Free Love Inspired November 2014 #2 by Allie Pleiter, Lorraine Beatty Page A

handbasket with a box of frozen breakfast sandwiches. “Hard to say. She’d like his sense of humor, but I doubt she’d have found him artistic enough.”
    â€œYour grandmother always was a pushover for the poetic types, judging from the way your grandfather won her over,” Melba offered, gently removing the toe from Maria’s drool-soaked mouth. “It’s got to be too early for teething, doesn’t it?”
    JJ and Charlotte shrugged. Charlotte noticed a new weariness in Melba’s voice and eyes.
    â€œI still think you should publish all those love letters as a book,” Melba went on. “Your grandfather was a heart slayer on the page in his day.” The new mother sighed. “Nobody does that sort of romantic stuff anymore.”
    Charlotte leaned over and tickled Maria. “Is my darling goddaughter cutting into Mommy’s love life?”
    Melba’s sigh turned into a yawn. “Right behind the firehouse. Between Clark’s days and Maria’s nights, I’m stretched to the limit. This parenting stuff is hard.”
    â€œThe chief has been wound pretty tight these days, too,” JJ added.
    Charlotte eyed her friend. “When’s the last time you and Clark had an evening to yourselves?”
    Melba’s only response was a sad smile. “It’s worth it.”
    JJ put a hand on Melba’s sagging shoulder. “You two deserve to be off duty. No offense, but you look exhausted. And honestly I could use a less grumpy boss.”
    â€œThat’s it, I’m babysitting.” Charlotte pulled out her smartphone to check her calendar. There was nothing like helping others to get her mind off her own problems. And she adored Maria.
This should be a fun task.
“When is the next night Clark has free?”
    Melba rolled her eyes. “Who knows?”
    â€œClark does,” said JJ. “Text him right now and ask him.”
    â€œRight now?” Melba seemed more interested in the choice of green beans, and that was bad news in the romance department.
    Charlotte shut the freezer cabinet door in front of Melba’s face. “This instant. You’re outnumbered three to one.”
    â€œThree?”
    â€œMaria agrees with me.”
    Two minutes and a package of ground turkey later, Melba peered at her phone and declared, “Thursday night.”
    â€œMission accomplished. Okay, ladies, I have to get going.” JJ’s face took on a glow. “Alex is heading out of town again, and I promised him one home-cooked meal before he gets on another plane.”
    Melba gazed after the lovestruck firefighter and then pushed out a breath as she deposited a box of biscuit mix into her cart. “I’m pretty sure Clark and I looked that smitten once.”
    â€œExactly my point,” Charlotte replied. “I’m babysitting next Thursday night so you and Chief Bradens can have some time to rekindle your flame.”
    â€œI’m likely to fall asleep at the restaurant table,” Melba admitted. “I can’t remember the last time I sat down for a whole meal. They don’t call 5:00 p.m. ‘the fussing hour’ for nothing. By the time Clark pulls in the driveway I’m ready to take a hot bath and tell the world good-night. At least until Maria wakes up again.”
    The strain in her friend’s eyes tugged at Charlotte’s heart. Melba had been through so much since moving to Gordon Falls—the long, hard struggle to care for her father, his eventual death—she’d thanked God for sending Clark to Melba a million times over the past year. And now baby Maria added more joy to their lives, but they were both clearly tired. While Melba never complained, Charlotte knew being married to the fire chief wasn’t the easiest job in the world. Dad had been only a police captain, and it had taken a lot out of Mom. She touched Melba’s elbow. “You need this. Let me do this