Unfinished Business

and pearls in place, beamed a smile.
    “I thought you’d gone.”
    “No, I ran up to Lester’s for a paper.” She gestured toward the newspaper folded neatly beside the single place setting. “I thought you might want to see what’s happening in the world.”
    “Thank you.” Exasperated, Vanessa stood where she was. She hated the fact that she still fumbled whenever Loretta made a gentle maternal gesture. She was grateful for the consideration, but she realized it was the gratitude of a guest for a hostess’s generosity. And so it left her feeling guilty and disheartened. “You didn’t have to bother.”
    “No bother. Why don’t you sit down, dear? I’ll fix you some tea. Mrs. Hawbaker sent some of her own chamomile over from her herb garden.”
    “Really, you don’t have to—” Vanessa broke off at the sound of a knock on the back door. “I’ll get it.”
    She opened the door, telling herself she didn’t want it to be Brady. She didn’t care if it was Brady. Then she told herself she wasn’t the least bit disappointed when the visitor turned out to be female.

    “Vanessa.” A brunette who huddled under a dripping umbrella was smiling at her. “You probably don’t remember me. I’m Nancy Snooks—used to be Nancy McKenna, Josh McKenna’s sister.”
    “Well, I—”
    “Nancy, come in.” Loretta hurried to the door. “Lord, it’s really coming down, isn’t it?”
    “Doesn’t look like we’ll have to worry about a drought this year. I can’t stay.” She remained on the stoop, shifting from foot to foot. “It’s just that I heard Vanessa was back and giving piano lessons. My boy Scott’s eight now.”
    Vanessa saw the blow coming and braced herself. “Oh, well, I’m not really—”
    “Annie Crampton’s just crazy about you,” Nancy said quickly. “Her mama’s my second cousin, you know. And when I was talking it over with Bill—Bill’s my husband—we agreed that piano lessons would be real good for Scott. Mondays right after school would work out best for us—if you don’t have another student then.”
    “No, I don’t, because—”
    “Great. Aunt Violet said ten dollars is what you’re charging for Annie. Right?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “We can swing that. I’m working part-time over to the feed and grain. Scott’ll be here sharp at four. Sure is nice to have you back, Vanessa. I gotta go. I’ll be late for work.”
    “You be careful driving in this rain,” Loretta put in.
    “I will. Oh, and congratulations, Mrs. Sexton. Doc Tucker’s the best.”
    “Yes, he is.” Loretta managed to smile without laughing out loud as she shut the door on a whoosh of rain. “Nice girl,” she commented. “Takes after her aunt Violet.”

    “Apparently.”
    “I should warn you.” Loretta walked over to set a cup of tea on the table. “Scott Snooks is a terror.”
    “It figures.” It was too early in the morning to think, Vanessa decided. She sat, dropped her heavy head in her hands. “She wouldn’t have trapped me if I’d been awake.”
    “Of course not. How about some nice French toast?”
    “You don’t have to fix me breakfast.” Vanessa’s voice was muffled by her hands.
    “No trouble at all.” Loretta was humming as she poured milk into a bowl. She’d been cheated out of being a mother for twelve years. There was nothing she’d rather do than pamper her daughter with a hot breakfast.
    Vanessa scowled down at her tea. “I don’t want to keep you. Don’t you have to open the shop?”
    Still humming, Loretta broke an egg into the bowl. “The beauty of having your own place is calling your own hours.” She added touches of cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. “And you need a good breakfast. Ham says you’re on the mend, but he wants you to put on ten pounds.”
    “Ten?” Vanessa nearly choked on her tea. “I don’t need—” She bit off an oath as another knock sounded.
    “I’ll get it this time,” Loretta announced. “If it’s another hopeful parent, I’ll shoo them away.”
    But it was Brady who stood dripping on the back stoop this time. Without the shelter of an umbrella, he grinned at Vanessa while rain streamed from his dark hair. Instant pleasure turned to instant annoyance the moment he opened his mouth.
    “Morning, Loretta.” He winked at Vanessa. “Hi, gorgeous.”
    With something close to a snarl, Vanessa huddled over her steaming tea.
    “Brady, what a nice surprise.” After accepting his kiss on the cheek, Loretta closed