High Noon Read Online Free PDF Page B

in, all three heads turned. “Mama! I’m almost done with my spelling.”
    â€œThere’s my girl.” Setting the bag on the counter as she went, Phoebe walked over to give Carly a smacking kiss. “Bet you’re hungry.”
    â€œWe wanted to wait for you.”
    â€œâ€™Course we waited.” Essie moved close to rub a hand down Phoebe’s arm. “You all right, baby girl? You must be so tired, having the car go out like that.”
    â€œI wanted to take out my gun and shoot it, but I’m over it now.”
    â€œHow’d you get home?”
    â€œI took the CAT, which is what I’ll be doing until the car’s fixed.”
    â€œYou can use mine,” Ava told her, but Phoebe shook her head.
    â€œI’d feel better knowing there’s a car available here at home. Don’t worry. What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
    â€œYou go on and wash up.” Essie waved her away. “Then sit right down at the table. Everything’s ready, so you go on.”
    â€œDon’t mind if I do.” She winked at Carly before slipping out to the powder room off the parlor.
    More to be grateful for, she reminded herself. There were dozens of tasks and chores she didn’t have to heap on her plate because her mother was there, because Ava was there. A thousand little worries she could brush aside. She wasn’t going to let herself get twisted inside out over something as annoying as transportation.
    She studied her face in the mirror as she dried her hands. She looked tired, and tight, she admitted. There would surely be lines on her face in the morning that hadn’t been there yesterday if she didn’t relax a little.
    And at thirty-three, there would be lines sneaking in anyway. Just a fact of life.
    But she was having a big glass of wine with dinner regardless.
    It did relax her, as did the pretty food prepared by hands other than her own, the soft light, the easy music of female voices.
    She listened to Carly talk about her school day, and her mother talk about the book she was reading.
    â€œYou’re so quiet, Phoebe. Are you just tired out?”
    â€œA little,” she said to Ava. “Mostly I’m just listening.”
    â€œBecause we can’t keep quiet for five minutes. Tell us something good that happened today.”
    It was an old game, one her mother had played with them as long as Phoebe could remember. Whenever something hard or sad or irritating happened, Essie would ask them to tell her something good.
    â€œWell, let’s see. The training session went well.”
    â€œDoesn’t count.”
    â€œThen I guess satisfying the prosecutor with my testimony in court this afternoon doesn’t count either.”
    â€œSomething good that happened to you,” Essie reminded her. “That’s the rule.”
    â€œAll right. She’s so strict,” Phoebe said to make Carly grin. “I don’t know if it’s good, but it’s different. I had a good-looking man come into my office.”
    â€œIt only counts if he asked you out to dinner,” Ava began, then gaped at Phoebe’s expression. “You have a date ?”
    â€œWell, for God’s sake, don’t say it as if we’ve just discovered a new species.”
    â€œIt’s practically as rare. Who—”
    â€œAnd it’s not a date. Not really. The suicide I talked down yesterday? This is the man who he used to work for. He just wants to have a drink.”
    â€œAva said it had to be dinner to count,” Carly reminded her.
    â€œHe brought up dinner, we negotiated it to drinks. Just half an hour tomorrow.” She tapped Carly’s nose. “After your bedtime.”
    â€œIs he cute?” Ava demanded.
    The wine and the company had done its job. Phoebe flashed a grin. “Really cute. But I’m just meeting him for one drink. Over and out.”
    â€œDating isn’t a terminal