Something Old, Something New Read Online Free PDF Page A

take not being able to hang with Zoey. He’s already pouting about not being able to marry us.”
    â€œHe’s still asking?”
    â€œYep. Not changing my mind, though. The boy’s a kid. I need him to stop acting like he’s ninety. He wants to be a preacher so bad, and I can respect that, but I don’t think he’s ever been given a choice to be anything else but that.”
    â€œYou could be right.”
    She sighed. “Not sure what I’m supposed to do. I feel like I’m making it up as I go along.”
    â€œYou love him, he loves you. That’s half the battle.”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œTell you what. Give me a kiss, and I’ll let you get back to work.”
    â€œThat’s quite a segue, Your Honor,” she said saucily.
    â€œHave to keep you motivated.” He walked over and braced his hands on the edge of the desk. “Don’t want you slacking on the job.”
    â€œCan’t have that,” she agreed, and rose from her chair. When he took her into his arms, she placed her head against his heart. “I say we elope and run off to Tahiti.”
    â€œBe nice, but Bernadine will just find us and book the Sistine Chapel anyway.”
    â€œProbably.”
    He looked down into her eyes. “Did I tell you today that I love you?”
    â€œHmm. I think so, but be nice if you showed me.”
    And so, after a kiss that was slow and sweet, Trent went into his office. Grumbling about being mayor was the last thing on his mind.
    A short while later, Lily drove over to the school to talk with Devon. The children were outside, working in the sunshine. Crystal, sporting her new short, feathered do, was hunched over a table with her ever-present shadow, Eli James. They appeared to be drawing something. When Crys looked up and saw Lily, she waved happily, and Lily waved back. The new hairdo was an offshoot of the injuries Crystal had suffered at the hands of her biological father, Ray Chambers. Ray was ultimately killed during a tornado, and the badly injured Crystal had to have her head shaved for the doctors to treat her concussion. Her hair was growing out, and Lily had to admit that their resident teen queen looked very fly.
    Devon and Zoey were seated at another table, working on math problems along with Amari and Preston.
    As she walked up, Devon turned and beamed a smile her way. “Hi, Ms. Lily.”
    â€œHey, Devon.”
    She nodded in greeting to Amari and Preston. “Amari, may I talk to you and Devon for a minute, please?”
    Amari went stock-still. “Are we in trouble?”
    â€œNot with me, but is there something I need to tell your dad?”
    He grinned. “No, ma’am.”
    Enjoying him as she always did, she led him and Devon a few steps away before she explained why she’d come.
    Amari didn’t seem to have a problem with her request and replied, “Sure. I told Dad I’d meet him at the garage. I can take Devon with me.”
    Lily turned to Devon. “Is that okay?”
    He nodded, but asked, “After that can I go to Zoey’s?”
    Lily chose her words slowly and carefully, “I think this time you should stay with Mr. Trent and Amari until I get back. We’re all going to be family soon, Dev. Be nice if we could get to know each other better.”
    Amari nodded as if he agreed, but Devon didn’t seem convinced. “What if Zoey gets lonely? She misses her mom.”
    Lily could see Zoey watching them. Those big dark eyes of hers were Lily’s undoing, so mentally, she threw up her hands. “Okay, Amari, take Zoey, too. I’ll let Dr. Reg know.”
    Amari shrugged off the addition of another person to his entourage. “No problem.”
    â€œThanks, Amari. Devon, I’ll see you this evening.”
    As she turned to walk away she heard, “Ms. Lily. Hold up a minute. I need to talk to you.” It was Preston.
    When he reached her, she