Third Time's a Charm by Virginia Smith Page A

“Seriously? Would you consider going somewhere else?”
    Tori didn’t answer immediately. She stepped up beside Joan, rinsed her hands under the faucet, and picked up the dishtowel. “I don’t know,” she finally said. “I wouldn’t make near as much money anywhere else. Connolly and Farrin is the biggest marketing firm in this part of the state. Besides, I might not even be able to find a job in my field without moving to a big city. I was lucky Kate hired me right out of college.”
    Gram approached and set the dishrag on the counter, then placed an arm around Tori’s waist and hugged. “I wouldn’t want to see you move away.”
    Allie snorted. “I don’t know, if she went to work for a company that actually unchained her from her desk every so often, even if it was a couple of hours’ drive from here, we might see her more.”
    Tori dried off the big potato pot and crossed to the cabinet where the pots and pans were stored. There had been a few times she’d considered leaving Connolly and Farrin and had even quietly checked out the want ads in the local newspaper. That confirmed her suspicions of good marketing jobs not being all that easy to come by.
    She bent down to stack the pot in the cabinet, then straightened and turned. “You guys don’t seem to understand what a great opportunity this is. To be an AE for a respected firm like Connolly and Farrin at twenty-four years old ?” She shook her head, curls bouncing in her peripheral vision. “Chances like this don’t come along very often. I have to go for it.”
    “Then of course you’ll get the job. I can’t imagine you not accomplishing anything you set your mind to.” Mom’s smile held the confidence that had soothed Tori’s insecurities from the time she was as young as Joanie.
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    “One thing, though.” Joan turned from the sink, her expression worried. “You won’t be too busy to help with the wedding, will you? And you have to make time for the dress fittings with the church sewing circle.”
    Tension threatened to turn the good food in Tori’s stomach sour. She returned her sister’s anxious stare with a broad smile. “Of course I won’t be too busy. Food, decorations, whatever you need me to do. You don’t think I’d let you down right before your wedding, do you?” Even though I think you’re rushing into this marriage just so you can have sex with a religious nut.
    She flashed a glance in Allie’s direction and saw from her expression that her older sister knew exactly what she was thinking.
    Allie narrowed her eyes, then gave an almost imperceptible nod. She drew herself up and spoke in her bossy big-sister voice. “Tori, I know you’re going to be really busy between this job thing and the wedding, but it’s important that you take care of yourself too.”
    Allie looked toward Joan, who wore a blank expression.
    Then Joan’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Yes, she’s right. You can’t neglect yourself. You know what they say about all work and no play.”
    “So if you have the opportunity to, you know”—a smile flashed onto Allie’s face—“go out or something, you should take it.”
    Joan nodded vigorously. “Definitely. Take every opportunity that comes along.”
    What in the world were they talking about? She glanced toward Mom for a clue, but Mom looked as confused as she felt.
    “O-kay,” she told them. “Not that I get invitations all that often.” Unless she counted Mitch’s suggestive comments, which would surely stop now that they were in a heated competition for their boss’s job.
    Allie planted her hands on her hips. “You don’t expect us to believe that the biggest flirt in the state of Kentucky isn’t fending off prospective dates with a baseball bat.”
    Tori shook her head. “Seriously, I don’t have many opportunities to meet interesting men.”
    Joan exchanged another glance with Allie. “What about somebody at church? Like, maybe”—her eyes went innocently