My Kind of Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

client’s house. Just wanted to drop by to say hello.”
    “ Come and sit down. Do you
want something to eat or drink?”
    Traci sat on the couch and moved one
of the toss pillows to the side. “No, I’m fine. Not staying
long.”
    “ So who’s the new
client?”
    “ One of Dr. Arrington’s
sons. Sean, he’s a psychiatrist. He came with his mother yesterday
to the repotting workshop and afterwards asked if I could landscape
his backyard.”
    Her mother sat in the recliner that
had belonged to her deceased husband. It was old, but she refused
to throw it out. “Is it three acres like his mother’s?”
    “ Oh, goodness no. It’s
small and shouldn’t take too long. He wants to experience peace and
tranquility so I have some ideas running around my head. I’ll start
working on a design plan tonight.
    “ That’s good,” Mildred
said, glancing at the clock on the fireplace mantle.
    “ Are you late for
something?”
    “ Um … not late, but I was
on my way out.”
    “ I see. Can I tag along?”
Traci really didn’t want to, but she had a sneaky suspicion where
her mother was going considering she always wore her husband’s
wedding band around her neck as a good luck charm when playing
poker.
    “ Tray …”
    “ Mom, are you on your way
to a casino?”
    “ Not exactly.”
    “ A private poker
party?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ It’s the beginning of the
month. Did you pay your bills and at least stock the
fridge?”
    “ Yes and yes. Are you
forgetting who the child is and who the parent is?” her mother
questioned sternly.
    Bolting to the kitchen, Traci opened
the refrigerator and freezer, both of which were fully stocked. She
checked the pantry. It was full as well. At one point, her mother’s
gambling addiction had gotten so bad she barely had food and didn’t
tell Traci until she’d gone to the fridge to grab something to
drink.
    When she returned from the kitchen,
her mother was holding out her checkbook.
    “ You want to see my
cancelled checks as well?”
    “ No, Mother. I just want
you get your priorities straight.”
    “ I’ve told you this time is
different. I’m not just throwing my money away. When was the last
time I asked you for any money?”
    “ In January when your
transmission went out.”
    “ That had nothing to do
with gambling.”
    “ Whatever.” Traci snatched
her tote bag from the couch and headed toward the door. “Just be
careful, Mom. Larry Jr. and I worry about you, especially Larry
since he’s so far away. Once you have a nice amount just quit. You
don’t have to try to double or triple it. Take your winnings and
leave.”
    “ Anything else?”
    “ I love you very much,
Mother. I just don’t want you to get caught up again.”
    Her mother kissed her on the cheek. “I
promise you this time is different. Trust me.”
    Traci sighed. Mildred had told her the
exact same thing before and now here they were once again. True,
she wasn’t spending all of her time at the casinos, but poker was
still gambling.
    “ Okay, Mom. Call me when
you get home. I don’t care how late it is, call me.”
    “ Yes, Tray. Drive
safely.”
    “ You, too.” She gave her
mother a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
    As Traci backed out of the driveway,
she said a little prayer that her mother would be able to control
her gambling habit this go around.
    *****
    Sean glanced at the crystal clock on
his cherry wood desk. It was almost three o’clock and his last
patient of the day had just left after an hour and a half session.
He was exhausted and famished since he’d miss lunch to squeeze in
one of his veteran patients who was having panic attacks again and
needed some reassurance.
    Opening the folder on top of a deep
stack, he decided to peruse once more over the plans Traci had
emailed him that morning. She’d designed four different garden
layouts. He loved them all, especially the one that included the
fire pit. For some reason the vision of them cuddling and making
s’mores while sipping