Free Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods Page A

fact she regretted every single day of her life. She hadn’t been a bit surprised that their marriage had barely lasted ten years. What had surprised her was that sweet, easygoing Sonny was the one who’d ended it. She’d had a daughter she adored and a successful career that gave her financial independence. Being married to Sonny had given her the respectability she’d craved since childhood. She probably would have drifted along contentedly for a lot longer if Sonny hadn’t forced the issue.
    “You made up your mind yet?” Teresa asked, snapping her back to the present.
    “About what?” Mary Vaughn asked blankly.
    “Do you want me to tell Tom that you stopped by or not?”
    “No,” she said. “Thanks, Teresa. I’ll catch up with him sooner or later.”
    Teresa murmured something that sounded a whole lot like, “I’ll be sure to warn him,” but her expression was perfectly innocent when Mary Vaughn turned to give her a penetrating look.
    “You have a good day,” Teresa said.
    “You do the same,” Mary Vaughn said with even less sincerity.
    Outside Town Hall, she was about to cross Main Street when she saw Tom getting out of his car. She brightened immediately.
    “Hello there,” she called out. “I was just looking for you.”
    For an instant he looked confused, but then recognition apparently dawned. “Mary Vaughn, isn’t it?”
    “You have a wonderful memory,” she said. “I’m sure it must be so confusing when you first move into a new town. Not that I’d know, of course. I’ve lived here all my life. There’s not a nook or cranny of Serenity that I don’t know like the back of my hand. The same with the people who live here. I know all their dirty little secrets.”
    “Oh?”
    She flushed under his vaguely disapproving gaze. “Not that there are that many dirty little secrets, of course. I just meant that I know everyone real well. I could give you a crash course, if you like. In fact, if you have the time, I’d love to buy you lunch over at Wharton’s or Sullivan’s. Sullivan’s is the best we have to offer. Have you eaten there yet?”
    “I have,” he said. “It’s terrific and I appreciate the invitation, but I’ve had a jam-packed morning and the afternoon doesn’t look much better. I’m just going to have a sandwich at my desk. I think Teresa has already ordered it.”
    Mary Vaughn backed down at once. “Another time, then. How’s your house hunting going, by the way? Howard told me you’ve been looking. I’d be happy to show you some properties. I could fax over the material on the ones you might like.”
    “Do that,” he said. “But I’m not sure when I’ll get to them. I’ll call you, okay?”
    She bit back a sigh. She was striking out on all fronts today, but she’d live to try again. After all, that’s what she did. She put on a cheerful smile and survived. She’d been doing it her whole life and there wasn’t a soul in town who’d ever guessed how good she was at covering up her problems.
    “Call anytime,” she told him with her sunniest smile. Then she walked away with her back straight and her pride mostly intact.
    “Did Mary Vaughn get her claws into you?” Teresa asked the minute Tom walked into his office.
    “What?” he asked distractedly. “Mary Vaughn? I just ran into her on the street. I’m not even sure what she wanted.”
    “You,” Teresa said, following him into his office. “She wants you. Didn’t I warn you about that the other day? Trust me. I’ve seen that glint in her eyes before. Last time, she was after Ronnie Sullivan, but Dana Sue put a quick end to that.”
    He looked up. “Teresa, I’m not interested in gossip.”
    But he had been aware of Mary Vaughn’s interest. She’d asked him to lunch. Her offer to show him real estate had seemed like an afterthought.
    He had no interest, however, in sharing this with Teresa. “The only thing she’s interested in,” he said, “is selling me a house.”
    Teresa rolled her