was a self-absorbed idiot to think he’d been waiting for her all this time. Their deal had merely been that they’d get together, if they happened to be available.
    â€œYou think he won’t?” she asked Maggie.
    â€œI can’t say. That’s up to him.”
    Dinah had a feeling there was something that Maggie was deliberately keeping from her. She usually wasn’t so circumspect. “If you know something you think I should know, tell me,” she commanded.
    Maggie shook her head. “Not a chance. This is between you and Bobby.” She grinned. “And maybe Cordell. Something tells me he’s going to figure in this before all is said and done.”
    â€œYou are turning out to be almost as exasperating as he was,” Dinah accused lightly. “Doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see you, though. Can we have dinner soon?”
    â€œMy calendar’s disgustingly open. Just tell me when,” Maggie said. “Now I’d better get back to work before my employees stage a rebellion. The last time I took a long lunch they sold a valuable painting at half price. Said they couldn’t find a sticker on it, so they negotiated. They claimed their blood sugar had dropped so low, they forgot about the price list we keep in the file.”
    Dinah chuckled at what was most likely no exaggeration. “I promise I’ll come by to see this gallery of yours in a day or two and we’ll schedule dinner.”
    â€œDon’t wait too long,” Maggie ordered. “Or I’ll come looking for you.”
    â€œIt’s good to see you, Maggie. I’ve missed you,” Dinah said, giving her friend a fierce hug.
    â€œMissed you more.”
    Dinah stood on the sidewalk in front of Maggie’s place and watched her friend head off down the street to her successful gallery. She looked purposeful and confident, two traits Dinah wondered if she’d ever feel again.
    Â 
    Covington Plantation was a labor of love for Cord. Putting up with the board members and fighting for every penny to do the job right took more patience than waiting for the first cool breeze of fall, but it was going to be worth it to see this grand old house restored to its former glory.
    For a kid who’d grown up in a place that was little more than a run-down shack, a house like this represented everything his home hadn’t been. It was solid and spoke of proud ancestors. His own ancestors had been unremarkable and there had been nothing dependable about the two people who’d raised him and Bobby. They’d contributed genes and not much else. It was the charity of others that had given him and Bobby a chance at a better life. As much as it had grated to accept the private-school tuition, the church handouts, the free lunches, they’d swallowed their pride and done it.
    Bobby had fit in better than

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