A Bid for Love Read Online Free PDF

felt a loss as Renae spoke. She clutched at the blanket on her chest, willing the ache to leave. “I guess not having children means I’ve had time to think about it.”
    They were both quiet for several long seconds, and then Cassi asked, “So, are you going to do it?”
    “Yes.” Renae’s voice took on a note of determination. “Trent can watch the kids two hours a couple of nights a week. But what if I’d told you I wanted to be a writer, or a physicist, or . . . or an art buyer like you?”
    Cassi laughed into the darkness. “Then instead of music lessons, you’d go to school two nights a week”
    “Maybe I will. In fact, I can’t wait to get started.”
    “At least wait for another few days,” Cassi said. “You’re mine until Monday night, remember?”
    “You sound just like my children.”
    “Good night, Mommy.”
    Renae giggled. “Good night.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Early Sunday morning, bright light filtered through the partially closed blinds. Cassi yawned and stretched contentedly. She had slept well. Since her job required a great deal of traveling, she could fall asleep anywhere within minutes. It was a learned ability, and Cassi was proud of it.
    She arose quietly and made her way to the bathroom to shower. Her sweet-smelling shampoo lathered readily in the warm water, and she relished the clean feeling it gave her.
    In the foggy warmth of the bathroom, she dressed in a decidedly delicate dress with aqua-colored flowers, quite unlike her business suit, but just as flattering. She sprayed leave-on conditioner in her hair and worked out the last few knots, twisting it expertly into a French roll. She almost always wore her hair this way on Sunday, feeling it showed respect. It also kept people from asking which permanent she used. “The one I got in my mother’s womb,” she would always reply on those unfortunate days when she didn’t have time to wash and coif her hair. That always startled people enough to curb further questions.
    Cassi left the bathroom to find Renae still sleeping. She sat at the table near the beds and thumbed through the phone book to find the nearest church. It was nearly eight o’clock.
    Renae mumbled in her sleep, and Cassi looked over to see her friend tossing under the light blanket. Renae’s eyes flew open. “What?” She glanced around, puzzled. “Oh, I was dreaming that the kids were jumping on me, trying to wake me up.” Her stomach moved noticeably, and Renae laughed. “It wasn’t a dream. This baby is jumping on me.”
    Cassi left the table and went to sit on the edge of Renae’s bed. “I never knew they moved like that. I can see it even with the blanket on.”
    “You think that’s bad . . .” Renae flipped off the blanket and parted her pajamas to bare her stomach. The baby’s movements were even more apparent, and Cassi laughed as one part of Renae’s stomach poked out a half-inch above the rest.
    “Is that a foot?” she asked.
    Renae shrugged. “I think so. She must be stretching or something. She does this quite a bit.”
    Cassi’s gaze was still fixed on the movement when Renae suddenly grabbed her hand and put it on top of the baby. Cassi felt the baby kick against the abrupt cold.
    “Oh,” was all Cassi could say, her heart full of amazement.
    “It’ll be your turn one day,” Renae said lightly.
    “I hope so.” Cassi took her hand away from the baby and returned to the table.
    “But you’re going to have to date more,” Renae added, sitting up.
    “How do I do that, if they don’t ask me out?”
    “Ask them. They do want to go out with you. They’re just afraid. Or maybe they ask, and you just don’t get the drift. You did that in high school, you know.”
    Cassi’s anger flared, and she had to fight to make her voice sound normal. “So now I’m stupid, eh?”
    “I didn’t say that. You’re just . . . innocent and unassuming, I guess. You don’t realize when men are admiring you. Take that man from yesterday, the