Woven Wishes (Whispered Wishes Book 4) by Karen Pokras Page A

She nodded back at him and decided she would email Scott back to set up a meeting, establishing some strict and non-negotiable ground rules as part of the deal. Later. At the moment, she had more pressing matters to attend to: movie watching and jellybean eating with her precious daughter.
     

Chapter 18 - Holly
     
     
    Soft music played in the background as the waiter filled their glasses. Holly sat back in her chair. It had been two weeks since she’d lost the baby. Their baby . She smiled, as she looked across the table at her husband. No matter how tough things were, she knew how blessed she was to have Ben in her life. He was her rock. He always would be.
    “We really need to do this more often,” she said, taking a sip of her water. Ben had asked if she wanted to order a bottle of wine, but she declined. She didn’t need alcohol to ease her stress … not with Ben sitting right there across the table from her.
    “I agree,” he said, reaching over to take her free hand in his own. “Why don’t we?”
    “Well, for starters, we’re sitting in The Urban Bistro,” she told him, looking around the restaurant. Trendy pendant lights perfectly spaced gave just enough light to see the crystal and china place settings immaculately set at each table amongst bowls filled with colored water, lit tea candles, and floating flowers in contrasting colors to offset the linens. Bright gold ornate columns dispersed throughout the room brought a deep contrast to the walls, which were dark red and orange, with a splattered and uneven texture, giving it a rustic barn look. The restaurant was described as French fusionand the decor as shabby chic meets Versailles. At least that’s what the full-page write-up in Restaurant Weekly said. “This place isn’t exactly in our everyday dining price range.”
    “Or our price range at all,” Ben said, staring at the menu with a strange look on his face.
    “Babe, we’re allowed to treat ourselves once in a while. Don’t be such a spoilsport. The prices aren’t that bad. Besides, I don’t remember you complaining when you took Michelle here back before we were married, remember?” Just saying her name out loud made Holly’s stomach turn. Michelle was one of the vilest women she’d ever met. She still couldn’t believe Ben had fallen for her tricks. No, calling her a woman was too kind. Holly didn’t want to insult her other women friends by lumping her into their category. Michelle belonged in her own category: Disgusting, conniving, loathsome, thing. Much better.
    “That’s because she was paying,” Ben reminded her. “She was my sugar mama.”
    “Actually, I have a different set of descriptive words put aside for her,” Holly muttered, rolling her eyes. “But okay, if being a sugar mama is what it takes, then tonight will be my treat … and let’s not bring up that thing’s name again.”
    “You’re the one who mentioned … Okay,” he said, shaking his head, with the look of defeat Holly had seen so many times over the years. “Anyway, you do realize, of course, that all of our accounts are combined, so your money and my money is kind of the same. You know, that whole marriage thing?”
    “Well fine, then. But don’t say I didn’t try to take you somewhere nice,” she said with a smirk. “If it were up to you, we’d probably be eating at Roy’s Rib Shack or something.”
    “What’s wrong with Roy’s Rib Shack?”
    “No, it’s great,” Holly replied. “Nothing says romance like getting a big ‘ole plastic bib slapped on you the minute you sit down.”
    “I know, right?” Ben asked. “Now if that’s not service, I don’t know what is. I don’t see that happening here, do you? Seriously, do you think these people care if you spill some of their fancy sauce on your clothes? Nope. But they care at Roy’s that’s for doggone sure,” he added, winking.
    “Yeah, and don’t forget the picnic table and benches covered in brown paper. It’s all