A Little New Year's Romance Read Online Free

mood to be thankful to that Deity for anything—especially when He seemed to want nothing more than to keep her face in the dirt.
    “Yeah, well, thank whomever you want, but don’t expect me to do the same.”
    “It’s just an expression. I meant nothing more than that.”
    “I know.” Allison was lucky to have Marcy as a friend. She was a good woman with a good heart. “So… what about you? Any luck with the job hunting?”
    “Had a possible one last week, but then they decided their budget couldn’t handle the hiring of a new employee.”
    “Let me guess. It was Lockhart Press, wasn’t it?”
    “How did you know?” The timbre in Marcy’s voice went up.
    Allison chuckled for a couple seconds. “I applied there, too, and they told me the same thing a few days later.”
    The women shared a congenial laugh.
    “Well, I’m not giving up just yet.” Marcy’s tone had become a bit defiant.
    “And I can’t afford to do that.” Allison glanced at the clock on her nightstand. “Hey, I have to hang up now. It’s Mom and David’s anniversary, and I really should call her.”
    “Okay. No problem. Talk to ya later, then.”
    Allison turned her phone off. She made a quick trip to the bathroom, then headed into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee and make herself an egg sandwich on toast to quell the rumbling in her stomach. Not having her belly screaming at her, she could concentrate on other things—like calling Mom.
    A minor dread filled her heart, quickly spreading throughout her body. Mom had nearly fallen apart when Dad died, and David was there for her. But that wasn’t what caused Allison’s trepidation. David was a preacher and Mom had been vulnerable. He’d indoctrinated her in the ways of the church, and she’d fallen under his spell. A little more than a year later they were married, and now Mom was as much a Bible thumper as her second husband.
    Taking a seat on the sofa, hoping her mother wouldn’t bring up all the war-torn subjects again—“Have you found a boyfriend yet?” “I’d like to be a grandmother before I die.”—she cautiously dialed the number.
    “Hello?” Ruby Springer’s voice sounded cheerful.
    “Happy Anniversary, Mom.”
    “Allison! What a nice surprise!”
    She wanted to snort, but held it back. “Don’t act so shocked, Mom. I call you every year.”
    A pause. “Well, that’s true. But you could call a little more often, you know.”
    “Why? So I can hear you preach about how I should be going to church to worship some supreme being that may or may not actually exist?” She hadn’t wanted to lash out, but some part of her needed to rebel.
    She heard Ruby’s sharp inhale. “I don’t know why you have to be this way, Allison. Whatever your reason is, I know that someday you’ll change your mind.”
    “Okay, Mom. Can we stop this right here before we both get upset.” She took a small breath. “I’m not sure why I said that, but I didn’t call to argue with you.”
    “Yes. I think that would be best.” Allison could visualize her mother’s smug grin. “So… have you been promoted yet? As long as you’ve been there, that’s the least they could do for you.”
    She took a deep breath. Better to tell her now than delay any further. “Elite Editing had to close up, Mom. I’ve been out of work for about two weeks.”
    “Oh, my!” Ruby sounded dazed at the news. “Have you found other employment, dear?”
    “Not yet. I’m still looking.”
    “You’ll find a good one. I know you will.” She sensed there was more to come, so she waited a few seconds for her mother to continue. “You’re an excellent editor, Allison. The right job will come along soon.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom.” She glanced at the time on her phone. Eleven o’clock. Where did the morning go? Didn’t she have somewhere to be soon? “I have to go now. Hope you and David have a Happy Anniversary.”
    “Thanks, dear. We will. Call again soon,