Free Tides of Hope by Irene Hannon

he settles in. Here’s the thing, Kate. When I mentioned that I watch Maddie for you, he asked if I’d be willing to take Vicki, too. He’s got day care set up but would rather have her in a more personal setting. I told him I’d be happy to, but that it was really your decision, since I committed to you first. And it might not be a bad thing for Maddie to have some companionship under the age of sixty. She spends way too much time with me and Chester.”
    Edith fished in the pocket of her skirt, pulled out a slip of paper and handed it over. “That’s the lieutenant’s phone number. I told him I’d ask you to call him tonight so the two of you could discuss this.”
    Taking the paper, Kate frowned. “I don’t know, Edith. Are you sure you’re up to two four-year-olds?”
    The woman dismissed the comment with a wave. “I like having children around. Besides, I suspect having two little ones will end up being less work for me. They can entertain each other.”
    Her neighbor’s rationale was logical, Kate conceded. And it would be nice for Maddie to have a child her own age to play with. No other children lived on Lighthouse Lane, and her daughter’s asthma problem had kept her more confined than most youngsters her age.
    â€œOkay, Edith. I’ll give him a call.”
    â€œGood. Worst case, we give it a try and it doesn’t work. But I have a feeling everyone will benefit from this arrangement.”
    Kate didn’t like the twinkle in her neighbor’s eye. “How so?”
    â€œMaybe Maddie and Vicki won’t be the only two to pair up.”
    â€œEdith.” Kate shoved her hair back, exasperated. She was beginning to think nothing was going to dissuade the woman from her newfound quest to find a suitable match for her. “Leave me out of the equation, okay? If you’re so bent on matchmaking, why don’t you push him in Heather’s direction? She’s single.” Kate eased the door open.
    â€œHe’s not the right man for her. Besides, she has no interest in romance.”
    â€œNeither do I.”
    â€œBaloney.”
    Kate did a double take. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œBaloney. As in hogwash. My dear girl, you’re a young and vibrant woman. You’ve mourned for four long years. You can’t tell me you’re not as lonely as that lieutenant has to be.”
    Her neighbor knew her too well, Kate lamented. It was useless to pretend. “I miss Mac, Edith. And yes, I get lonely. But one romance was enough. Mac was the only man for me.” She hefted the pumpkin loaf on her palm and managed the semblance of a smile as she took one step out the door. “Thanks again for this. Maddie and I will enjoy it.” Without waiting for a response, Kate slipped out.
    But as she collected her daughter and they headed home, Kate mulled over what Edith had said. Craig Cole might very well be lonely. Yet if he’d suffered a loss, as she had, he might be as reluctant to consider romance as she was. There was a huge chasm between available and amenable.
    And Kate had a strong suspicion that while she and the lieutenant both fell into the available camp, neither of them was anywhere close to making the leap to amenable.

Chapter Five
    S he was five minutes late.
    Craig shifted in his seat at the small table in the café on Main Street, taking a sip of coffee while watching the front door. Kate hadn’t sounded all that eager about meeting him for lunch when she’d called last night to discuss his day-care proposal, suggesting they talk on the phone instead. But after he’d told her there was more to the story than appeared on the surface, she relented and had promised to meet him on his lunch hour.
    After another five minutes passed, however, he began to wonder if she’d changed her mind. Although Edith had appeared agreeable to his proposal, perhaps Kate preferred