Free If The Shoe Fits by Judi Fennell

bringing a date to the dinner Saturday night. I’m
doing my guest list and realized I didn’t know if there was someone
special in your life.”
    Subtle Connie was not. He’d met her when he’d
been drafted by the team, and she’d tried to get him to settle down
ever since. But he’d been too busy proving himself to get serious
about anyone.
    If only he’d shared that info with
Devin.
    “ You are coming, aren’t you? It’s
a big event.”
    Which was a big problem. Connie’s annual
dinner for everyone involved with the stadium meant that Coach
would be there. They hadn’t spoken since Reese had gone on the
disabled list, and a public place wasn’t the best idea for a first
conversation.
    “ I don’t know yet,
Con.”
    “ Oh, please, Reese. It’ll be good
for you. And Coach, too. Just the thing you need to break the ice.
Start over. A new beginning. Please say you’ll come.”
    Actually, bringing a date could be a good
thing. A buffer.
    Right. Buffer. He knew who he wanted to bring,
but it wasn’t so she’d be a buffer.
    “ I won’t take no for an answer,
Reese.”
    He knew that, too. Well, he could always tell
Bella it was a site visit so she could see what he had in mind for
the auction.
    That was lame. Even for Luke.
    Reese sighed. “I’ll be there. Not sure about a
date yet, though. I’ll have to check her schedule.” And his own
sanity. But if he and Bella were going to work together he had to
get over this attraction.
    Connie was right; the party could be the
perfect beginning for a lot of things.

Chapter Eight
     
    Sophia tugged Bella’s hand on the sidewalk two
blocks from the park. “Come on, Bella! Let’s race! I want to see
the hot air balloons.”
    “ All right, but be careful.” Bella
rumpled Sophia’s hair.
    “ I will! Ready, set, go!” Sophia
took off down the sidewalk toward the park where the annual regatta
was set up.
    Slowing her stride to just under Sophia’s
furious one, Bella pretended to struggle. Couldn’t let Sophia win
too easily or she’d catch on.
    Suddenly though, Bella no longer had to act as
she landed hard on the concrete. “Ouch!”
    Sophia spun around and hurried back. “Bella!
Are you okay?”
    Bella examined her ankle. Then her hip. Both
seemed intact, but sore. The same could not be said of her running
shoe. The seam was ripped, the rubber sole hanging by
threads.
    She got to her feet, wincing at the twinge in
her hip. “I’m having the darnedest luck with shoes these
days.”
    “ We could buy you a new pair in
that store over there.” Sophia pointed across the
street.
    Heavenly Shoes. Talk about
luck…
    The store’s door chimes sounded a lot like the
bells of St. Gabriel’s Church as Bella followed Sophia inside, and
Mr. Griff’s smile was almost angelic as he hurried from the back
room.
    “ Bella, it’s so good to see you.
And you must be Sophia.” Mr. Griff dropped to one knee and took
Sophia’s hand in his. “I’m so glad to meet you.”
    Sophia giggled while she shook her hand. “It’s
nice to meet you, too, um…”
    “ Jonathan Griff, lass.” He stood
up. “Welcome to Heavenly Shoes’ opening day. I can’t think of a
better opening than to have two such beautiful ladies stop by.” He
winked at Sophia which sent her into another round of giggles.
“Now, what brings you here?”
    “ Bella needs a new pair of running
shoes.” Sophia held up the damaged one. “See?”
    “ Tsk tsk. I’ll say she does.” Mr.
Griff took it from her. “It’s seen better days, I’m sure. But not
to worry, ladies. Running shoes are my specialty.” He led them to a
bank of chairs. “Have a seat and I’ll be right back with a
selection for you to choose from.”
    Bella sat, but Sophia rushed over to the shoe
displays in the glass case beneath the counter.
    “ Look Bella! Here’s a pair like
Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz .” Shiny ruby pumps
glittered in the twinkling lights lining the case. “And this pair
looks just like the ones