Justice Healed Read Online Free Page B

lectures."  Her finger wagged in Madison's face.  "I mean it.  I want to enjoy my meal of poison.  Got it?"
    "Got it.  What's the worst thing on the menu?  We should get two of those."
    Sherry laughed.  "One extra large order of chili cheese fries coming up.  Then we'll move on to the entree.  Oh, and don't forget dessert.  They make a great chocolate cake here."
    Madison could feel her arteries hardening but she had to admit the wafting aromas from the food were tempting.  She rarely let herself eat whatever she wanted. 
    The waitress came to take their appetizer and drink order and before she knew it Sherry had ordered something fat-laden and two beers.  The waitress bustled away and Madison frowned.
    "I don't drink beer."
    "You need to loosen up.  A beer will help you."
    "Why do I need to loosen up exactly?"
    Sherry didn't answer.  Instead her attention was caught by something behind Madison.  Sherry waved and Madison twisted in her seat to see who had come in.  It was Dan, Sherry's boyfriend and another man who looked vaguely familiar standing by the door.  Sherry was beckoning to them.
    "I did this for your own good," Sherry said, never taking her eyes from the men hea ding for their table.  "I need to see how you interact with a man so I know what we need to work on."
    Madison wanted to throttle Sherry.  She leaned forward so only Sherry could hear her.  "I can't believe you did this.  I don't want a man in my life.  I told you that last night."
    "And I told you that I'm going to fix you up with Sheriff Tanner Marks.  You'll make a great couple.  I want you to be happy."
    "So why this guy?"
    "It's sort of like Animal Planet.  I need to see you in a mating situation."
    Madison pressed a hand to her forehead.  "I'm going to kill you."
    Sherry shrugged.  "Probably.  Now smile because here they are."
    They certainly were.  Dan slid in on Sherry's side and the other man slid next to Madison.  She scooted over as far as she could but he was still right there next to her.  He had a big grin on his face and she wanted to slam her head on the table repeatedly.  This was going to be a disaster of monstrous proportions.
    "Brent Hubbard."  The man held his hand out.  "Remember me?"
    How could she forget?  He'd called her "four-eyes" and "carrot top" in school.  She shook his hand and tried to scoot a few more inches away, but she was already pressed against the wall. 
    "Nice to see you again, Brent."  Lightning didn't strike her, which was a bonus as she was lying through her teeth.  She should probably put aside her animosity toward those who had teased and bullied her in school, but Brent had been particularly loathsome, not letting up until she was in tears.  Luckily, in junior high and high school his family had moved from Springwood.  Apparently, Brent had moved back.
    "Nice to see you.  Wow, you sure look different than you did before.  You could be a model now, and you were so funny-looking as a kid."
    "Was I?  I don't remember."
    "I sure do.  You had all those freckles with your bright red hair.  And those glasses and braces.  You're looking good now."  He looked her up and down with appreciative eyes that made her cringe. 
    Madison took a big gulp of her beer, deciding she did need it after all. 
    Brent laughed.  "I'm glad Dan invited me today.  It's fun to see old friends from school." 
    She and Brent had never been friends but he seemed to have no memory of torturing her when they were children.  Perhaps she'd overblown it in her own mind?
    Nope.  He'd been a real pill.
    The waitress brought their chili cheese fries and took the men's beverage order.  Brent and Dan were waxing poetic about college basketball while Sherry tried to turn the conversation to more personal topics.  Madison was content to stay quiet which she knew frustrated Sherry.  Despite the basketball talk, Madison had found out Brent owned the hardware store in town and was divorced. 
    "This is