Knit to Be Tied Read Online Free Page B

“What do you mean, stay with her for a while? Tanya’s never in one place long enough for Cassie to stay with her.”
    Jennifer’s big brown eyes looked up at Kelly. “Don’t we all know it. But she’s telling Pete that she’s settled down with one guy, Donnie, in Denver. It’s been a year now, which is pretty long for Tanya.”
    â€œOh, I’m really impressed,” Kelly said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
    Jennifer gave Kelly a crooked smile. “Those were my thoughts exactly. Anyway, Tanya says she wants to spend more time with Cassie. She wants Cassie to stay with her for a while before school starts again. And before she and Donnie go out on the road again.”
    Kelly screwed up her face. “She can’t be serious. Cassie’s in the midst of her softball team’s final games. And Megan says she’s got tennis matches scheduled, too. It’s the last month of summer.” She gestured in aggravation. “Cassie’s got a life here. She’s busy with her friends. Tanya can’t pull her away from all that just because she wants to play mother.”
    Jennifer laughed softly. “I can always count on you for an honest reaction, Kelly. Thank you for that. But whether we like it or not, Tanya is Cassie’s mother, so Pete has to take her request seriously.”
    â€œDammit! What’s gotten into Tanya?”
    Jennifer shrugged. “I don’t know. Pete and I figure she’s in her late thirties now, so maybe she’s having second thoughts about her lifestyle. All those years following the rock bands and musicians around. Maybe she really does want to settle down with this guy. Who knows?”
    â€œWell, she can settle down with What’s His Face, but that doesn’t mean she can take Cassie with her,” Kelly said indignantly as she moved closer to the front of the concession line.
    Jennifer reached out and gave Kelly a quick hug. “That’s what Pete and I think, too. We haven’t said anything to Cassie yet. Pete’s still talking to Tanya. We’re hoping she’d agree to having Cassie come down to Denver for a weekend. We’ll see. Keep your fingers crossed.”
    â€œAll right. But I think you two should go talk to a lawyer and a family social worker or whatever. Start finding out what your legal rights are. You two have been Cassie’s de facto parents for over two years now.” Kelly looked Jennifer in the eye and dropped her voice.
    Jennifer smiled. “Pete’s already called Marty. We’re going to see him on Monday. Start the legal proceedings to formally gain custody.”
    Kelly let out a long-held breath. “Okaaaaay. That makes me feel a whole lot better.” The line moved forward again, and Kelly gave the teenager behind the counter a big smile.“I want a hot dog with chili and ketchup and mustard and relish.”
    The teenage girl blinked. “You want all of that on one hot dog?”
    â€œYeah. Why not?” Kelly said with a laugh.
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    Kelly started across the gravel driveway separating her cottage from the Lambspun knitting shop. Monday afternoon’s sun was blazing early-August hot. In another two or three weeks, the temperatures should slowly start to inch downward toward the mid and low eighties. September in Northern Colorado was usually very warm and mild and sunny, sunny, sunny. As usual, the dependability of that Colorado sunshine was one of the things Kelly loved best about living in her old hometown of Fort Connor. “Hey, Kelly,” Burt’s voice sounded from the café patio garden.
    Kelly turned to see her father figure and mentor walk toward her. “Hi, Burt. How was your Saturday in Denver this past weekend?”
    â€œIt was great. Mimi and I will definitely get away some other times like that,” he said with a big smile.
    â€œI agree. Both you and Mimi work