Free Waiting for You by Heather Huffman Page A

because she was looking forward to seeing the little pixie.
    Aidan’s smile was instant and genuine. “She insisted on hanging around long enough to see you.”
    “She’s not staying?” Karise was genuinely disappointed.
    “She spends the night with our neighbors every so often.”
    “Sounds like you have good neighbors.”
    “Elsie and Mark are angels,” he agreed. Any further explanation was cut short by Zoe bursting out the front door.
    “Karise!”
    Karise knelt down and opened her arms for a hug. “Good to see you, kiddo.”
    Gavin shook his head mournfully. “Four years spent spoiling the imp and she ditches us after meeting Karise once.”
    “She’s prettier than you, Gavin,” Aidan explained, his eyes never leaving the pair still wrapped in a hug. Zoe’s skinny little arms had a death lock on Karise’s neck.
    “Where does that leave me?” Kate wondered aloud.
    “Don’t answer that, man,” Gavin warned his friend.
    “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Kate demanded.
    “That someone besides me is in trouble? Immensely.”
    “I hear you have other friends in there,” Karise told Zoe.
    “Yep. And Miss Jessica has a baby in her tummy.”
    “Good for her.” Karise wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Do you think you could go introduce me?”
    Zoe nodded and let go of her grip on Karise’s neck in exchange for one on her fingers. Determined to carry out her assigned task, Zoe led Karise through the door. The rest of the adults followed along with expressions of amusement on their faces.
    The little girl bubbled with enthusiasm as she introduced Karise to the couples waiting inside. Jessica, in addition to having a baby in her tummy, had honey-colored hair cut in the latest style. Her smile was warm, and when it was bestowed on Karise, she felt like she’d been wrapped in a welcoming embrace. The young woman sparkled with kindness in a way that assuredly drew people to her. Her husband Ryan’s hand rested lightly on Jessica’s back as he reached his free hand forward to shake Karise’s.
    Liz’s smile contained the same warmth, but there was a shyness to it that Karise could relate to. There was also a hint of sass sparkling in the dark-haired beauty’s eyes that made Karise suspect Liz was the one behind Kate’s aforementioned shenanigans. The woman had an effortless beauty that made Karise want to double-check her own reflection. Her husband Derrick greeted Karise before returning his gaze back to Liz. His bemused expression made Karise wonder what the conversation had been before her arrival.
    Zoe was thrilled to be the center of the group’s attention. She didn’t bother hiding her dismay when Aidan declared it time for her to go next door.
    “I’ll take her,” Kate offered when Aidan went to grab his keys from where they hung by the door.
    “Are you sure?” He hesitated.
    “Absolutely. I want to ask Elsie if she got my new brochures out anyway.”
    Karise’s confusion must have been evident because Gavin leaned over to explain, “Elsie is head of the visitor’s bureau.”
    “It’s a perfect job for her, too,” Kate added. “The woman can’t check out at the grocery store without making friends with the cashier.”
    Karise nodded. She couldn’t imagine making friends that effortlessly. During her entire tenure in Boston, she hadn’t made one friend. She’d had acquaintances, but no one she thought to follow up with now that she was gone. Certainly, no one had followed up with her since leaving, either.
    It occurred to her that if she tucked tail and ran after finishing Kate’s house, she’d want to follow up with these people. She’d still want to hear their stories.
    Maybe Karise was imagining it, but she had the distinct impression these women were curious about her. Heaven only knew what Kate had told them about her, though. She answered their questions as they came, returning a litany of her own inquiries. She loved hearing about the magazine they worked