Game of Hearts Read Online Free Page A

in the lot.
    I rolled down the window. "Thanks for your help." The other man gave me a wave and walked back to his car.
    Brandon leaned over the window with one arm on the car. "No problem. By the way, what church do you go to?"
    "How do you know I go to church?"
    "The cross around your neck."
    "Oh." I reached up and touched the pendant. It had been a gift from my mother before she'd taken off with the mailman for parts unknown. "Oceanview Methodist."
    "I've been looking for a place of worship. Maybe I'll see you there." His dark eyes sparkled mischievously. "By the way, you look as good without the cake as you did with it."
    ****
    "I know, I know, Tommy. I'm late." I rushed past Thomas Vance, owner of Vance's Auto Sales, the largest used car dealer in the area. The clock over my desk read five past four. "My car broke down."
    "We need to talk." Tommy motioned with his finger for me to follow him into his office. He stood at five foot six, but acted ten feet tall when it came to lording over his employees. I would have told him years ago where to put his toupee, but I needed the job.
    "I don't usually take time off," I argued once the door closed. "And this was a school thing."
    "It's got nothing to do with you being late." Tommy sat on the edge of his desk. One foot remained on the floor, the other dangled. An intense glare flashed in his eyes. "I need to cut your hours. We don't need you here full-time when things are slow."
    A large thud landed in the pit of my stomach. "I need the money. I've got kids to take care of. I need the insurance."
    "I know. I'm talking about dropping you down to three days. I'll keep your health insurance for now, but it's the best I can do."
    "I can't afford to lose two days of work."
    "I'm sorry. I wish I had better news for you." Tommy walked around his desk to the high-backed chair three sizes too large for him. "Maybe you can find something else to offset the loss for a while until things pick back up." He gestured toward the door. I was being dismissed.
    Nausea overcame me. Things were tight already. How would I pay my bills now?
    "Deb, phone call, line one," the receptionist announced when I walked from Tommy's office.
    I picked it up. "This is Deborah Zimmerman. How may I help you?"
    "Ms. Zimmerman, this is Roy at Sam's Auto Fix. You were right, your car does need a fuel pump. It'll run you $625.00."
    After I agreed to the repairs, I slammed down the phone.
    "Darn you, Michael. This wouldn't be a problem if you'd do what you're supposed to do." I fought to keep tears from coming, but it did no good. I slapped a hand across my eyes. If Michael would catch up on the three years back child support, I'd be fine. Why can't they force him to get a job?
    I grabbed a tissue and raised my eyes to the ceiling. "God, a lightning bolt in Michael's butt would sure make me feel better right about now."

Chapter Three
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    The windshield wipers swiped across the glass. Sarah stared out the window of the car, only giving me nods of her head or grunts for answers. The silence annoyed me. I'd called everyone I knew, putting out feelers for a new job or something part-time for extra money. So far no luck, which seemed to be the only kind I've had lately.
    "I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything for school. The car set me back quite a bit."
    "It's okay." Sarah sulked. "I understand."
    "Too bad, because I don't. I'm not sure why we're being tested right now, but there's got to be a reason."
    "Being tested? I thought it was called being poor."
    I pulled the Honda in front of Scarlett's two-story, four thousand square foot Versailles-style home. Rachel's minivan pulled in behind me. Her daughter Kendra stepped down from her mom's vehicle. The crisp whiteness of her shoes told me they were new. More guilt set in.
    Even though I'd seen Scarlett's house more times than I could remember, its beauty still took my breath away. A white stone pathway led up to a door encasing beveled glass that displayed two etched