lowered her voice. “I need the job and the money is good. It will help me with all the legal paperwork. Besides, from what Mrs. Hempstead said her son won’t be staying past Christmas. I’ll only be there a few more weeks afterward. If he wants to think I’m out to milk him for every penny he’s got, that’s his business.”
“You’ve had quite an afternoon. You go girlfriend!”
“I’ll be moving out of the apartment on Friday. As soon as I get Nina settled for the night, I’ll pack a few of my things. With you and Trish going home over break, we can sublet as planned, if that still works for you.”
“Works for me either way. I’m sure Trish won’t mind. She should be back before long. We’ll ask her. Are you going to have time to study for your last exam?”
“Yes. The last one is Thursday morning. I have a paper due for another class, which is almost finished. I should be able to work on it later tonight after I put Nina to bed.”
“Good thing you don’t put things off till the last minute.”
So was Gabriella. Never one to procrastinate, she was ahead on all her assignments and reports. If she could get through the rest of the week, she would be able to move in with the Hempsteads without much stress on Friday.
“I wish I could be of more help, Gabby. You know my funds are limited, too.”
“I know, Min. I appreciate the offer. You’re a good friend and I’m thankful for all the help you and Trish have given me since Nina came into my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you both.”
“Ah, shucks, Gabby. You’re going to make me cry.” Mindy wiped her eyes. “Are you sure you want to take this job? It doesn’t sound as if this man is going to make things easy.”
“Yes. I have a pretty good feeling about it even though it’s started on shaky ground.”
Yeah. Right. Already she had reservations about the arrangements, but she didn’t want Mindy or Trish to worry about her. They’d cancel their visits home and stay to help her out in a heartbeat if they thought she was in need. She couldn’t keep them from their families during Christmas.
“Right now, I’ll take any miracle I can get, even if they come with minor drawbacks.”
“I wish I could stay tonight and help you, but I can’t. I only returned to change clothes and head out again. Andy and I have plans for the evening.”
“Andy?”
“Don’t get excited, there is nothing going on. We both have a big exam Friday morning and need to do some extra research. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know if things change. Trust me, Andy doesn’t get his nose out of his books long enough to know I exist, let alone to know I’m interested in him. But I keep hoping.” Mindy wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. “There’s always hope.”
“Yes, well, I hope things work out.”
Gabriella truly meant it. Mindy was a wonderful person. If only Andy would wake up and take notice. She didn’t want Mindy’s relationship with Andy to end up like her relationship with Charles.
“Oh, Gabby. Here you are worried about me and my lack of a love life, when you have enough on your plate already. After what Charles did to you, too. The lout. I still can’t believe he was so horrible all because of such a sweet innocent baby. How could anyone not love her? You did the right thing by getting rid of him.” Mindy put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
They’d had this conversation before, and Gabriella was still stunned over the breakup. The rejection still hurt, although not as much as she assumed it would. What hurt the most was his attitude toward Nina—it was unforgiveable.
“I thought he loved me. Boy was I wrong.”
“It’s better you found out how he feels about kids now, rather than after you were married.”
“You’re right. I’m just glad I didn’t cave into the pressure of moving in with him when he asked several months ago.”
“He’s such a loser. He has no idea what he passed
“You’ve had quite an afternoon. You go girlfriend!”
“I’ll be moving out of the apartment on Friday. As soon as I get Nina settled for the night, I’ll pack a few of my things. With you and Trish going home over break, we can sublet as planned, if that still works for you.”
“Works for me either way. I’m sure Trish won’t mind. She should be back before long. We’ll ask her. Are you going to have time to study for your last exam?”
“Yes. The last one is Thursday morning. I have a paper due for another class, which is almost finished. I should be able to work on it later tonight after I put Nina to bed.”
“Good thing you don’t put things off till the last minute.”
So was Gabriella. Never one to procrastinate, she was ahead on all her assignments and reports. If she could get through the rest of the week, she would be able to move in with the Hempsteads without much stress on Friday.
“I wish I could be of more help, Gabby. You know my funds are limited, too.”
“I know, Min. I appreciate the offer. You’re a good friend and I’m thankful for all the help you and Trish have given me since Nina came into my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you both.”
“Ah, shucks, Gabby. You’re going to make me cry.” Mindy wiped her eyes. “Are you sure you want to take this job? It doesn’t sound as if this man is going to make things easy.”
“Yes. I have a pretty good feeling about it even though it’s started on shaky ground.”
Yeah. Right. Already she had reservations about the arrangements, but she didn’t want Mindy or Trish to worry about her. They’d cancel their visits home and stay to help her out in a heartbeat if they thought she was in need. She couldn’t keep them from their families during Christmas.
“Right now, I’ll take any miracle I can get, even if they come with minor drawbacks.”
“I wish I could stay tonight and help you, but I can’t. I only returned to change clothes and head out again. Andy and I have plans for the evening.”
“Andy?”
“Don’t get excited, there is nothing going on. We both have a big exam Friday morning and need to do some extra research. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know if things change. Trust me, Andy doesn’t get his nose out of his books long enough to know I exist, let alone to know I’m interested in him. But I keep hoping.” Mindy wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. “There’s always hope.”
“Yes, well, I hope things work out.”
Gabriella truly meant it. Mindy was a wonderful person. If only Andy would wake up and take notice. She didn’t want Mindy’s relationship with Andy to end up like her relationship with Charles.
“Oh, Gabby. Here you are worried about me and my lack of a love life, when you have enough on your plate already. After what Charles did to you, too. The lout. I still can’t believe he was so horrible all because of such a sweet innocent baby. How could anyone not love her? You did the right thing by getting rid of him.” Mindy put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
They’d had this conversation before, and Gabriella was still stunned over the breakup. The rejection still hurt, although not as much as she assumed it would. What hurt the most was his attitude toward Nina—it was unforgiveable.
“I thought he loved me. Boy was I wrong.”
“It’s better you found out how he feels about kids now, rather than after you were married.”
“You’re right. I’m just glad I didn’t cave into the pressure of moving in with him when he asked several months ago.”
“He’s such a loser. He has no idea what he passed
Similar Books
