Summer in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and visit you as soon as we’re settled.”
    Callum’s jaw jutted out at a stubborn tilt. “It’s not the same.”
    Prim upended the basket, dumping the rest of the contents onto the table, and considered her response. Unlike Callum, she already loved this house. Loved the open floor plan. Loved the fact that from where she stood in the kitchen, she had a good view of the living room.
    The way the two rooms ran together allowed her to keep a better eye on her three boys—two rambunctious twins and one wolfhound—all with a penchant for trouble.
    “It might not be the same, but living here will be so much better than Milwaukee.” She refocused on the laundry. Picking up a sock, she frowned at the hole in the toe. She set it aside and waited for Callum’s response.
    A suspicious look settled over her son’s face. “How better?”
    “Well, Grandpa has a boat.” She spoke in a deliberately offhand tone and picked up another sock. “I don’t know many boys in Milwaukee who get to go fishing in a real boat. And that’s not all.”
    Rolling on the floor, Connor and Boris tumbled into Callum. Without taking his eyes off his mother, Callum shoved them back. “What else?”
    “Aunt Ami owns a bakery. When Sean visits we’ll be able to walk downtown and get him any kind of cookie he wants.”
    A boyish giggle split the air.
    “Help.” Laughter filled Connor’s voice. “Boris won’t stop licking me.”
    “Boris.” Callum’s quiet murmur was enough to stop the slobber bath. Once the dog sat on its haunches, Callum turned to his brother. “Want to play ball?”
    The sable-and-white hundred-pound wolfhound leaped to his feet and wagged his tail, a hopeful gleam in his golden eyes.
    “Boris says yes.” Connor scrambled to his feet, wiping the dog’s spit off his face with the back of his hand. “I say yes, too.”
    Callum grinned and took off running. He’d nearly reached the door when he paused and tossed over his shoulder, “Race you outside.”
    His brother gave a war whoop and sprinted. And just like that, the I-hate-my-new-life discussion came to an end. Prim sighed in relief.
    “I’ll let you know when lunch is ready,” Prim called as her boys tumbled out the screen door, an ecstatic Boris at their heels.
    The fenced-in backyard was another favorite feature of the house. The boys could play outside and she didn’t have to worry.
    Yes, this house was practically perfect. Except for the fact that Max Brody lived next door.
    She wasn’t certain why she found the thought of him being so close disturbing. It wasn’t as if they’d been involved , unless, of course, you counted the kiss he’d given her in that hotel hallway when they were seniors.
    Her fingers rose to her mouth, to lips that began to tingle at the memory of Max’s kiss.
    A car door slamming made her rear back. She slipped to the front window and glanced out, wondering if her dad had decided to stop by.
    Instead of her father, she spotted Loretta Sharkey, high school choral director and across-the-street neighbor, stepping from her ancient Chevrolet. Prim watched Loretta round the back of the Impala, open the passenger-side door, and retrieve several sacks of groceries.
    She wondered if the neighbors got together for backyard barbecues. Would Max be there? Blood surged through her veins at the possibility.
    Prim hadn’t seen him since the wedding reception. Though he’d made it clear she should let him know if she needed help moving, she hadn’t contacted him. Relying on herself was familiar territory. She was more than capable of handling the details of her and her sons’ lives.
    Even when Rory was alive, Prim had carried the bulk of the load. While her husband had been off scaling mountains and zip-lining across canyons, she’d been working, taking care of the twins, and handling all the day-to-day concerns that came with a household.
    She couldn’t begin to count the number of times she’d pleaded with him to think of the