Free Love Inspired May 2015 #2 by Missy Tippens, Jean C. Gordon, Patricia Johns Page A

her up, and she settled immediately with the contact.
    She packed up the diaper bag and then put Abigail in the carrier. Once she had the safety seat clicked in place, they drove to the store.
    It felt like such a normal motherly thing to do—parking and carrying the baby carrier inside.
    Violet attached the seat to the grocery cart. Pulling out her short shopping list, she headed to the produce aisle.
    She stopped to look at bell peppers. “Hmm, what do you think, sweet girl? Should I buy red or yellow?”
    Abigail gazed at her with big blue eyes and blew little spit bubbles. As Violet kissed a tiny hand, her heart swelled.
    Another customer reached for a green pepper. “What a precious baby. And she’s being so good!”
    â€œYes, she’s a sweet one.”
    Abigail’s tiny hand tightened around Violet’s finger, and invisible fingers seemed to wrap around her heart as well, plucking at the damaged heartstrings, heartstrings ripped apart when her child had been taken away.
    With a brush of Abigail’s soft hair, Violet tried to rebuild the fortress that shielded her from longing for things of the past. But, for just a moment, Violet had glimpsed what it would have been like to raise a child she’d brought into the world, if circumstances had been different, if her parents had worried less about what the community thought and more about what was best for their daughter and grandchild.
    â€œHi, Violet.”
    She glanced behind her and found Chloe O’Malley, who must’ve taken a break from her clothing boutique to do some shopping.
    â€œOh, hi, Chloe.”
    â€œWhose baby?”
    â€œJake West’s...well, his cousin’s baby.”
    â€œSo Remy had a baby?”
    â€œYes, this is Abigail. And she’s staying with Jake for a while.”
    Chloe’s eyes widened. “Wow. I bet that’s entertaining.”
    Violet couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out. “He was pretty clueless at first. But with a little tutoring, he’s doing a good job.”
    â€œTutoring...by you?” Chloe’s silvery-blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.
    â€œYes. He brought her to me at the office to examine.”
    â€œI seeee.” Her tone—filled with innuendo—made Violet’s face heat.
    Maybe the woman did see a little too much. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not what you think.”
    â€œIsn’t it? I think I see potential in this situation. Dating potential.”
    The laughter in Chloe’s eyes wrung an unwilling smile from Violet. She shook her head and bit her lip.
    The fact that she was at the grocery store with Jake’s charge during the middle of a workday probably did suggest more than just a favor. “Don’t look so thrilled about it. Jake’s just stuck without a babysitter, and I offered to fill in for a couple of hours this afternoon.”
    â€œUh-huh.” She grinned. “Nice job catching the most eligible bachelor in town. You need to use the lake house trip you won at the Food4Kids auction and invite him along. Pick a date and we’ll arrange it.”
    Before Violet could further correct the misperception, Chloe darted off.
    Violet wanted to growl, to chase Chloe down and tell her to drop the silly notion that there was anything more going on than babysitting.
    But she had no recourse. And still had groceries to buy. So she pushed aside the teasing and marched ahead, checking each item off the list.
    Abigail cooperated beautifully until Violet was in the last aisle picking up milk. The good little shopper started to kick her feet and fuss.
    â€œI know. You’ve been such a good girl. Just give me one more minute.” She zipped the cart toward the checkout line.
    She groaned when she found customers backed up two or three deep at every register. Who knew Wednesday afternoon could be so crowded? Was it double coupon day?
    Violet lifted Abigail out of the seat and