Free A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber Page B

“If you’d like, I’ll remind Ruth to check in with you or Robin every day so you can rest assured that all is well.”
    â€œYes, please do.”
    â€œHere’s your mother.” She passed the phone across the booth to her mother-in-law.
    Annie waited until their soup arrived before she spoke. “Honestly, Mom, you could be a bit friendlier to Dad.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYes. You know how he feels.”
    Bethanne did. “This is about more than feelings, Annie.”
    â€œAt least let him prove himself. You don’t need to be so…” She couldn’t seem to find the right word. “Unfriendly,” she said, repeating herself.
    â€œDid I sound short with your father?” she asked.
    â€œA little.”
    Bethanne looked at Ruth, who shrugged. “Just a tad, honey.”
    Bethanne exhaled and forced herself to remember that she was traveling with two of his staunchest advocates.
    â€œIs there any possibility the two of you might reconcile?” her ex-mother-in-law asked, eyes wide and hopeful.
    â€œOf course there’s a chance,” Annie answered on Bethanne’s behalf. “There’s always a chance, right, Mom?”
    Bethanne took her time answering, apparently longer than Annie liked, because both her daughter and Ruth stopped eating and stared at her intently. “Yes, I suppose there is,” she finally agreed.

Seven
    â€œL ook, the café’s still there!” Ruth called from the backseat. Annie had been driving since Richland, with Bethanne knitting beside her. Ruth leaned forward, thrilled about the opportunity to see her old friend again. When she’d met Marie, she’d been pregnant, away from family and friends, and in a marriage that hadn’t started out in the most positive way.
    They’d moved to Pendleton because that was where Richard’s first job was. He’d wanted to make a good impression on his employer; he’d been young, ambitious and eager to prove his worth. Her husband of less than a year had worked long days, abandoning Ruth to countless hours alone in a rental house in this town where she didn’t know a single soul. Meeting her neighbor, Marie, had been a lifesaver. Ruth had needed a friend, a connection with someone. She hadn’t really been prepared for the pregnancy, and she suffered from violent bouts of nausea that lasted through most of the day.
    Not only did Marie become her friend, she’d taken Ruth under her wing, recommended her own obstetrician and driven Ruth to and from her first few appointments. She’d shared baby clothesand maternity outfits with her. Best of all, she’d taken time for long afternoon chats, despite the fact that she had children of her own and often helped her parents at the roadside restaurant.
    Ruth had lived in Pendleton for only a couple of years, but she never forgot Marie, even though her own life had changed—and improved—soon after. The effort to stay in touch lasted several Christmases but eventually they’d lost contact. Still, Marie’s friendship had brought her comfort and support all those years ago.
    The café sat back from the road, surrounded by a gravel parking lot, just outside the Pendleton city limits. The white paint had long since grown dingy, and the windows looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in months. A sign out front announced Home Cooking.
    â€œLooks like it’s still in business,” Ruth said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.
    I told you this was a good idea,” Annie said. “You’re glad we came this way, aren’t you, Grandma?”
    â€œVery glad,” she said, and it was true.
    â€œThe sign on the building says it’s Marie’s Café,” Annie pointed out.
    â€œShe must’ve taken over from her parents,” Ruth commented. She grabbed her purse and was practically out of the car before Annie had pulled to a complete