Free Rescue Me by Catherine Mann Page A

style.
    She trained dogs, but didn’t have one of her own. Not yet. Someday. For now, she got her dog fix through the rescue. She was lucky to have this place, her job and close friends. Like Sierra.
    Mary Hannah kept her eyes off her friend’s swollen stomach. “Come inside. Sit. Let’s talk. I’m so happy you’re finally here.”
    Sierra took off her boots and left them by the door. “It’s been too long, and phone conversations just aren’t the same.”
    Mary Hannah tossed the blanket on her butcher-block table with the mini Christmas tree. “I’ve missed you.”
    â€œMe, too, so much.” Sierra hugged Mary Hannah as close as her pregnant stomach would allow.
    The baby kicked between them. Mary Hannah felt that kick all the way to her bruised heart.
    Pasting a smile on her face for her friend, she stepped back. “Just look at you, all glowing and pregnant. Not much longer, right?”
    â€œBig as a house, I know, and I still have two months to go.” She smoothed her hands over her stomach, glowing with happiness. “It’s a boy. We didn’t want to know, but during the ultrasound he just rolled right over and flashed his boy parts.”
    â€œCongratulations. I’m happy for you and Mike, truly.”
    And she was. Sierra was the best friend she’d ever had, and yet she’d never told her about the baby she’d lost. Or the addiction problem. Just that she’d gone to grad school after a painful divorce.
    It hurt even thinking about that time in her life. She didn’t know how to push the words free. But she wouldn’t let her own ghosts rob her friend of the joy of celebrating. “Tell me everything about North Carolina and your work with the magazine. I want to hear it all. You talk, I’ll bake. I promised your mom I would bring cookies for Christmas dinner tomorrow.”
    â€œI’ll be your taste tester.” Sierra grinned, sitting on one of the white ladder-back chairs around the table. “I can’t eat the batter raw because of the eggs, so I guess I’ll just have to wait until you bring them over tomorrow.”
    Eyes stinging, Mary Hannah turned away under the pretense of setting the oven on to preheat. “I’ve got a recipe for cookie dough that uses almond butter, flaxseeds and carob. I’ll make some for you before you leave.”
    â€œMaybe you could just bring the dough to Mom’s now since the ham is ready. The cookies can bake while we eat supper.”
    Mary Hannah glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks. But I’m kinda queasy from the rescue operation today. I’m going to need to shower at least two more times. Please, you all eat without me and enjoy your family time.”
    â€œYou’re family, too.” Sierra reached to squeeze her hand.
    â€œThanks.” But they weren’t. Not really. Just best friends who’d met in graduate school. Mary Hannah pulled her container of dough from the refrigerator; all the cookies had already been rolled and cut. She only needed to bake and ice them. “I’ve got plenty to keep me busy, then I’m going to turn in early.”
    â€œOkay, okay. If you’re not joining us for supper, I’ll have to come right out and ask.” Sierra leaned forward on her elbows, tapping the salt and pepper shakers out of line with each other. “I want to hear all the details on your hot cop friend Mom told me about. Don’t bother denying he’s sexy. She showed me a picture of him on Facebook.”
    Mary Hannah weighed her words as she placed sugar cookies shaped like trees, candy canes and reindeer on a baking pan. What was she supposed to say? That his coal-black hair curled at the ends when wet? Like when he began to perspire during sex? That he was great in the sack, like best-sex-of-her-life great?
    She’d worked too hard for her peace to risk it. “My ‘friend’ had to go