Free Lakeside Sweetheart by Lenora Worth Page A

it.”
    Rory filled in the blanks to keep the awkwardness at bay. “Vanessa loves vintage stuff, and she’s agreed to hold her estate sale in conjunction with our rummage sale here at the church. If you volunteer to help out, I’m sure you might find some cool items.”
    â€œI don’t need anything,” Kandi said before turning away to talk to another girl.
    But Rory saw the way she sent a kohl-eyed glance back at Vanessa. “I think she’s warming up to you,” he whispered to Vanessa.
    â€œRight.” Vanessa shook her head. “Reminds me of myself at that age.”
    â€œI imagine you were cute at that age.”
    â€œI was a real pill,” she replied. “All gangly legs and messy hair. And braces.”
    â€œI wore braces,” he said. When he spotted Miss Fanny, he nudged Vanessa toward where the older woman sat holding court. “I want you to meet someone.”
    Miss Fanny looked up at Rory with a wide smile, and then her gaze moved to Vanessa, her hands going to her mouth.
    â€œMiss Fanny, this is Vanessa. Your neighbor.”
    â€œHello,” Vanessa said, her eyes moving from the woman in the chair to Rory, a questioning look in her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    â€œYou look like your mama,” Miss Fanny said. “She was a pretty woman.”
    â€œYou knew my mother?” Vanessa asked, her words caught on a breath of surprise. She sent Rory another glance, this one with a tad of accusation coloring it. He didn’t remind her that he’d mentioned this to her.
    â€œI sure did,” Miss Fanny said before Vanessa could argue the point. “We were good friends back in the day. Artists, you know. Sensitive and so sure we could save the world with words and colors. I live right next to your house. I wish I could talk to her over the fence one more time.”
    Vanessa’s eyes went misty. “Me, too.” Then she gave Rory an expression full of pain. “It’s good to see you. I...I think I need to find the ladies’ room.”
    â€œDown the hallway,” Miss Fanny said, pointing. After Vanessa hurried away, she lifted her eyes to Rory. “I didn’t mean to upset her.”
    â€œShe’s still grieving,” Rory explained. “In more ways than one.”
    â€œGrief never really goes away,” Miss Fanny said, eyeing the hallway. “I could go and check on her.”
    â€œI think she’d rather be alone right now,” Rory said. “I’ll send someone in if she’s not out soon.” He checked his watch. “I need to bless the food so we can get started.”
    But he took one more glance toward the ladies’ room. Would Vanessa come out, or would she sneak out the back door and go home?
    * * *
    She should go home.
    Vanessa blew her nose and stared at herself in the mirror, her gaze moving over the fresh flowers on the vanity and the picture of a mother and child walking along the lake centered on the wall over an inviting wooden bench. When she heard someone coming in, she threw the tissue in the trash and pushed at her hair.
    Kandi stood behind her with big eyes wide with questions. “So...your mother died?”
    Vanessa put on a brave face. “Yes. She’d been sick for a while.”
    â€œMy mom died in a bad wreck. Her birthday is Friday.”
    Vanessa turned to face the girl and noticed her vivid green eyes. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
    â€œI was young,” Kandi said. She shrugged and leaned over the counter, her black polished nails raking through the tufts of spiky hair around her face. “I don’t really remember much about her.”
    Right. A ten-year-old would remember a lot of things.
    Vanessa figured Kandi remembered way more than she needed to. “Do you have pictures of her? Things that might help you remember?”
    Another shrug and then a swipe at dark red lips. “I have two pictures.