By Appointment Only Read Online Free PDF

loaves of cinnamon and whole wheat and other varieties. Even without her wry sarcasm and big heart, she would have won many friends with her baking.
    The two women were halfway through their meal when Elda choked and leaned across the table. “Sweet Jesus. Where in the heck did you get that rock?”
    Hannah felt her face turn red. She’d left the ring at home yesterday, but this morning she felt too guilty to take it off. Not when Morgan was so proud of it. She’d kept her hand hidden as much as possible during the course of the day, but relaxing in Elda’s homey kitchen had made her forget to be secretive.
    Or maybe it was a Freudian slip. Maybe she wanted Elda to know. Self-analyzation was a tricky business.
    She smiled weakly. “Morgan gave it to me night before last.”
    Elda’s eyebrows went to her hairline. “And you didn’t tell me yesterday?”
    At the unmistakable hint of hurt on her older friend’s face, Hannah hastened to explain. “I was conflicted. I needed some time to think it over. You’re the first one who knows—I promise.”
    Elda took her hand and twisted it from side to side. “Ho-lee-shit. That boy’s got damned good taste.” She grabbed the phone. “This calls for a celebration.”
    A half hour later, Hannah stood in a crush of well-wishers, drinking champagne someone had procured from who knows where and fielding a barrage of pointed questions. She answered them patiently. “No, we haven’t set a date. I don’t know where we’ll get married. No, I won’t quit my job.” The babble of excited voices rose and fell around her.
    Every face in the room beamed. She felt like a sham, but she didn’t know how else to handle the situation. You’d have thought she was a movie star the way they were carrying on. Finally, as the hands on the clock drew toward five, they all realized it was time to head to dinner, and they exited en masse.
    When it was just her and Elda, Hannah sighed. “What a fuss. They’re all so sweet.”
    Elda nudged her aside, heading for the kitchenette with a handful of wilting paper cups. “We’ll want to plan something more formal really soon. Do it up big. We can use the community room, and Agnes knows how to make bells and doves out of white crepe paper. Beverly’s niece will play the piano, I’ll bet, and—”
    “I wish you wouldn’t.” Hannah wrung her hands, feeling ungrateful and selfish.
    Elda turned to face her, her dark eyes bright even bracketed in folds of wrinkled skin. “What’s going on, kid? Spill it. You can tell me anything.”
    Hannah perched on the arm of the sofa, swinging her leg. “I’m not ready to make a big deal of this, Elda. It’s barely just happened. There’s plenty of time down the road . . .” She trailed off into an awkward silence, not able to articulate her misgivings.
    Elda eased down beside her with a groan of arthritic proportions. “For heaven’s sake, Hannah. This isn’t like pregnancy, where you have to wait until the first trimester is past to kick up your heels. You’re getting married.”
    "Maybe.”
    Elda scowled. “Come again?”
    Hannah shrugged uneasily. “It’s early, that’s all. I don’t know where this is going.”
    “But you took his ring anyway.”
    Hannah’s cheeks reddened at the not-so-subtle rebuke. She lowered her chin. “He’s a very hard man to say no to, Elda. And if you could have seen his face . . .”
    Elda snorted. “Pity is a hell of a reason to get engaged.”
    Hannah jumped to her feet, pacing restlessly. “I don’t pity him. He’s a wonderful man.”
    “But you’re not in love with him.”
    “I—” The words stuck in her throat. She couldn’t say them. Not at all. Three little words. She sighed. “Elda, you know how I feel about marriage. I’ve told you about my parents. You watch the news. Why would anyone put themselves through that?”
    Elda leaned back into the floral cushions, her expression sober. Hannah felt completely naked, as though all her