What the Heart Knows. Margaret Daley

      “What’s that?” asked Kathleen. “I thought I knew most of the restaurants in Crystal Springs. Of course, I’m not sure any place called the Greasy Spoon should be considered a restaurant.”

      “It’s fairly new,” Jared answered, starting to walk. “It’s at the other end of the mall. Not bad, if you like fried food. Hence the name Greasy.”

      Kathleen fell into step next to Jared with Hannah on her other side. As they made their way to the restaurant, Hannah veered off to the left, pulling her father over to the display window of the toy store.

      She tapped the glass near an electronic game station, saying, “I want that for my birthday.”

      “That’s not for another six months.”

      “Oh, yeah.” Hannah’s shoulders sagged. “You know it might be something you could get both Terry and I for the summer when it’s too hot to play outside.”

      Jared pressed his lips together, his eyes dancing with merriment. “You’ve never had trouble finding something to do during the summer before. Why should this summer be any different?”

      Hannah opened her mouth to say something, but instead snapped it closed, her expression screwing up into a thoughtful look.

      “You could always save your allowance and buy it for yourself.”

      The girl brightened for a moment, but the eagerness evaporated when she saw the price. “That’ll take at least six months.”

      Jared placed his hand on Hannah’s shoulder and began walking toward the other end of the mall. “Think how much it will mean to you when you finally get it. You could always earn some money. I weeded gardens for my neighbors at your age, which is where I learned to love yard work. I would dust for the Lunds. I walked Mrs. Wilson’s dog for her because she couldn’t. Now that, I loved doing.”

      “I could do that. I know Mr. Batchlear can’t take his dog to the park like he used to. Maybe he would pay me to. And I bet I could get someone to let me weed their garden.”

      “Actually you could do mine if you want,” Kathleen interjected.

      “I can! Great. My first job!” Hannah jumped up and down, her blue eyes sparkling, her ponytail swinging from side to side in her excitement.

      At the Greasy Spoon Hannah ran ahead to get a booth in the corner. Jared made his way at a much more subdued pace.

      “I’m sorry, Jared. I should have asked you about that first.”

      Jared shook his head. “No, I think it’s a great idea. It’ll give her a goal to work toward. I appreciate the offer.”

      The grin he sent Kathleen made her heart flip over. She swallowed hard and returned his smile. “And I’ll have someone to weed the beds out front. Usually Mark does it, but he hasn’t shown any interest this summer, and I hate yard work, so this is a win/win solution.”

      “Since your problem is solved,” Jared slid into the booth across from Hannah, “maybe you could help me out with a problem.”

      “What?” Kathleen sat next to Hannah.

      “I need another chaperone for the hiking trip this Saturday with the youth group. Phil has to work and can’t make it. Are you game?”