Linny's Sweet Dream List by Susan Schild Page A

flipped the air conditioning on Max and the vents blew cool for a moment, but then spewed only lukewarm air. Another thing she didn’t have the money to fix. Maybe with her next paycheck. “Dang.” Linny fretted, trying to coax it along by turning it on and off. Finally, she switched it off, lifted the hair off her neck and rolled down the window.
    Turning on the radio, she tried to distract herself. She’d kept it set to the classical station lately—one of Indigo’s suggestions to calm jumpy nerves. As the sounds of an orchestra filled the air, an opera name flew into her head. Madame Butterfly . Jack was an opera fan. He’d been listening to an opera at the landfill, and whistling an aria from Madame Butterfly just now. She shook her head, even more intrigued with the truck-driving, opera-loving vet. She sighed. Why did the Veras of the world get to cherry-pick the interesting men?
    By the time she pulled in the driveway, she’d given herself a good talking to, and about shaken off her funk. Her phone rang and Kate chirped, “How did the vet visit go?”
    â€œGood.” She’d omit the part about the crazy electricity she’d felt. “You’ll never guess who he is.”
    Kate spoke in a tone of exaggerated patience. “I know the vet. I sent you to him, remember?”
    â€œNo. Jack Avery is the man I hit in the head with a bottle at the dump.”
    â€œOh, no!”
    â€œOh, yes.” Linny filled her in on the details.
    â€œOh, dear.” Her sister’s laughter bubbled up.
    Linny shook her head ruefully. “I make good first impressions.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. I don’t know him well, but my read on him is that he’s a good guy with a sense of humor.”
    Linny gave a world-weary sigh. “I met his wife. She’s petite, stunning, and looks high maintenance.”
    â€œI thought he was single. He doesn’t seem the type to have a wife like that,” Kate said thoughtfully.
    â€œWell, he seemed nice.” She tried to sound bland, but flushed remembering the arc of electricity she’d felt when she touched him. Last time she’d felt that kind of high voltage, she’d run off to Bermuda and married trouble. She shuddered, and vowed to steer clear of Jack Avery or die trying.

CHAPTER 4
    Diamond Rings and Heartaches
    W ednesday morning, Linny stood in the shower and let the hot water sluice over her face as she tried to psych herself up about her first day back at work. As she rinsed the soap from her hair, she’d snorted over this morning’s personal affirmation. Open your heart to the boundless grace, joy, and blessings of each day. Easy for Indigo to say—she didn’t teach Managing Career Change programs. But Linny read it again, and tried her best to take it to heart.
    Something brushed her calf, and when she looked down a giant hairy spider whizzed crazily against her leg. Heart pounding, she sprang from the shower, and dripping, peered around the curtain at the creature. She shuddered. Where there was one, there was probably a whole hive or pride or pack or whatever you call a bunch of spiders. But, dang it, it was her shower. Pulse racing, she threw her bath towel over the bug, and scooped it up.
    Buck-naked, Linny marched through the house, stepped outside, and shook the bundle. Surprised at her own bravery, she grinned as she walked back to the bathroom. She’d summon grace, joy, and blessings, but in the meantime, she’d do what needed to be done.
    Â 
    Forty-five minutes later, Linny pulled away from Kate and Jerry’s house. In the rearview mirror, she watched a sleepy-eyed Kate hold Roy against her pink flannel robe and wave his little paw goodbye. Linny swallowed hard. Good grief. How did mothers make it through their child’s first day at school? She gave a final glance back and cracked a smile—Kate had Lyle Lovett hair this morning.
    As she