After Anna(33)

‘Wow, that’s lovely!’ Maggie called to her.

‘Isn’t it!’ Anna smiled, with a Windsor wave. ‘I feel like a princess.’

Noah picked up the oversized tag hanging on the bedpost. ‘I think it will fit. The room is large.’

Caleb opened and closed the dresser drawers. ‘These work good!’

‘Well,’ Noah corrected. ‘They work well.’

‘Whatever, Dad.’ Caleb rolled his eyes, glancing at Anna, who smiled back.

Maggie felt happy to see them connecting. ‘So you think this is the one, Anna? You don’t want to look at any others?’

‘I think this is perfect.’ Anna sat up on the bed. ‘Should we get the dresser, too?’

‘Yes. You need a dresser and a mirror. Maybe even the armoire because the closet in that room is small.’

‘That’s what I was thinking.’ Anna nodded. ‘Plus they have a ten percent discount if you buy the set.’

‘Right, and they spread out the payments.’

‘I’ll put it on my charge. James will authorize it.’

Maggie smiled. ‘Anna, you don’t have to pay for this. We’re paying for it.’

‘You are?’ Anna blinked.

‘Of course,’ Noah interjected. ‘You don’t have to pay for your own furniture.’

‘But I can afford it.’

Caleb looked over, his eyes wide. ‘Anna, you can buy this? How much money do you have?’

‘Caleb,’ Noah interjected, ‘don’t ask personal questions.’

Anna waved it off. ‘That’s okay. Caleb can ask me anything. He’s my bro.’

Caleb’s eyes went wide. ‘Anna, can you buy a car?’

Anna grinned. ‘Actually, I’m going to. A Range Rover, in black.’

Maggie looked over, surprised. ‘Really, Anna?’

‘I need a car, don’t I?’ Anna shrugged happily. ‘I have to get to school somehow, and I’m not going to take the bus. I’m sure nobody takes the bus.’

‘Nobody takes the bus,’ Caleb repeated, though he took a bus.

Maggie wasn’t sure about this car business. ‘You’re not an experienced driver, are you?’

‘No, but I have a legit Maine license and I’ll practice once I get the car.’ Anna shrugged again, happily.

‘I’m not sure you should be buying your own car. We have to talk about that.’ Maggie knew Noah would hate the idea, but she didn’t want to fuss about it now.

‘I agree.’ Noah nodded. ‘We can help you out with that, and I bet we can find a good used car that’ll get you to school.’

‘But I want the Range Rover. I already picked it out online.’

Maggie caught Noah’s frown, but this wasn’t the time or the place. ‘Noah, we can sort this out later, can’t we?’

‘Sure.’ Noah gestured at the bed. ‘We need furniture.’

Maggie smiled. ‘Right. We’re on a schedule here.’ She turned to Anna. ‘Anna, we still need to get the stuff on the list. The Bed Bath & Beyond is on the other side of the parking lot. Are you up for that or too tired?’

‘I’m up!’ Anna jumped to her feet.

‘Me, too!’ Caleb chimed in.

Maggie touched Noah’s arm. ‘Noah, why don’t you take Anna and Caleb to Bed Bath & Beyond? Anna has the list, and I’ll do the paperwork here, then come join you guys.’

‘Sure. Let’s go, guys!’ Noah pretended to start jogging. ‘Beat you there!’

‘No, you won’t, Dad!’ Caleb sprinted after his father, but Anna lingered, looking at Maggie.

‘You don’t mind if we go?’

‘Not at all,’ Maggie answered. ‘I’m going to try to get the furniture delivered tomorrow.’

‘Thanks, Mom!’ Anna said, then skipped off, her ponytail swinging.

Mom.





Chapter Twenty-one


Noah, After

TRIAL, DAY 5

Noah was bracing for the next set of questions when he noticed the door opening at the back of the courtroom, and Maggie entered, wearing sunglasses. She slipped inside and sat in the back row, where he lost sight of her behind the other spectators in the gallery. Her hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, and she had on a jeans jacket that he recognized as Anna’s.

Noah felt a wrench in his chest, but tried not to react openly. He didn’t want to draw attention to her. She’d probably pulled her hair back as an attempt at a disguise, since her dark curls were so characteristic in the newspaper pictures. And she must have been wearing Anna’s jacket as a memorial, but only he would know that.

The jeans jacket made Noah remember that first night when Anna had moved in. They had gone shopping to buy her a bed, and then he’d taken her and Caleb to Bed Bath & Beyond. Anna had worn the jacket over a blue-checked sundress, and Caleb had hustled to the candy counter at the checkout.

Noah had had the Things To Do list on his phone and had gone into the store with Anna, wending his way through the cramped aisles of every conceivable home good. Anna, what do you want to do first? he had asked her. Towels or sheets?

Sheets.

Where’s the sheets?