Back for Seconds Read Online Free Page B

she called through the door. “Breakfast in twenty.”
    He finally trod into the kitchen a half-hour later. By then, Joely and Hannah were sitting at the breakfast nook overlooking the backyard. Without saying anything, he joined them at the table, spooning food into his plate without offering one word.
    She studied him as he ate with his head downcast. Hannah tried to engage him in conversation, but he wasn’t cooperative. Joely had been worried about him for a while. He’d been this way since he turned twelve. She had wanted to take him to a therapist, but Russell had dismissed her concerns. “He’s just a boy, Joely. They aren’t prone to mood swings and temper tantrums like girls. Just because he doesn’t act like everything is the end of the world doesn’t mean that something is wrong.”
    Joely hadn’t really believed him then, and definitely didn’t believe him now. Nash just had his whole world turned upside down. If he couldn’t find a way to express those feelings, Joely knew they’d just build up and explode one day. Hopefully he wouldn’t head too far off the rails to do it.
    She sighed as she opened the Sunday paper to the classifieds. She needed to find a job and stat, so she could provide a somewhat stable environment for her kids. Unfortunately none of the jobs in the paper were for a homemaker. With twelve years away from the workforce, she felt woefully unqualified to do any of the jobs listed, which weren’t many. Of those she either had too much experience (i.e. would do more menial work for less pay) or too little experience (i.e. wouldn’t qualify for the good money she needed.)
    She ended up on the Internet, but those prospects weren’t any better. This was going to be a lot harder than she planned.
    Granny Faye headed home a little before noon. Unlike Lillian, who was there practically from open to close, Granny Faye set her own hours. She could work breakfast and dinner only if she wanted, with an afternoon of rest in between. Lillian, however, could stay there 24 hours a day every day. The restaurant was her baby. She worked tirelessly to make it a success. Joely envied her ambition.
    Meanwhile it was all Joely could do to make her kids’ favorite homemade cinnamon rolls. Hannah had requested them and Joely couldn’t deny her. Besides, she felt more productive in that kitchen pounding out the dough than she had felt all morning scouring ads for jobs that didn’t quite fit. She regularly baked her feelings into her food, which explained why there was a little more junk in her trunk. She often gave food away because she made more than anyone could eat. It often helped her pass the time, but it also produced something she could see, touch and taste. That was inherently rewarding.
    Granny Faye brightened the minute she came through the side door from the garage. “It smells like heaven in here! What are you making?”
    “Cinnamon rolls!” Hannah declared with a huge smile. She was covered head to toe in flour, having the time of her life helping her mother with her task.
    Granny Faye tickled her sides before she gave her a loud peck on the cheek. “You better save me one.”
    “I’ll save you two,” Hannah promised as Joely put the last pan in the oven.
    “Where’s Kari?” Joely asked.
    “She wanted to stay at the restaurant with Lillian. We figured it wouldn’t do her any harm to learn some of the family business.”
    Joely nodded. She glanced down at Hannah, who was a proper mess. “We’ve got thirty minutes until these are done. Why don’t you head upstairs and clean up?”
    Hannah nodded and climbed down from the stepstool on which she was standing. Joely waited until her little bundle of energy had disappeared out of sight before she turned back to Granny Faye.
    “Kari’s still mad at me, isn’t she?”
    Granny Faye began to clean up the mess on the counter. “She’s just mad, period. You’re going to get the brunt of it because you’re the one who’s