Husband Wanted Read Online Free PDF

died.”
    Frannie nodded sympathetically. “I know what it’s like to lose someone dear to you. My experience was much different, of course, since my mother was ill for a long time. I knew I would eventually lose her. I suppose I was prepared. But to lose someone without even a hint of warning. I’m so sorry.”
    “You’re a kind person, Frannie,” he said. “I knew it the moment I met you.”
    “Aw, here’s our coffee now,” Walter said. “That was quick, Greta. You must be taking vitamins.”
    She did not respond to his compliment. “Clay called,” she said as she filled two cups with coffee. “He said he was going to be a few minutes late, but that he would be here in plenty of time for dinner.”
    Walter looked pleased.
    Greta started for the door, then paused and turned. “I told that new chef of yours that I’m not cleaning up after him. You should see what a mess he’s made of the kitchen.”
    “No problem,” Walter said, as though he were accustomed to smoothing his housekeeper’s ruffled feathers. “That’s why I hired Louisa. She’s a big strong girl. I’m sure she is accustomed to Jean-Paul’s ways.”
    Frannie waited until they were alone to speak. “I feel bad for disrupting your staff. I never meant to intrude.”
    He waved the comment aside. “Listen to me, young lady,” he said. “You may not know it, but you’ve done me an enormous favor by using my house to entertain your daughter.”
    “I have?” Frannie asked, although she couldn’t imagine how.
    “Absolutely! I couldn’t even convince my son to have dinner with me before this came up. Now he’s going to be staying here for a few days. Who knows, he may decide to move back permanently, if we can put our differences behind us.”
    “Is that what you want?” Frannie asked. “For Clay to move back home?”
    Walter nodded. “This house is too big for just me. I’m hoping Clay and I can finally make peace with each other and he’ll come home.” He paused and smiled. “So you see, you’re helping me as much as I am you.”
    “That makes me feel a little better.”
    “So tell me what you’ve heard from your daughter.”
    “Well, she was able to get last-minute plane reservations. Her mother wrote me a brief letter and told me right up front that she was struggling with her decision to let Mandy come. I take it both parents are hurt that she decided to look for me, and they’re only going along with it because of Mandy’s persistence. I didn’t write back because I got the impression they wanted nothing to do with me. I’ll send them a note of thanks after Mandy’s visit.”
    “It sounds as if you’re doing a good job of handling an awkward situation,” he said.
    “I’m certainly trying. Anyway, Mandy is flying into Savannah airport late Friday afternoon. She has to go back to Washington on Monday, so we only have to . . . uh . . . pretend for two and a half days.”
    “That’s a pretty short visit,” Walter said.
    “I’ll take what I can get,” Frannie said. “Besides, I had to line up a couple of waitresses to work for me while I’m out.” She grinned. “They’ll probably steal my best customers.”
    “Nonsense. Your customers love you. You’ve spoiled them. I speak from experience.” He paused. “Are you nervous about meeting your daughter?”
    “Terribly!”
    “Clay will take you to the airport to pick up your daughter.”
    Frannie laughed. “That’s a relief. I never know when my car is going to act up.”
    Walter looked amused. “You should have seen the heap of junk I was driving when I first started working construction. I paid five hundred dollars for it. Half the time it wouldn’t start so I took the bus to and from work.”
    They chatted for another few minutes. Walter checked his wristwatch. “I suppose you’ll want to get settled. Do you have any bags?”
    “Only a couple of small ones; I can bring them in.”
    “Nonsense! You’re the mistress of the house now.