Free Game of Hearts by Kathryn J. Bain Page A

didn't know any better, I'd say things were getting better. I might have a new client, and my daughter glowed. Maybe God was starting to give me a break.

Chapter Seven
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    My week was going well. The check from the doctor's office sat on my desk. I'd worked for them for two weeks and made more than before my hours at the car lot had been cut. November could turn out to be a pretty good month financially. Thank goodness, with the holidays around the corner.
    Sarah and I had walked every morning for the last three weeks. We were up to two miles. I'd lost eleven pounds and my clothes hung off me.
    "So how's it going with this boy you like?" I hated to get too personal, more so because I didn't want to hear what she might be doing behind my back. But as a parent, I considered it my duty to snoop into my kids' lives every once in a while.
    "Okay, I guess." She shrugged. "He's been having lunch with Frankie and me."
    "That's good."
    "What's good is Victoria has a different lunch hour so he doesn't stare deeply into her eyes."
    "Is this the boy whose acne cleared up over summer?"
    "Yeah." Sarah's cheeks reddened.
    "What makes you think it'd be Victoria's eyes and not yours?"
    "Apparently you haven't seen Victoria, have you?"
    "Victoria's a very beautiful girl, but you have prettier eyes." My telephone rang in my pocket, interrupting our conversation. I was tempted not to answer when I saw Michael's number on the caller ID, but I knew my curiosity wouldn't allow it. "Hello?"
    "Deb, we need to talk."
    "Can I call you back? I'm out doing my morning walk."
    "Trying to get back that figure from years ago? Good luck." He laughed.
    Why did I answer his call? I needed to listen to that little voice inside me when it told me not to do things. I knew I'd never get my figure back. Three pregnancies had seen to that. I just wanted some resemblance of an hourglass figure instead of the apple shape I'd become. "What do you want, Michael?" I tried to keep the anger from my voice since Sarah was beside me. It didn't work.
    "I want to get the kids this weekend to buy them their clothes for the wedding."
    "That's fine with me. They're off school this Friday, so come get them anytime."
    "I'll be there before nine. Make sure they're up and fed. Patrice and I don't want to have to worry about stopping to get breakfast. We have enough to do." He hung up.
    "What's going on?" Sarah hopped over a tree limb lying in the road.
    I told her of the conversation, all the while hoping Michael didn't let his kids down again. If he wanted to buy them new clothes, good for him. It would mean I wouldn't have to .
    After Sarah's outburst to her father a couple Sundays ago, she'd told me she'd overheard me talking on the phone about Michael being behind on his support. She knew I was doing the best I could. I'd resigned myself to the fact Matthew would blame me for the divorce no matter what. Anthony seemed to be the only one not taking sides. However, I'd won points with him by allowing Brandon to show him his tattoo on the back of his shoulder. Of course, now he wanted one of his own.
    "I don't know why I have to go." Sarah sulked. "Nothing I get will look good." She'd only lost three pounds from our walks.
    "Because he's your father," I said.
    "Yeah. That's why he can't wait to see us." Sarah made no effort to hide her distain. As much as I hated it, I couldn't blame her.
    We walked in silence for the remainder of the three blocks. Matthew and Anthony were up when we got home. Sometimes my children surprised me. I hadn't had to fight to get them out of bed since I'd started walking.
    "Kids, your dad's coming to get you this weekend. I don't want you to make any plans."
    "Like he's really going to show up." Sarah sucked down some water.
    "Shut up." Matthew spit out the words. "He wants to see us, he's just too busy."
    "Doing what? Hanging with his girlfriend?" Sarah fired back. "You don't honestly believe all those excuses, do you?"
    "That's enough. The important