Unexpected Love (Jo's Story) Read Online Free Page B

checking on him, making sure everything is running good at the restaurant,”  she smiles.  “He says hi, and wishes he could be here to help but he is still really shorthanded.”
    “He still hasn’t hired anyone to replace the cook?”
    “No, he is having a hard time finding someone that can handle that volume of food and the hours.”  My poor brother.  He has been busting his butt getting that restaurant up and running and now his head cook quit on him.  I hope he gets it figured out soon.  If I knew how to cook I would go help, but I can’t so I won’t try.
    “You want to go tell the guys lunch is here?”  I ask Lizzy and Abby.
    “YES!” They yell together.
    “Ok, Ryan is upstairs, I think in my room, and Michael should be downstairs hooking up the washer.”  Both girls turn and run.  One goes upstairs one down.  God I love those girls.

Chapter Two
     
    “Lucas made all this?” Ryan asks as he shovels some more chicken cordon bleu into his mouth.
    “Yes he did,” my mom says proudly.  “I don’t know where he gets it from because lord knows I can’t cook,” she laughs.  We are all sitting in the back yard at the newly built picnic table that my grandpa made for me.  The girls both finish their chicken and are playing on their swing set.  They look happy; I hope this gets easier for them.  I think they are old enough to understand everything.  The last two years have been very difficult for them.  Lizzy has taken it especially hard.  She used to go with her dad every weekend to the fire station to help wash the trucks and now she doesn’t even like to drive past.  “So, what do you have left to do?”  My mom’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
    “I think just unpacking the little stuff,” I look at Michael and Ryan.  “They got all the big stuff put together and arranged the three bedrooms for me.  I just have to get the kitchen table in from the garage and the kitchen is put together.  Michael just has to get the entertainment center finished and they are done.”
    “Well that’s good, I'm glad you guys got so much done this morning.” Mom laughs.  “What time did you start?”
    “Ryan and I were here at 7:00 and Michael and Annie got here about 9:00.  He had to work this morning.”  I smile at Michael.  I don’t know how Annie got so lucky with him.  He truly is a great guy.  He would do anything for Annie, and her friends for that matter.  I don’t even know how many times he has come to my rescue for stupid stuff the last two years.  He even took the girls one night so that Annie and I could go see a musical.  I remember walking into the house and seeing him passed out on the couch with Lizzy on one side and Abby on the other.  Annie and I both laughed when we saw that.  The girls love him to death and they need that solid man figure in their lives right now.  Annie and Michael are going to make great parents someday.
    “Well I'm glad you could all help my baby,” she smiles at them then looks over at me.  “You are a lucky girl to have such good friends,” she puts her hand on mine.
    “I know,” I smile.  It’s true.  I have really learned who my true friends are over the last two years.  There are a few I lost and was sad to let go, but there where those that I was not surprised about also.  The thought of a couple people still makes me mad.  I look out at the girls trying to make my mind go someplace else.
    “So, are you coming to our place to pick the girls up on Sunday?”  Mom asks me.
    “I don’t know, do you want me to?”
    “If you want to, John is going to be planted on the couch starting probably 11:00.  The scrimmage starts at noon I believe and I know he is going to want to watch it.  Maybe we could do lunch?”
    “That sounds good to me,” I smile.  That makes me think about Jake.  Holy man, I am still in a whirlwind thinking about the fact that he is coming to my house.
    “We get a sneak peek at how crappy the