Chasing Rainbows A Novel - By Long, Kathleen Page 0,35

smile spread wide across my face as I pushed out of my chair and she did the same. I wrapped my arms around the little girl who was becoming a young woman before my eyes, and I held on tight.

“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

“You’re the best,” she whispered against my shoulder, and my heart caught.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I answered as I planted a kiss against her downy soft hair. “Ready to go?”

She nodded, but pulled away suddenly and pinned me with an intent gaze. “Are you going to send that letter to the editor?”

I uttered a slight laugh. “I’m no writer, Ash. It was just something to do.”

“Can I read it?”

Could she? I didn’t see why not. “Sure.” I nodded. “Let me get it.”

She sank back onto her chair, and I retrieved the notebook from my bag. Ashley devoured the words on the page, never looking up until she’d finished.

“Wow, Aunt Bernie.”

“Wow, what?” I hoped she hadn’t picked up on how many octaves my voice jumped in my anxiety over whether or not she liked what I’d written.

“You have to send it.”

“You liked it?”

Ashley smiled the loveliest smile I’d ever seen. “Call the paper and get their email address.” She brightened even more.

I realized then that the smile on Ashley’s face meant far more to me than the fact she’d liked the article.

“I’ll make you a deal.” I slid the notebook away from her and met her gaze. “I’ll send this in if you promise to come to me or call me, any time of day or night, if you need anything. Anything at all. Fair enough?”

“Fair enough.”

With that, we set out toward Diane’s house. I only hoped negotiating a truce with my purse-crazed, hormone-driven friend would be as painless as talking to Ashley had been.

Somehow, I had my doubts.

o0o

I pranced through the door of Diane and David’s rink on Wednesday afternoon as if I owned the joint--and hadn’t skipped work for almost a week. Part of me hoped David would ignore my absence and say nothing about what had happened Friday night.

That part of me was an idiot.

I should have known he’d be angry with me based on the icy reception I’d received from his wife the day before.

Diane had ushered Ashley into the house while she planted her arm across the threshold to keep me out. I’d driven the whole way back to my house wondering when it had been that she and I started stuffing our feelings.

In the old days, we’d have thrown all of the hurt and anger out in the open. But last night had been different. Last night we’d merely given each other polite nods, held our thoughts and feelings inside, then turned our backs on each other.

But I couldn’t blame Diane. I was equally to blame. After all, I’d kept my mouth shut when she’d called on Friday night, and I hadn’t done a thing last night to force the issue.

I’d put just as many bricks in the wall building between us as she had.

“So, I understand you’re working your corruption skills on my daughter now.” David’s sharp tone shattered my thoughts before I could stew any further.

I squinted at him, narrowing my eyes to tiny little slits. “I was trying to help.”

“Good one.” He let out an annoying laugh and shook his head. “Ashley’s got sneak skills you didn’t perfect until college.”

I resented that comment. “I was never sneaky.”

David smiled--a look rarely spotted on his face, and one to be noted while it lasted. “Right.”

“Well, Ashley’s not sneaky. She’s just upset right now. That’s all.”

David shrugged. “Women.”

His typical scowl returned to his face, and I fought the urge to slap it off. Truth be told, I’d wanted to slap it off for as long as I could remember.

I clasped my hands together to avoid any possible assault charges.

“Is that all you have to say about it?” I gave a quick lift and drop of my shoulders. “‘Women?’”

“She’ll get over it,” he answered. “Whatever it is.”

Maybe men really were from Mars.

He tipped his chin in my direction. “What brings you around?”

Was this a trick question? “Work.”

David made a loud snapping noise with his mouth. “You don’t work here anymore.”

I sagged as if he’d let the air out of me. “What do you mean?”

“You. Don’t. Work. Here. Anymore.” He spoke emphatically and distinctly.

“I understand the words. I don’t understand why.”

He shook his head and smiled again. He was enjoying this, the rat. “You don’t show up for three days,