Finding The Way Back To Love (Lakeside Porches 3) Read Online Free Page B

type.” Sam guffawed and pantomimed two big breasts in front of his chest. “Now Gwen, she’s more the athletic type. And classy. Some men go for that.”
    “I hear you. What’s your partner look like?”
    “Tall. Works out. Handsome. Dark hair kind of falls in his face. Women love that stuff.”
    “So they’re both fit and great looking,” Tony said. “Probably the only things they’ve got in common.”
    “Come on, bro. Maybe they’re both ready to start a family. They can make beautiful babies.”
    “You’ve already got them married?” Tony laughed.
    “I’m just saying, I think he’s hot for her.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Only thing is, he has a hang-up about drunks. His father was one.”
    Tony drew back his fist before he realized he was doing it. “What, you told him she’s in recovery? Did I tell you she’s in recovery?”
    “Easy, man. No way would I tell him that. She told me she knows you, and when I asked how, she said she just celebrated eight years sober, or something like that. But the thing is, Peter always lets the other guys book the drunks. We brought one in last night on our way back from the Forrester house. Peter let me handle it, as usual. Says he’s the best one to write up reports and chase down details. And he’s good at that. Really fast with paperwork, and everyone else hates doing it. But you told me her whole practice is about helping drunks and druggies recover. Right?”
    Tony nodded.
    “Well, Peter’s got very definite ideas about women. Doesn’t want them in danger. Doesn’t think she should be dealing with psychos.”
    “They’re not psychos. Gwen’s not in danger.” Tony snorted. “But maybe I’d better meet this dude. Teach him a few things about ex-drunks who are cleaning up their act.”
    “Sure, come on over some night.” Sam sat back. “We shoot baskets outside the police station on break, most mornings around two-thirty. Kids come around. They’re just out roaming with no supervision, and they like playing there, where nobody’s going to yell at them. They really dig Peter, like he’s one of them.”
    “Two-thirty in the morning? Yeah, that’ll happen. Is he any good?”
    Sam drained his coffee. “Might want him for the team this fall.”
    Deirdre’s sneakers scuffed the gravel path along the lakeshore. “This is the first you knew about Haley’s pregnancy?”
    Gwen lifted her face to the cool morning breeze and inhaled the clean smell of lake water. “She hadn’t told me, no. She’d been working at a restaurant this summer, in Saratoga Springs, near where she lives with her mom. Lived, that is.”
    “Her mom is your weird sister-in-law, Olga?”
    “Ex. And it’s Ursula.” Gwen stuffed her hands in the pocket of her hoodie. “I’m guessing she threw Haley out. I’m not sure why Haley came here yesterday, but I know she needs support. She hasn’t seen a doctor yet, for starters, and she has no clothes that fit her belly. I got that much out of her.”
    “She needs a woman’s help. And you’re the go-to woman in her young life.”
    “Thank you. I intend to live up to that.”
    “Has she been engaging in dangerous behavior?”
    “Aside from unprotected sex—which, by the way, is not like her—I doubt it. She’s not a drinker, as far as I know. In the past she’s been dead set against drugs, even pot. My sense is she has taken good care of her health. I think she wants this baby to have every chance. I hope she’s willing to give it up for adoption, but as far as I know she hasn’t done anything about that yet.”
    “Does she want you to raise her baby?” Deirdre’s tone was direct.
    “Wh-What?” Gwen’s heart jackhammered.
    Deirdre did not back down.
    “Surely she’s not thinking that?” Gwen willed her heart to settle down. When that didn’t work, she let out a laugh.
    “Why wouldn’t she think that?” Deirdre posed.
    “Are you suggesting I should do it?” Gwen asked, shocked.
    Deirdre