Free A Second Helping by Beverly Jenkins

making Zoey legally theirs this past Christmas.
    â€œIt’s been mutual. She’s the reason I’m singing again.”
    Bernadine nodded. A few years ago, the estranged husband of one of Roni’s backup singers had gone berserk with an automatic rifle during a concert. Roni left the blood-soaked stage that night and never sang again, until last summer. Now, to the delight of her fans like Bernadine, the multi Grammy Award–winning vocalist was presently hard at work on a new CD. “So how’d the recording session go while you all were in New York?”
    â€œLaid a few tracks that I’m pleased with, but I spent most of the time taking the kids sightseeing. You should have seen their faces when they saw the Statue of Liberty.” She laughed. “What was even better was the face of a man standing beside us when I started explaining to them that the statue was built in France and originally meant as an anti-slavery symbol. He almost choked to death.”
    Bernadine grinned. “Did he say anything to you?”
    â€œYeah. Tried to argue with me. Told me I was telling the kids lies. I told him to look it up. Then I gave him my producer’s address so he’d know where to send me an apology.”
    Bernadine’s shoulders shook with laughter. “You are something else.”
    â€œBest way to be. Anyway, back to the CD. I’ll be flying back and forth to New York until we get it done, so thesooner we build the studio I want here, the better. I already know I’m not going to like missing Zoey.”
    The town’s construction crew was hoping to make the recording studio a reality by midsummer. It and the other projects on Bernadine’s build list for the year would begin in earnest just as soon as spring finished wrestling the weather away from Old Man Winter. Also due for construction this year was the health clinic Roni’s husband, Reggie, wanted to open. Presently there were no doctors practicing in Henry Adams and his expertise was sorely needed. “Tell your hubby I need his wish list for the clinic by next week so that he and I can sit down with the architect.”
    â€œWill do. You know, after all the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple it’s really really quiet here, and the silence feels good. Never thought I’d miss being in a teeny tiny place out in the middle of nowhere, but?” She shrugged.
    â€œI’m glad to be home too. Missed this place a lot.”
    Roni stood. “Okay, Boss Lady, I’m going to head out so that you can keep turning the world. Take a breath every now and then, would you?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    Roni made her exit.
    Bernadine went back to work.

CHAPTER 5
    O ver at the Dog and Cow, Malachi was in his office taking another look at the résumés sent by the culinary college’s secretary. Call him sexist, but he had no intentions of hiring another female. If Florene had been the pick of the female litter he wanted nothing to do with the runts. A few of the résumés had looked interesting. He picked up the phone on his desk and began to dial the first candidate’s number when he heard, “Hey Mal.”
    The sight of Rocky Dancer standing in the doorway almost gave him a heart attack. “Oh my goodness!”
    He jumped up and rushed over to give her a big hug.
    She reciprocated, laughing, “Hey. Watch the back. Watch the back. I may need that spine.”
    He stepped away with a grin on his face. “You visiting, or back for good?”
    She shrugged. “For good, looks like. Unless a better offer comes along.”
    â€œYour job’s open if you want it.”
    â€œI think I do. Love what you’ve done with the place.”
    â€œHallelujah!” And he hugged her again.
    â€œThings been that bad?” she asked, laughing again.
    â€œYou just don’t know. Have a seat and let me tell you a story.”
    So she did and he filled her in on