A Rescued Heart (Rescued Heart Romance) Read Online Free Page B

her best friend. Jules’s reasons held merit. She needed to at least start thinking about dating again. She rolled over and sighed, letting the tension release out into the empty room.
    There, I thought about it, that’s good enough for now.
     

 
    The week flew by and before Ava had time to get nervous, Saturday had arrived. This afternoon Kate and Kyle were getting married. She settled on the couch to call her mom before she needed to get ready. Her mom answered on the second ring and their conversation jumped immediately to her week and how the kids did with transitioning after break.
    When she brought up professional day her mom’s interest was piqued. “Who did you have this month?”
    “I had a police officer from the Rockford Police Department. ” He was gorgeous, great with the kids and that smile … Ava stiffened as the thoughts trickled in, hoping her mom would not further question about the police officer. Even over the phone, it would be difficult for Ava to hide all that she was thinking.
    Ava’s muscles relaxed as her mom let her move on from that subject and replay the rest of the week. Her mom made conversations easy, and it helped to tell someone about the ups and downs in her life. She had her mom laughing for a solid ten minutes about all the silly things her students had said. The quiet apartment, dinners for one and lonely nights in front of the television had become mundane. Talking with her mom lifted her spirits.
    So, do you have plans tonight?” her mom asked, without masking her hopeful tone.
    “Actually I do. My friend Kate from school is getting married later this afternoon.”
    “That’s right.” Ava knew she had remembered. “Do you think you will go and stay this time?”
    “Yes.” She didn’t even try to hide her irritation.
    “I’m sorry, Ava. I just know you haven’t had the best track record with attending weddings since yours.”
    Ava sighed in frustration. W hy can’t everyone just leave this situation alone ? She shivered, letting herself remember why she had problems going to other weddings. The weddings her mom referred to were the three she had been invited to in the past two years.
    The first had been from the daughter of another teacher at school a couple months after hers. She’d replied “no” right away and had wanted to write underneath , Are you kidding me?
    The second had been a friend she’d gone to high school with. Jules had to work that day which forced her to go by herself. She’d made it to the parking lot and then had just sat in her car crying until she could settle down enough to drive home.
    The third had been eight months ago when her cousin had married. She’d made it inside the church and had managed to sit through the entire ceremony but chose not to stay for the reception. Was she the only one who saw the progress being made here? She felt good about today, determined to stay and to enjoy herself.
    She tuned her mom back in while she gave her speech about how she was such a great catch and that someday the man the Lord had made for her would walk into her life. Ava mouthed the words along with her. When she finally finished, Ava put in her two cents worth.
    “Thanks mom, I appreciate that you care so much,” and she meant it. “I should probably get going. I need to start getting ready.”
    After their good-byes she clicked the phone off and leaned her head back against the couch. It wasn’t entirely the weddings themselves that caused the setbacks. They were more or less her trigger point. The problems started with the memories that resurfaced when the wedding invitations arrived. She felt the flashbacks coming now but did nothing to stop them.
    Already in her mind she transported the memories back two years.
    The week afte r th e wedding had been brutal. Ava had stayed at her parents’ house for a few days, mostly locked in her old room, crying until she ran out of tears. Her family had given her space. She’d needed time to