Forever Wife Read Online Free

– rental hall.  Locals can rent it for birthdays or anniversary parties.  Otherwise, you can order your take-out at the window and go in there to eat, if you don’t like the flies outside.”
    “I’m impressed,” Liz admitted. 
    “Wish Dad had thought of it.  This is all the new owner’s idea.  And I got first dibs on him.”
    Liz laughed, as Tracy had intended.  Back in their college days, whenever they saw a cute guy, whoever called “dibs” first, had exclusive rights.  The other was honor-bound to turn him down if he ever asked her for a date.  It had been more silly than serious, for neither of them had dated much.  Tracy was a jerk-magnet.  Only the really creepy guys ever asked her out  - although Liz could never understand why.  And Liz had only been in love with her horses.  Sort of. As a child she’d had a wicked crush on her godfather.
    They walked up to a window that had an impressive menu displayed above, listing breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées – mostly deep-fat fried – and a long list of ice cream delights.  The man at the window was awfully cute, if a little young for Liz’s taste.  “What can I get you?” he asked politely.
    They placed their orders.  Liz got the country breakfast – eggs, toast, hash browns, bacon, juice, and pancakes.  Tracy ordered a burger and fries. They both had an ice cream shake.  Carrying the Styrofoam containers precariously stacked, they made their way to the dining room that still had a few of the lunch crowd lingering over coffee refills.
    All through lunch Tracy kept up a steady string of conversation, probably trying to repeat everything she would have told her in those letters Liz had failed to receive.  She wondered where they were now.  Her stables had gone into foreclosure, her horses auctioned off.  To her knowledge, the property was still empty.  Maybe the letters were piling up in the mailbox, although by now the postal carrier should have realized that no one lived there. 
    Tracy talked about her younger brother, how he got married and moved to California.  She hadn’t seen him since.  Small loss.  Her brother was more than a little strange ; Liz never had liked him.   Tracy talked about school politics and told a few funny stories about her third graders.  Liz nodded and agreed or disagreed whenever there was break in the conversation, but mostly she just enjoyed her meal.  It was the first full meal she’d had in some time.  It felt good not to be hungry.
    They tossed their trash and washed up in the restroom, before settling on the swings behind the picnic tables.  “We need a plan, Liz.  We need to find a way to stop the developer in his tracks.  What can we do?”
    “Research,” Liz said, as the inspiration came to her.  “Do you have Internet? Or do we have to go to the library?”
    “You are too funny,” Tracy groaned.  “Of course I have Internet.  It’s just cable, but that’s all you can get out here.  And it’s not the fastest, but it gets the job done.”
    “Okay, then. We have to see what others have done in similar situations.  We have to find out who is buying the property, and what their plans are. If it really is some big resort, we may have a battle on our hands.”
    “Why?”
    “Because some of locals may want it to go through.  It could mean new jobs, a boost to the economy.  We would have to prove that the casino would be harmful somehow, damage the ecology of the area.  Or we have to convince the locals that the casino is not in their best interests – increased crime, or something.  Eventually we can go door to door to get others interested in our cause, maybe stage a protest.  But for now, we have to research our options.”
    Tracy grinned, giving Liz two thumbs up. “I knew I could count on you! Thanks, Liz.”
    * * * * *
    Vidar slung his overnight bag over a shoulder and departed the plane with an audible sigh.  He hated using the metallic cages, dependent upon