The Passing Storm(50)

“It wasn’t relevant,” he snapped. “Why do you believe it is now?”

“Because an innocent man doesn’t hide the facts.”

The strange accusation warned there was more here than was obvious. What am I missing? Sally marched back and forth before his desk. Agitation spilled off her in waves.

“I took Lark to Dixon’s twice,” he said with care. “How is that a crime?”

“I guess it depends on how much you knew. Were you completely in the dark? Griffin, you took her to Dixon’s on Wednesdays.” Sally regarded him as if he was a fool. “If you weren’t keeping secrets, then Katherine is correct.”

Mention of Katherine sent anger flashing through him. They’d stopped dating months ago—not long before Lark’s tragic death. Sometime in early October. The relationship was never serious.

“Sally, what are you trying to say?” With misgivings, he grasped the real issue. He never should’ve agreed to take Katherine out in the first place.

“Katherine believes Lark used you as bait. She used you, and you had no idea why.”

“My personal life is none of her business.” For emphasis, he came to his feet. He didn’t relish arguing with his sister. Yet he refused to allow her best friend to meddle in his affairs. “I don’t care what she’s told you, or why she’s suddenly focused on Lark. Or me, for that matter. You’re overstepping here, sis.”

“Am I? Katherine is convinced it was no coincidence that you dumped her after Lark began coming around. A reasonable conclusion, isn’t it?”

“Sally, that’s ridiculous.”

“You might want to change your assessment. She overheard Lark bragging about you to Stella the week of the slumber party. When she picked the girls up from my house. They were walking to the car, and Lark was bragging up a storm. The driver-side window was open. She didn’t know Katherine was listening.”

The revelation doused him like ice water. “Lark discussed me with Stella?” Weakly, he sat back down.

“In great detail, apparently. About what good friends you were. How you’d take her out on Wednesdays and let her order whatever she liked. Were you blind to Lark’s ulterior motives? Baby brother, you’re a master at sticking your head in the sand. Even so, I have trouble believing you’re that myopic.”

The attacks came too fast. “Why would Lark use me as bait?” he demanded, frustrated by his inability to form an adequate defense.

“You are blind.” She planted her hands on his desk. “Dixon’s,” she emphasized, “on Wednesday afternoons.”

Griffin tensed. A dark foreboding crept through him. Whatever critical information he’d missed, he didn’t want to hear it now.

A conviction that held no importance to Sally.

“Rae meets with Yuna at Dixon’s,” she spelled out. “Every Wednesday afternoon like clockwork.” When he looked at her, speechless, her eyes narrowed. “You never bumped into Rae when you took Lark there?”

“No. Never.”

It was sheer, stupid luck. How would he have explained, if he had run into her?

“I’m sure Lark was disappointed. Given all the bragging she was doing to Katherine’s daughter. Apparently, Lark was playing matchmaker.”

“She . . . what?”

“She planned to fix you back up with Rae. Don’t you get it? So the three of you could live happily ever after.” Sally gave a short, mirthless laugh. “Griffin, you are dense. Manipulated by a ninth grader, and you didn’t have a clue. Would you have caught on before she picked out the date for you to marry her mother? Before she ordered a big white cake?”

Stunned, he fell back in his chair. “I didn’t know,” he murmured. Nor could he recall who first mentioned the outings. Had he offered to take Lark to Dixon’s, or had the suggestion been hers?

He didn’t keep tabs on Rae’s schedule. He didn’t keep tabs on Rae. Until her daughter began coming around, he’d studiously barred her from his thoughts.

Lark, however, would’ve known her mother’s schedule.

“Griffin, we’ve always been able to trust each other. Last summer, I encouraged you to ask Katherine out because she’s a dear friend, and you both seemed lonely. You’ve hardly done anything but work since moving back to town, and she’s dated some real duds since her divorce. I was hoping . . . oh, it doesn’t matter. Fixing you up was incredibly dumb. What was I thinking?”

Wheeling from the desk, his sister marched to the bank of windows. Cars came and went from their father’s dealership. The hum of activity was a million miles away. It was utterly detached from the pain leaking into the office.

“Sis, I never asked you to set me up with Katherine.” When she refused to turn around, he scrubbed his palms across his cheeks. “We only dated a few months. We didn’t have enough in common.” Anything in common.

“Your opinion, not hers. From the start, Katherine felt differently. She’s in love with you, Griffin.” From over her shoulder, Sally glanced at him swiftly. Her eyes were dark, accusing. “I don’t like seeing her torn up. We’ve been tight for years. She’s important to me.”

“I never meant to hurt her.”

“Well, you did.”