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Date: 6th April 2024, Posted by mollie
“You don’t really want one of those, do you?” Helen screwed up her nose and shook her head. Her hair was cut short; the thin spikes of grey resembled a hedgehog and barely moved as her head swished from side to side.
“She definitely does!” Cassie replied emphatically. “She really does.” She glanced at Julie and quickly looked away again.
Julie was clearly not amused. Her body was rigid, as though she knew she was about to undergo further humiliation, perhaps even torture.
Julie sucked in a deep breath. She could kill Cassie for spilling her longings to a complete stranger. “What would I know? I’ve never had a husband,” she said, laughing a little too hard. “But I’d like to get married before I get too old.”
Helen stepped out from behind her desk and began pouring champagne into two of the dozen or so tasting glasses laid out on a table directly opposite the entrance. “Too old?” she said, handing the girls a glass. “You don’t look a day over 20.”
“I’m 35,” Julie said quietly. “If I leave it any later, I’ll be too old to have children.”
“What and ruin that pretty figure of yours,” Helen laughed, crossing her arms over her bulbous breasts. “Believe me, when you have children, your breasts will be the first to go. I’d love to get rid of these,” a ripple of laughter bubbled across the vineyard as she squeezed hard and attempted to flatten her chest.
“You’re well proportioned,” Cassie said kindly, holding her glass out for a refill.
“Thank you, dear. It’s nice of you to say,” Helen smiled, then turned her attention back to Julie.
“I’m reading a fabulous book at the moment. Before you go getting yourself a husband, I think you should read it. Every single girl should. It’s about a woman who’s having an affair. To her horror, the guy gets up, leaves his wife, and arrives on her doorstep. For the rest of the book she’s trying desperately to get rid of him.”
Julie frowned, “I don’t blame her. He doesn’t exactly sound like the kind of man you’d want to settle down with.”
“My thoughts exactly. Besides the fact that he cheats, she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life ironing his underwear and running around after him.”
“But surely there’s more to marriage than domestic chores?”
Helen threw her a knowing look.
Julie’s phone rang. She cast her questions aside as she rummaged in the folds of the soft leather shoulder bag.
“Hurray!” Cassie said, grinning broadly and jumping up and down. “It’ll be him.”
Helen looked puzzled.
Cassie’s eyes glinted mischievously. “I’m matchmaking. I bet you it’s him calling now.” She turned to Julie, “He’s a wee bit shy at first, but once you get him going, he’s a real talker. I texted him just before and suggested now was a good time to call.”
Helen rubbed her hands together and squealed with delight. “Oh, I love it! Go on, then. Get the phone! Get the phone!” She cried as the phone continued to ring from the depths of Julie’s bag.
Julie continued to rummage frantically through her bag. “I can’t find it.”
“What have you got in there? A kitchen?” Helen patted the desk. “Tip it here!”
Julie poured the contents of her bag on top of Helen’s immaculately organized desk.
“Brownie points for Tim,” Cassie said as the phone kept ringing. “At least he’s persistent.”
Julie’s phone was buried amongst maps, vineyard brochures, a box of tampons, and her favorite coral lipstick. Thankfully, it was still ringing as she reached for it.
“He’s a real catch,” Cassie confided to Helen. “Funny, open-minded, wealthy—he’s got a freehold house and money in the bank. Best of all, he wants to have children.”
Helen’s face lit up. “Ooh!” she said, clapping her hands. “I can hear wedding bells already. And to think that I was there when it all happened. You can have the wedding here.”
“Exactly,” smiled Cassie as Julie finally answered the phone. “I’ll make sure you’re on the guest list—not the hired help.”
“Hello. Hello?” said Julie, her voice shaking slightly.
Cassie and Helen held their breath.
“Damn!” Julie looked glumly at the phone. “I missed the call.”
“Well? What are you waiting for? Ring him back, silly,” Cassie and Helen chorused.
“Ohhh, suddenly I’m feeling nervous. I’ll need another drink before I call,” Julie said.
“Of course!” Helen reached for another bottle. “Wine and romance go together perfectly. I thought you’d like to try the 2004 Chardonnay next. It’s been oaked for 12 months and is one of our most popular wines,” she said, leaning toward Julie, “and it’s great for boosting confidence.”
Julie took the glass and drank thirstily. It was only a tasting measure, but it gave her the courage she needed. She headed out of the cellar and into Blenheim’s bright southern light. She kept walking until she was sure she was out of earshot and dialed Tim’s number.
Helen sighed and looked at Cassie disappointedly.
Buy this book through the links below…
AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082QRK67N
AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B082QRK67N
AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082QRK67N
AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B082QRK67N
UNIVERSAL LINK: https://mybook.to/FindingAHusbandBook
AUDIOBOOK
AUDIBLE
AMAZON US: https://www.audible.com/pd/B08H5TTP1S AMAZON UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Finding-a-Husband-Audiobook/B08H5ZPLW6
AMAZON AU: https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Finding-a-Husband-Audiobook/B08H5WTY6M?qid=1599866634
The audiobook is also available from other online retailers and libraries for your listening pleasure
“So good!! This may be a short quick read but there are plenty of warm fuzzy feelings mixed in amongst the humor and witty banter. Take a break, kick back, relax, and unwind from all the stress of the Holidays and enjoy another delightful story by Mollie Mathews. We deserve this!” ~ Anita F. “I absolutely loved everything about this book! Finding a Husband is a sweet, fun, witty and downright fantastic short read that I thoroughly enjoyed from the first page until the last. It’s full of real characters, it’s page-turning, entertaining, and beautifully written. A definite must read and I definitely recommend it!” ~ Lynn S.
BONUS excerpts from Love Me Forever, Book Two in the Passion Down Under Sassy Short Stories, and other full-length books by me.
Posted in: Free Books, Mollie's Blog, Short Story
Tags: good romance books, new romance novels, Romantic comedy, short stories, True Love, True romance