The Patient Wolf (Wicked Urban Fantasy #1) by Karen Hodges Miller Page B
Authors: Karen Hodges Miller
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She’d wanted another baby herself—had dreamed about giving Sophie that little brother or sister years ago, when the two would have been close enough in age to actually share things. She was still only thirty-two, plenty young enough to have a second baby, even if she wasn’t as young as Melanie, who wouldn’t reach thirty for another six months. Of course, Ana had no real expectations of finding someone to settle down and make that baby with. A first date tonight with a stranger who was only visiting Rivelou and might leave at any minute scarcely counted, she thought.
And in reality she was happy for Melanie. She liked her former husband’s new wife rather more than she liked her former husband. Although Melanie certainly filled the bill as the perfect country club attorney’s wife in ways Ana never had been able to, she sometimes found herself exchanging exasperated looks or eye rolls with Melanie when Jonathan did something too over-the-top snobbish.
Once the congratulations were over Jonathan got to what Ana knew was, in his mind, the whole point of today’s conversation. “I’d like to keep Sophie until Monday morning,” he said. “We’ve planned a special evening tomorrow to tell our parents the news. I’d really hoped Sophie could be part of the event. We’ll keep her overnight on Sunday and bring her to school on Monday morning. That way you won’t have to worry about her this weekend, at all.”
“Said as if he’s doing me a favor,” Ana thought, “as if being with Sophie puts me out. That’s him, not me.” But she plastered her smile on even harder. This was not the day to create a fuss, even if Jonathan kept acting as if he expected one.
“Of course. Sophie, I’m sure you want to be part of the event,” Ana prodded her daughter. Like most thirteen-year-olds, Sophie could sometimes be clueless about the need to be gracious about invitations she wasn’t particularly interested in accepting, and Ana knew that Sophie was often reluctant to attend events with her father’s family, where making sure you always used the right fork and spoon was more important than enjoying the meal.
“Yeah, Mom, of course I want to go. Dad, I’ve got to run up and get my books, though. I’ve got an English test first period Monday morning, and I’ve got to study.”
It took another fifteen minutes to get Sophie and all of her gear into the car and the trio on their way for the weekend. Ana headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She sat down with a sigh of relief to enjoy the peace and quiet. As she sipped the coffee and started to relax she smiled. For once, she not only had the entire weekend to herself, she also had a date.
Chapter 10
With so much unexpected free time, Ana realized she would be able to not only study for her own classes, but relax, too. Although, in the world of a single mom, relaxing didn’t mean sitting down with a good book or taking an afternoon nap. She decided she would visit the farmer’s market for some fresh vegetables, and maybe pick up a couple of pumpkins to carve later in the week with Sophie, who might be in eighth grade, but still enjoyed certain “childish” activities as long as none of her friends were around to see. And then, if there was time, she’d give herself a manicure and pedicure before her date.
She always enjoyed wandering through the various booths at the farmer’s market, which was held down near the river levee every Saturday until Thanksgiving. The booths included not only fresh vegetables and baked goods, but several antique stalls, as well. Over the years Ana had picked up quite a few bargains at the market for her home, everything from vintage china to a lovely Victorian hall tree that had only needed a little refinishing, and which now sat beside her front door.
As she stepped out of one of her favorite antique vendor’s stalls she noticed Alexander, apparently browsing the
And in reality she was happy for Melanie. She liked her former husband’s new wife rather more than she liked her former husband. Although Melanie certainly filled the bill as the perfect country club attorney’s wife in ways Ana never had been able to, she sometimes found herself exchanging exasperated looks or eye rolls with Melanie when Jonathan did something too over-the-top snobbish.
Once the congratulations were over Jonathan got to what Ana knew was, in his mind, the whole point of today’s conversation. “I’d like to keep Sophie until Monday morning,” he said. “We’ve planned a special evening tomorrow to tell our parents the news. I’d really hoped Sophie could be part of the event. We’ll keep her overnight on Sunday and bring her to school on Monday morning. That way you won’t have to worry about her this weekend, at all.”
“Said as if he’s doing me a favor,” Ana thought, “as if being with Sophie puts me out. That’s him, not me.” But she plastered her smile on even harder. This was not the day to create a fuss, even if Jonathan kept acting as if he expected one.
“Of course. Sophie, I’m sure you want to be part of the event,” Ana prodded her daughter. Like most thirteen-year-olds, Sophie could sometimes be clueless about the need to be gracious about invitations she wasn’t particularly interested in accepting, and Ana knew that Sophie was often reluctant to attend events with her father’s family, where making sure you always used the right fork and spoon was more important than enjoying the meal.
“Yeah, Mom, of course I want to go. Dad, I’ve got to run up and get my books, though. I’ve got an English test first period Monday morning, and I’ve got to study.”
It took another fifteen minutes to get Sophie and all of her gear into the car and the trio on their way for the weekend. Ana headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She sat down with a sigh of relief to enjoy the peace and quiet. As she sipped the coffee and started to relax she smiled. For once, she not only had the entire weekend to herself, she also had a date.
Chapter 10
With so much unexpected free time, Ana realized she would be able to not only study for her own classes, but relax, too. Although, in the world of a single mom, relaxing didn’t mean sitting down with a good book or taking an afternoon nap. She decided she would visit the farmer’s market for some fresh vegetables, and maybe pick up a couple of pumpkins to carve later in the week with Sophie, who might be in eighth grade, but still enjoyed certain “childish” activities as long as none of her friends were around to see. And then, if there was time, she’d give herself a manicure and pedicure before her date.
She always enjoyed wandering through the various booths at the farmer’s market, which was held down near the river levee every Saturday until Thanksgiving. The booths included not only fresh vegetables and baked goods, but several antique stalls, as well. Over the years Ana had picked up quite a few bargains at the market for her home, everything from vintage china to a lovely Victorian hall tree that had only needed a little refinishing, and which now sat beside her front door.
As she stepped out of one of her favorite antique vendor’s stalls she noticed Alexander, apparently browsing the
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