The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer Allee Read Free Book Online

an actual white picket fence. What more could she want?
    “Are you looking to reinvent yourself?”
    Rachel's eyes widened. “No, not really. I guess that's not the right word. I love my life, it's just …”
    “Just what?” Maura prodded.
    Rachel hesitated before plunging in. “I’ve been a full-time housewife and mom since I was eighteen. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family, but the kids don’t need me nearly as much as they used to. I have a lot of extra time on my hands. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what comes next. You know, when the nest is empty and it's just Derrick and me.”
    Maura nodded, a plan already percolating in her brain. “I completely get what you’re saying. And, you’re right. This theatre is a great opportunity for me. But you know I can’t pull it off by myself. I’ll need some good people to work with.” She paused. “Are you interested?”
    Rachel looked at her cautiously. “Why? Are you making me an offer?”
    “I couldn’t pay you much … in fact, I can’t actually pay you anything until we start bringing in some revenue.” Maura stopped, embarrassed that she’d suggested Rachel work for free. “Never mind, it's a dumb idea. Just forget I said anything.”
    “Whoa, there!” Rachel waved her hands back and forth in front of Maura. “You just let me decide whether or not it's a dumb idea. Besides, you’re offering me twice as much as I’m making now.”
    “How do you figure?”
    “Twice as much of nothing is nothing,” Rachel said with a grin. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but people in my job category don’t even make minimum wage. Besides, now you’ve got me all revved up about the idea of reviving the Music Box.”
    Maura's heart constricted as she looked across the table. Not all of her experiences in Granger had been bad. Rachel was a sincere, true friend, who had been there for her when she was at her lowest. Despite the fact that Maura had abandoned the friendship, Rachel was gracious enough to let them pick up like nothing had happened. Working with her now would definitely be a good thing. She might even call it an answer to prayer, if she prayed anymore.
    She was about to say something profound when her stomach grumbled loudly, making both of the woman laugh. Maura glanced down at her watch. “Good grief, it's later than I thought. You probably need to get back home.”
    Rachel shook her head. “Nope, everybody's got other plans tonight. Becca's at a friend's house, and from there she's going to chorus practice; Ben's away at football camp, and Derrick has a church board meeting. We’re spread out all over, which proves my point. You know, I think this is what Pastor Nick might call a divine appointment.”
    Maura let Rachel's last statement slide. Rachel didn’t need to know Maura no longer shared Nick's belief that God was involved in all areas of a person's life. Maura thought of God as more of a passive observer. Otherwise, her life would have turned out much differently.
    Maura cleared her throat, eager to steer the conversation in a different direction. “Why don’t you and I go get dinner and do some more brainstorming?”
    “Great idea. I’ll just leave a message for Derrick in case he gets home before I do.” Rachel pulled her cell phone from her purse.
    “Hm—hm.” Mrs. Phipps's eyes narrowed as she cast a laser look toward Rachel. Apparently, using cell phones in the library was a cardinal sin, deemed even worse than mere conversation.
    Rachel flipped the phone shut and stuffed it back in her purse. “Maybe I’ll call him from outside,” she whispered loudly.
    Maura scooped up the books she’d already checked out, and they headed for the door. She couldn’t believe how everything was coming together. It was almost as if somebody had sent Rachel into the library so they could run into each other. Maura shook her head sharply. What was she thinking? It was coincidence, pure and simple. A happy, fortunate coincidence.