Season for Love Read Online Free Page A

understandable,” Linda said. “You’ll let us know when you’ve seen her?”
    “Of course.”
    “Thank you, honey,” Linda said. “I appreciate your willingness to reach out to her.”
    “I’m not making any promises,” Sydney said. “She might prefer to be alone. We can’t force her out of her shell if that’s where she wants to be.”
      “We forced you out of your shell,” Maddie said with an affectionate smile for her old friend.
    “That you did,” Syd said, laughing. Looking around at the others, she said, “I have no doubt this peaceful place saved my life.”
    “Maybe it can save dear Jenny, too,” Linda said.
    “While I have you all here,” Maddie said tentatively, “I wondered if you might be willing to help with another project.”
    “What kind of project?” Steph asked.
    “I’d like to plan a benefit to assist the summer help who live here year round. With most of the hotels, restaurants, bars and marinas going dormant for the winter, there’re a lot of people on the island who really struggle until the tourists come back in the spring. I used to be one of them.”
    Linda still experienced an occasional pang of shame whenever she thought about the unflattering rumors she’d once believed about her now-adored daughter-in-law. Maddie had made Mac so very, very happy. There wasn’t much Linda wouldn’t do for her. “What do you have in mind?”
    “How about a big island Thanksgiving dinner where we supply the turkeys, everyone brings a side dish and we collect donations to go toward a fund for people in need?”
    “How would the funds be distributed?” Grace asked.
    “I haven’t gotten that far, but I suppose we’d set up a system where they could request assistance and then we provide whatever we can to help out.”
    “I like it,” Stephanie said. “I’ve worked tourist jobs for years myself, so I know how the off-season can be tough, especially in a high-rent place like this.”
    “Speaking of high rent,” Maddie said with a shy smile, “I should also mention that I’ve petitioned the town council to use the property Mrs. Chesterfield left to the town as a site for affordable housing. I’ve contacted Habitat for Humanity about possibly building the homes.”
    “How do you have time to take care of a new baby and be an activist, too?” Sydney asked playfully. “You’re amazing!”
    “I couldn’t agree more,” Linda said. “What a marvelous bunch of ideas. I’ll give Big Mac a heads-up about your petition so he’s prepared to vote for it at the next council meeting.”
    “Only if he thinks it’s a good idea,” Maddie said.
    “He’ll love the idea. He’s all about giving back to the community. I’m forever reining him in so he doesn’t give away every cent we have.”
    “I can so see that,” Laura said, smiling as she thought of her beloved uncle. “Let us know what we can do to help. I love all your ideas. I swing a pretty mean hammer, too.”
    “That’s good to know,” Maddie said. “I’ll be recruiting everyone to help out if it actually happens. Mac has agreed to oversee the construction of the houses if we get approval.”
    “It’s brilliant, honey,” Linda said. “All of it.”
    “Thank you,” Maddie said, clearly pleased by the approval. “I’ll keep you posted.”

Chapter 3
    After breakfast, everyone scattered until only Laura and Maddie stood on the sidewalk in front of the diner.
    Maddie checked her watch and frowned. “I have my six-week postpartum checkup with Dr. David in half an hour.”
    “Back in the saddle!” Laura said with a smirk.
    “Believe me, we’re both ready to resume normal programming. However, the idea of being poked and prodded by a doctor down there after all the poking and prodding of the last ten months doesn’t hold much appeal.”
    Laura grimaced. “I feel your pain on that one. I’ve had more hands and eyes on my unmentionables since I’ve been pregnant than I ever could’ve imagined. You