Practice Husband. Judith McWilliams
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hallway into a bright, sunny kitchen. The source of the food splotches on Kathy’s clothes was immediately apparent. A toddler was sitting in a high chair, happily smearing what looked like applesauce into his brown hair.
Addy chuckled at his beatific expression. “That, I take it, is Jimmy?”
“The one and only, and don’t encourage him. His father already spoils him rotten. Have a seat.” Kathy shoved a pile of dirty laundry off a chair onto the floor.
Addy sat down.
“When did you get back?” Kathy demanded.
“Last night. Hi, Jimmy.” Addy smiled at the little boy. To her delight, he smiled back and tossed her a spoonful of applesauce. Fortunately, his aim wasn’t very good and it hit the table instead.
“You always did have a way with kids,” Kathy said. “Remember when our mothers would volunteer us to baby-sit in the church nursery? You could always get the screamers to shut up. Want some coffee?”
“No, I want some information.”
Kathy ducked as Jimmy again flung applesauce in her direction. “How about motherhood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?”
Addy laughed. “Few things are.”
“Marriage is.” Kathy’s face took on a dreamy cast. “Jim is a fantastic husband. Now that you’re home, we’ve got to find you one.”
“I’m willing to consider any and all offers.”
Kathy blinked. “What?”
“I said that I would like to get married, and I’m willing to consider all options.”
Kathy stared at Addy in suspicion. “Are you making fun of my match-making tendencies?”
“No, I’m hoping to use them. I’d like to have some kids of my own.”
Kathy glanced around the disheveled kitchen and shuddered. “On your head be it. How can I help?”
“Do you know any eligible bachelors?”
Kathy pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Let’s see. There’s Bart Dandridge, but I think we’d best stay away from him.”
“Why?” Addy asked curiously.
“One of the partners in Jim’s law firm handled his divorce and, according to him, Bart’s wife claimed he beat her up a couple of times. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but...”
“I’ll pass on Bart,” Addy agreed.
“There’s Tom, who’s a bachelor friend of Jim’s,” Kathy said slowly. “He’s pretty nice, but he does tend to drink a little too much. Jim had to represent him in a drunk-driving charge last month.”
“Forget Tom. I don’t expect perfection in a husband, but I do want sobriety.”
Kathy sighed. “Addy, you’ve left it till very late. The good ones have long since been snapped up. Although...” Kathy’s admiring gaze ran down the length of Addy’s trim figure. “You look a lot better than any wife I know. Including myself.”
“Thanks,” Addy muttered, squelching her instinctive urge to make a self-deprecating response.
“Tell you what, I’ll ask Jim when he gets home from work tonight. Maybe he can think of someone I can introduce you to.”
Jimmy suddenly tossed his bowl on the floor and started to howl.
“Be quiet, brat.” Kathy’s loving tone belied her words as she took a wet cloth and scrubbed the applesauce off him. When he was reasonably clean, she set him on the floor and turned back to Addy.
“It might help if I knew what you are looking for in a husband.”
Addy blinked as an image of Joe’s features floated through her mind No. She purposefully banished them. Joe was not husband material. At least, not for someone as inexperienced as she was. She ignored the irrational sense of loss that filled her.
“Well... He has to be willing to work and to like kids and to be clean. And a nonsmoker.”
“You forgot a good lover,” Kathy said. “Believe me, great sex can cover a multitude of other deficiencies.”
What kind of lover would Joe be? Addy wondered, and then flushed when she realized where her thoughts were headed.
“I wouldn’t know,” Addy said primly.
Kathy stared at her friend in shock. “Don’t tell me you’re still a virgin!”
“I’m never going to tell you anything about my sex life, because it’s none of your business.”
Kathy chuckled. “Ah, hit a nerve there, did I? Tell me, do you still know anyone from around here?”
“Just Joe.”
Kathy frowned. “Joe? Joe who?”
“Joe Barrington.”
Kathy’s mouth dropped open. “Just Joe! Are you out of your tiny little mind, woman? That man isn’t just anything. How on earth did you ever meet the town’s most eligible bachelor?”
“Is he?” Addy asked curiously.
“Is he what?”
“A bachelor?”
“Yup. No woman has ever managed to tie him down. And believe me, it hasn’t been for lack of trying. Now, spill it. How did you meet him?”
“He rescued my favorite doll.”
“What?”
Addy laughed at Kathy’s confused expression. “I was in the second grade, and he must have been in about the fifth. It seems like I’ve known him forever.”
“Yeah, but that was then. This is now. Now, he moves in entirely different economic circles from the likes of you and me. His last girlfriend was some model who was regularly decorating the pages of Vogue.”
“What’s his present girlfriend do?” Addy tried to make the question sound casual.
Kathy shrugged. “According to local gossip he hasn’t replaced her yet. Of course I can’t guarantee it. Joe is not a man who socializes much. In fact, he doesn’t socialize with anyone around here at all. You might find that he doesn’t even remember who you are.”
“He remembered.” Addy felt a great deal of satisfaction at the words.
“You’ve seen him already?” Kathy asked avidly.
“That’s where I just came from. His company wants to buy my parents’ property.”
“Oh, so that’s it. I heard talk that he might be planning to expand. Are you going to sell to him, Addy?” Kathy suddenly looked serious. “The town could sure use the jobs. Too many young couples have to move away because there’s no work for them here. I...” she broke off as Jimmy toddled back into the room holding a can of soda that he was dribbling down the front of him.
“Blast his father!” Kathy muttered. “If I’ve told Jim once, I’ve told him a hundred times, not to leave half-empty cans of soda sitting around. Now I’ll have to give the little monster a bath.”
Addy got to her feet. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“You don’t have to go,” Kathy said. “It won’t take me long.”
“Thanks, but I still need to check with the realty company that handled the lease on the house for me while I was gone. I just wanted to touch base with you first.”
Kathy gave her a warm smile. “I’m glad you did, and I’m even more glad that you’re thinking about marrying and staying this time. I’ll give you a call later.”
“Thanks.” Addy picked up her purse and let