A Path Less Traveled Read Online Free Page A

grabbed a metal
pitcher from the drink table and started making the rounds.
    Out of the corner
of one eye, she noticed Dani headed toward her, a determined set to her chin.
Sheesh, couldn’t she have a few minutes to eat?
    Like a frog
devouring a fly, Andy snagged Dani’s arm as she passed. She made a one-eighty
and faced the table where he poured tea. Within a minute, the guests had her
engaged in conversation. Andy pointed to Trish’s plate and gestured with a fist
to his mouth, then finished the game of charades with a wink.
    A smile curved
her lips. She hated to admit it, but having someone look out for her felt good.
Addicting good.
     
    Chapter 3
     
    A ndy’s blood pressure
climbed through the roof, along with a Texas-sized hankering for his boxing
gloves and punching bag. He folded his arms, leaned against the back wall of
the church, and crunched the peppermint he’d discovered in his pocket. The
rehearsal was scheduled to start at 7:00, and his watch now read 7:20. He’d
been in no-telling how many weddings, so it wasn’t like he didn’t already know
the routine. Walk in, assume the fig-leaf stance, walk out. Nothing
complicated. So why did wedding rehearsals have to take longer than a baseball
game in extra innings?
    A hen party
gathered to his right, their voices lowered. At the mention of Trish’s name his
radar zoomed to high alert. He leaned closer.
    “Trish did all
the decorating. I’m sure she’s trying to drum up business for that interior
design shop she has downtown.” The muscled woman with shiny blue eye makeup and
forearms bigger than his snickered. “Like she’s gonna be able to make a go of
that in Miller’s Creek.”
    “Why did she
start a business in the first place?” asked another member of the group.
    A third woman
jumped in. “Seriously. Her Daddy’s got enough money to take care of her and
Little Bo for life. Then with Doc being a vet, and her selling his practice. He
prob’ly left a chunk of life insurance when he died.”
    Andy’s blood
boiled. Who gave them the right to make assumptions about the private details
of someone else’s life? Didn’t they realize how hurtful it was? Sounded like
jealousy and spite to him. He still bore the scars of small-town gossip from
his childhood, but thankfully, he’d proved them all wrong and risen above their
gloomy forecasts.
    Down in front,
Trish finished talking to Dani and headed toward them.
    “Shh,” one of
them hissed, “here she comes with that phony baloney smile.”
    Trish gave Andy a
little wave as she passed, then moved on to the women. “Hi, y’all. Mama Beth
told me you’ll be serving the food for the reception tomorrow. We sure
appreciate your help. Let’s go to the kitchen.” She motioned for them to
follow. “I’ll show you where everything is and talk you through the plans.
Carla, Mama Beth asked that you run the kitchen tomorrow, but if you hit any
snags just come find me and I’ll do what I can to help.”
    An urge to
protect Trish rose inside him. A big part of him longed to run after her and
beg her to be careful. Why? He rubbed down the creepy-crawly feeling on the
back of his neck and thought about the question. He knew how it hurt to lose
those you loved. Then to have to deal not only with the loss, but also people’s
hurtful words.
    Dani edged up and
elbowed him in the ribs. “Hey, guy. Sorry I haven’t been able to spend more
time with you. How are you doing?”
    “Better than the
last wedding rehearsal I attended.” Sheila’s image rose to his mind.
    “Glad to hear it.
When I think about how Sheila treated you, I still get livid.”
    “Please don’t.
I’m just glad I found out before it was too late.” He watched Trish and the
other women exit the sanctuary. “Tell me about Trish.”
    Her eyes grew
troubled. “I’m really worried about her, Andy. She lost her mother a little
less than a year ago. I think I told you about the accident?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Trish and Little
Bo