Broken Hart (A Cross Creek Small Town Novel #1) - Kelly Collins Page 0,4

beer.” She nodded at his hand, and he looked down at it.

He took another drink, and Ethel pressed her lips together and then shook her head. “Did you meet anyone special while you were away?” she asked.

“That’s something we’ll have to talk about later,” I said, already retreating. “I think Roy just hollered at me.” He hadn’t, but I wanted to avoid any talk about me and men. There was no use airing my dirty laundry, that wasn’t my style. I was more of a suffer in silence kind of girl.

“We’re glad you’re back.” Ethel’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “You’ll have to meet my grandson, I imagine he’s about your age now.”

Norman let out a loud noise that sounded something like, “Huh?”

Ethel leaned forward. “I’m saying she should meet our grandson.” On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the loudest, Ethel had pitched to a seven.

“Which one?” His loud, gravelly voice didn’t seem out of place in the bar. Over at her table, Gypsy laughed and talked to another group while several guys sang to the jukebox. Everyone was jockeying to be heard.

Ethel leaned toward her husband an inch more. “Roger.”

Norman shook his head. “The kid wouldn’t be into her.”

Ethel snapped back like she’d been slapped.

Norman continued. “Trust me, she’s not his type. She’s got a job and a brain.”

“How about Kingston?” She wasn’t giving up.

“He’s too young for her. Let the woman meet someone on her own, Ethel, don’t play matchmaker.” He downed his beer, and I picked up the empty glass.

“Another?” I asked, relieved for the chance to slip away.

“Huh?” He stared at me like he hadn’t heard what I said, and it dawned on me that it wasn’t the din of the bar, but Norman was hard of hearing.

I wiggled his glass, and he nodded.

“Do you need another wine?” I asked Ethel.

The thick scent of garlic and butter hit my nose, causing my stomach to twist. Not garlic. Please, not garlic. Over the last few weeks I’d found I couldn’t tolerate the smell. I held my breath and waited for her answer.

“No, dear.” Ethel lifted her nose in the air and inhaled. “Some of Roy’s famous garlic knots would be wonderful, though.”

“Garlic knots,” Norman said, holding up two fingers. “Did you want some too?” he asked his wife. She sighed and crossed her arms, a knowing smile on her face. Without missing a beat, he glanced up at me and lifted another finger, “Three orders. The lady would like some too.”

I laughed as I left the table. They were adorable and had the kind of love I longed for. The sort of relationship I thought I’d had, but I’d been wrong.

With efficiency, I refilled Norman’s beer. When I dropped it back at their table, I caught them deep in conversation.

“Forty years of marriage, and we still have things to talk about.” Ethel squeezed his hand.

“That’s amazing.”

“We’re going to take a pottery class. You should join us. It would give you a chance to meet new people.” Ethel’s hopeful expression tugged at my heart.

“Oh, I don’t know. I already broke a glass.” I gestured over my shoulder, my cheeks heating as I thought about my mistake. “Maybe I should stay away from pottery.” I couldn’t help but notice the adoring look on Norman’s face as he stared at his wife. I’d give anything to have someone look at me like that.

“Oh, don’t you worry, girl. We’ll keep you from breaking things.” Ethel chuckled, and I tried to think of a diplomatic way out of the invitation.

“Let the girl get back to work.” Norman winked at me. “I think you owe us some knots.”

I breathed a sigh of relief at the save.

“We’ll touch base soon,” Ethel said with a double wink, not to be outdone by her husband.

“Let her catch her breath before you go pushing boys on her. As pretty as she is, she likely has enough admirers.” The words were barely out of Norman’s mouth when a familiar voice sounded behind me.

“Kandra? Is that you?”

I smoothed a trembling hand down the front of my apron, put on my game face smile, and spun around.

Benji’s curly brown hair had lengthened a bit and sprung away from his head a good three or four inches. His brown eyes bored into mine, and he stepped in and wrapped me in a tight hug.

“Welcome back.”

I patted his shoulder awkwardly.

He stepped away and took both my hands in his. Excitement crackled like electricity in his eyes, and his