Free What the Heart Knows by Margaret Daley Page A

ago.” Laura stood to the side to allow Kathleen and Mark into her house.
    Kathleen slid a glance toward her son. “It took longer to get ready than I anticipated.”
    â€œEveryone’s out back, Mark,” Laura said as she shut the front door.
    Kathleen’s son mumbled something, then, with shoulders slouched, ambled toward the kitchen. Even though the temperature promised to be in the high eighties, Mark wore black cutoff jeans and a black sweatshirt.
    â€œHe isn’t swimming?” Laura whispered.
    Kathleen shook her head and waited until her son disappeared into the kitchen before continuing, “He said he didn’t feel like it.”
    â€œRemember when we couldn’t get him out of a pool?”
    â€œYes,” Kathleen murmured, thinking back to only two summers ago before her life had whirled out of control.
    â€œWell, sometimes there’s no second-guessing teenagers. Shane announced this morning at breakfast he had a date later this evening with a new girl in town. This is the first time he’s shown any interest in the female population of Crystal Springs.”
    â€œThat’s pretty normal for a sixteen-year-old.”
    Laura started toward the kitchen, tossing over her shoulder, “Yeah, but think of all the worrying I’ll be doing.”
    She would love to have that kind of worrying, Kathleen thought. Instead, she had to worry about whether her son was getting mixed up in something bad, like drugs. She had read up on the subject this week, hoping to educate herself in case that was the problem. But for some reason that didn’t feel right.
    In the kitchen, the sounds of laughter and children’s loud voices came from the backyard. “My gosh, who do you have out there? The whole neighborhood?” Kathleen peeked out the window overlooking the patio and pool. Hannah ran by with Terry chasing her. Then she heard Jared’s deep voice calling to them to slow down. “Laura, I thought this was going to be just the family.” She faced her sister who couldn’t hide the guilty expression fast enough. “What are you up to?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell me Jared and his family were going to be here.”
    â€œDoes that make a difference?” Laura whirledabout and fidgeted with the vegetable tray, rearranging the carrot and celery sticks.
    â€œI’m not interested in dating anyone.”
    â€œDid I say you were?” Laura straightened the carrots again.
    â€œI know your tactics. Don’t forget I grew up with you.”
    Laura put the last carrot down on the pile and turned. “Okay. I invited him because I think it would be wonderful if you two dated and got to know each other. He’s lonely. You’re lonely. His kids need a mother. Mark needs a man around.”
    Her sister’s declaration made Kathleen’s face blush. “Bad timing. I don’t think he’s looking and I’m certainly not. I was lucky to have such a wonderful marriage with John. A lot of people don’t get even one good marriage.”
    â€œLike Jared? It was common knowledge the last few years of their marriage she was drinking a lot. That had to be hard on him even though he wouldn’t talk about it.”
    â€œThat’s my point exactly. Neither one of us is looking for a relationship.”
    â€œYou don’t think you can be that happy a second time around?”
    Kathleen narrowed her eyes on her sister. “Don’t play matchmaker. I have more than I can handle right now.” She glanced out the window. “Are Mom and Dad here?”
    â€œCouldn’t come. Dad is playing golf and Mom is working at the church. Next time I’ll have to give them more notice than twenty-four hours.” Laurahoisted the tray and headed for the back door. “So it’s only us, you and Jared’s family. Not the whole neighborhood even if it sounds like it.”
    When her