Free Ladd Haven by Dianne Venetta

What’s got you so wound up?”
    “ Jack was here. Jack was
here and he was talking to Felicity.”
    Alarm bells sounded in her skull.
“What? What was he doing with Felicity?”
    “ I don’t know. It was after
the lunch rush, but you know that man is meaner than a flea-bitten
hound dog. I don’t know what he was saying ‘cause I didn’t want to
venture too close, you know what I mean? But I know it couldn’t
have been good.”
    “ Did Felicity look
upset?”
    “ No, no, she didn’t look
upset, but he looked mighty happy when he left so you can see why
I’m concerned.”
    “ I hear you.” A happy Jack
Foster meant a miserable someone else—usually her. Delaney dumped
her gaze to the racks laden with perfectly baked pies, mostly
peach. Peach pies were Fran’s specialty and Felicity’s
favorite.
    Fran cupped a hand over her hair net,
brown eyes sharper than a hawk on the hunt. She was all too
familiar with the Ladd-Foster history and liked Jack Foster least
of all. If she could, she would have banned the lot of them but
there were rules against such things. not to mention it wasn’t good
for business. Looking at Delaney intently, Fran said, “Now you know
I don’t want to be upsetting you with your new marriage and all
but, Lord a’mercy, I don’t like him poking around
Felicity.”
    Delaney placed a hand to Fran’s
shoulder. “I know you don’t. I know you’re looking out for her and
I appreciate it.”
    Somewhat mollified by the comment, Fran
gave a small smile. “You know I love that girl like she’s my own
flesh and blood.”
    “ I know you do. I’ll talk to
her.”
    “ You do that but keep it
close to your heart, will you?”
    “ Because she fussed about it
the last time?” Delaney asked.
    Felicity had made a point of objecting
to the last time Fran “told” on her, stating she was old enough to
make her own decisions and didn’t need her mother or Fran spying on
her every move. But Jack talking to Felicity could only spell
trouble—the kind of trouble Felicity couldn’t
understand.
    “ Well, yes but...” Fran
hedged, acting a bit too dodgy for Delaney’s comfort. It wasn’t
like Fran to dance around a point. She was like an archer with a
bow.
    “ When I asked Felicity about
the meeting with Jack after he left, she said it was nothing,
really, something about the Fosters wantin’ to see her.”
    “ Jack’s parents?”
    Fran nodded. “You see what I mean? He
ain’t playin’ fair if he’s willing to use his folks to get to
Felicity.”
    Delaney stroked a hand over top of her
head, wrapped her hand around her ponytail and wanted to pull her
hair out. “You can say that again!”
    “ I don’t blame Felicity.
It’s only natural for her to be curious, you know what I
mean?”
    “ I hear you. Felicity
shouldn’t be a pawn in this game.”
    Fran’s eyes leapt to the front door. At
the clang of bells, Delaney turned. Her heart lurched. Casey walked
in, alone, looking like she’d lost her best friend.
    “ Oh, that poor child!” Fran
cried under her breath. “She’s nothin’ but a bag of bones, I tell
you. Wait until I get a hold of that mother of hers—she isn’t
eating a morsel of that food I’m sending home with her.”
    Delaney had to admit Casey looked thin.
The cotton dress hung stick-straight from her body, her stomach no
more than a bump beneath the floral material. Could be those skinny
white legs of hers, disappearing into a pair of black boots. The
combination made her legs look all the thinner. Casey’s lack of
weight gain rivaled that of Lacy’s, but at least Lacy looked
healthy during her pregnancy. Casey looked drawn, stressed, and
Delaney had a feeling she knew why. “I need to talk to her,” she
murmured to Fran.
     
    “ You do that, sugar. And get
her to eat while you’re at it, will you? I’ll bring you anything
you want.”
    Delaney smiled. “I’ll try.” But she had
a feeling food was the last thing on Casey’s mind. Undoubtedly