To Begin Anew (Blue Jay Romance) Read Online Free PDF

décor of the place, his expression that of a child in a theme park. This was definitely a far cry from what they’d been used to. After a moment, he said, “I don’t know daddy. Could I have a hamburger?”
     
    Eric smiled at his son. “Sure, kiddo.” He scruffled his son’s hair and then directed his attention to Danny. “What are you going to have?”
     
    “Mashed ‘tatoes and French fries.” His bright eyes wavered for a moment on Debra before wandering around the restaurant.
     
    Eric chuckled. Danny had the most unusual tastes in food, and he didn’t have the heart to tell him that mashed potatoes and French fries were both foods that were made of potatoes. Even though he knew that Danny probably knew the difference himself. He said gently, “Don’t you want some meat to go along with that?”
     
    Danny shrugged. “Maybe.” Then he shook his head. “I want toast, with butter.”
     
    Eric sighed, but then leaned past David and scruffled Danny’s head. “You got it.” Still smiling, he looked to Debra. “What’ll you have?”
     
    Debra offered Dr. Nelson a smile, but really she wondered if she wasn’t going to get a cavity from his children’s cuteness. Both of them were too adorable for words, which wouldn’t have been bad if they weren’t also so endearing it was painful to listen to them. How shy they were! And their eyes! So wide and round and full of curiosity. She leaned in on her elbows, not bothering to look at the menu.
     
    “I’ll have a cheeseburger, French fries and a piece of Taylor’s special apple pie.”
     
    Eric resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Debra and her apples. He set the menu down in front of him just as the waitress came up to them, bobbing on her heels, her short, wavy black hair bouncing. Just as bubbly as a mountain brook, wasn’t she?
     
    “How ya doing, Darcy?”
     
    The bouncy waitress smiled, her eyes directed at Debra. For a reason he couldn’t catch hold of, even though Debra’s words had been friendly, the waitress’ tone was not.
     
    Darcy, replied, “Oh you know, a bit of this and that. I see you got yourself a nice little evening set out. Doing well for yourself, I see.”
     
    Debra smiled, but the gesture didn’t reach her eyes. The smile was cold. “Oh, you know, Darce. We can’t all marry the high school quarterback. But enough about you. I’m sure Dr. Nelson would like to order for his children.”
     
    The change that came over Darcy was instantaneous, her bubbly nature returning, and Eric realized that it was a front she put out, that inside she was just as cold as her words to Debra had been. Whatever it was that existed between the two women, he knew it wasn’t any of his business.
     
    “A hamburger, just ketchup. Two cheeseburgers, three orders of French fries, and a side order of mashed potatoes. Oh, and an order of buttered toast,” Eric said, his tone indifferent. “And a piece of apple pie.”
     
    Darcy wrote down everything he said, and then as she looked up to him, she winked. “If that’s all, can I take your drink orders?”
     
    “Four Cokes.” He glanced at his boys and caught their wide smiles. It was rare he allowed them to drink caffeine, let alone soda, so to them it was as if they’d gotten a year’s worth of Christmas presents.
     
    “Okay, darlin’. Comin’ right up.” Darcy winked at him again and as she walked away, Eric frowned.
     
    He looked to Debra. “What was that all about?”
     
    Debra shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
     
    Eric let his eyes dart in the direction Darcy had taken as she walked to the kitchen to deliver their order. “You know what I’m talking about.”
     
    Debra smiled slightly. “She and I used to be friends a long time ago. We’ve just got some history, is all. We both know where we stand with each other, and don’t worry. She won’t start anything - that little conversation we had was me letting her know to mind her manners in