Pumpkins in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

These things take time.”
    “Yeah, well, Leslie doesn’t think my best is good enough. And it’s not like I really blame her. A single disruptive student can bring the whole group down. Gracie tends to express her pain through periods of uncontrollable sobbing, but Ashley prefers to work out her sorrow with her fists.”
    “Sounds like her big sister.” Jenna grinned, light blue eyes dancing with delight . “I seem to remember you being the cause of a few black eyes in preschool after your mom left. In fact, I’m fairly certain I was the recipient of one of your larger masterpieces.”
    Tj couldn’t help but smile . “I have to say that black eye was one of my favorites.” Not only had Tj decorated Jenna’s face when she tried to steal her red crayon but, Jenna being Jenna even then, had decided the best way to avoid a repeat episode was to befriend the unhappy little girl. They’d been best friends ever since.
    “Thing is,” Tj sighed, “I was mad and acted out for a few weeks, but then I got over it.”
    “Actually, I’m pretty sure your tendency to solve your problems with your fists lasted for more than a few weeks. Things got better after your dad signed you up for that martial arts class. Maybe something like that would work for Ashley.”
    Tj remembered the confusion and despair she’d felt when her mom had left her in the care of her dad and grandparents when she was only three years old . That helplessness had seemed a bit more manageable once she learned to focus and control her anger. “I’ll talk to my dad about it. He seems to have a better handle on how to deal with the girls than I do. At first I wasn’t sure giving up my apartment and moving back to the resort was the best thing to do. Part of me feels like I should be able to handle this on my own, but honestly, I’m not sure I could have gotten through the past three months without Dad and Grandpa’s help.”
    “Give yourself a break,” Jenna encouraged. “You’re doing a wonderful job with Ashley and Gracie, and your dad and grandpa are happy to help.”
    “Yeah, I guess. ” Tj looked less than totally convinced. “I guess I should get going. Since Dennis is working tonight, let’s just take the girls for a pizza over at Rob’s after the decorating party and save ourselves the hassle of making dinner.”
    “Having someone else cook for me for a change sounds like a wonderful idea,” Jenna agreed.
    Tj turned to leave just as Jenna dumped a bag of flour into a large mixer and Dennis walked in through the back door leading out to the alley .
    “What are you doing here? ” Jenna smiled at her tall, blond-haired husband.
    “I was doing a routine inspection next door and thought I’d pop in for some sugar.”
    “Cookies are on the cooling rack,” Jenna offered.
    “Not what I had in mind. ” Dennis crossed the room, wrapped his wife in his arms, and bent her into a low dip before gallantly kissing her gently on the lips. Jenna laughed, kissing him back but being careful not to actually touch him since she had flour on her hands.
    “Get a room,” Tj teased .
    “If only we could. ” Dennis kissed his wife one last time before standing her upright and releasing her. “Josh is waiting in the truck. He thinks I popped in to pilfer some cookies, so I guess I should take some after all. Anything with chocolate or peanut butter would be great. Oh, and throw in some of those oatmeal crisps while you’re at it.”
    “I’ll get them,” Tj offered as she filled a takeout bag with an assortment of the tasty treats . Secretly Tj was jealous of Jenna. Not because Dennis was firm and fit and gorgeous from hours upon hours of training, but because Dennis was goofy and romantic and loved his wife with every fiber of his being. For the most part Tj was happy with her life, but someday she wanted what they had, the stuff of fairy tales.
     

Chapter 4
    Tj had first met the elusive Zachary Collins on Halloween night almost fourteen