Harbor Street (Cedar Cove #5)(64)

“Is there something you want to say?” he asked.

She nodded, and looked down at her hands, struggling to find a way to broach the subject of Anson. He wasn’t her first boyfriend, but he was special, and she needed, somehow, to convey that to her father.

“Does this have anything to do with Anson?”

“Yes.” She wondered how he’d figured that out. Or maybe she was more obvious than she thought.

Her father frowned darkly. “He hasn’t broken his word, has he?”

“No…”

Her mother stepped out from the kitchen and her parents exchanged glances. They did that a lot lately. Maybe it’d been going on a long time and Allison hadn’t noticed. She did now, because she and Anson communicated in the same way. He hadn’t talked to her since his court date, not even once, but they spoke with their eyes each and every day in French class.

His gaze told her he loved her, and Allison wanted him to know she shared his feelings. Not that she’d ever let her parents find out. They’d say she was too young and insist Anson wasn’t right for her. They’d be wrong, but it was a waste of breath to argue. She knew she loved Anson and would for the rest of her life.

“Do you want me in here, too?” her mother asked.

Allison had never intended this to be such a big deal. “Ah, sure.”

At least her little brother was in his bedroom. Eddie was mostly a pest, but he had his uses.

Rosie sat on the arm of the recliner and placed her hand on Zach’s shoulder. “You were saying?” her mother gestured toward Allison.

“I hadn’t really started,” she explained. “Dad asked if Anson’s been talking to me.” Righteously, she added, “He hasn’t.”

“Good.”

“It hasn’t been easy, you know.” Both her parents seemed to take it for granted that she’d kept her promise. She had, but it’d been the hardest thing she’d ever done. The temptation was so strong because she loved Anson so much. He was the resolute one, not her, and she wanted her parents to appreciate him.

The next part was important. “Dad, I know you helped him get the job at The Lighthouse and I’d like to thank you.”

Her father shrugged, as if it was a small thing. “I checked with Seth Gunderson, and Anson appears to be a good employee.”

“Really?” Allison was sure this was true. She felt it in her heart, but having her father verify it made everything seem better.

“Yes.” Her dad smiled slightly. “According to Seth, Anson shows up early and works hard. He doesn’t drive, so he walks to the restaurant after school and pitches in until his shift starts. The only problem Anson had was with another kid who works there named Tony.”

Allison bit her lower lip. “What kind of problem?”

Her father shrugged. “Seth didn’t really say, but I got the impression that this Tony seems to think Anson makes the other employees look bad because he’s so eager to do a good job.”

Anson’s attitude pleased her. “If he walks from school to work, how does he get home?”

Her father shook his head. “Seth didn’t say, but I suspect one of the other crew drops him off.”

“Not Tony,” she said, musing out loud.

“Probably not,” her father agreed.

Allison hoped someone was giving Anson a ride. It had to be two miles between The Lighthouse restaurant and the trailer court where his mother lived. She knew for a fact that his mother wouldn’t come and get him. Anson had said enough for Allison to know the woman possessed virtually no maternal instincts.

“Maybe you should tell her what the attorney said,” Rosie advised, sharing another of those looks with Allison’s father.

Zach nodded. “Anson’s turned every paycheck over to the city as reimbursement for the shed that was destroyed.”

“That’s wonderful.” Allison clasped her hands. She was so pleased, it was difficult to hold still. “As soon as it’s paid for, he can see me again, right?”

Her father grinned. “That was our agreement.”

The doorbell rang, and before anyone could move, Eddie tore out of his bedroom and raced to the front door. They could hear him talking as he stood with the door open for a minute or two. Then he closed it and came into the family room. He looked around and saw everyone watching him.

“Who was it?” Rosie asked.

“Allison’s boyfriend. He says he wants to talk to Dad.”

“Anson?” Allison was immediately on her feet. “You left him standing out there in the cold?”

“He said that’s where he wants to wait, so don’t get all bent out of shape.”

Zach set aside the newspaper and stood. He exchanged yet another glance with Rosie, arching his brows in obvious surprise. “I’ll be back in a moment.” He pointed his finger at Allison. “And no, I’m not letting him in the house. A deal is a deal.”

Allison felt the room close in on her as her father stepped outside. “Mom?” she cried, hardly knowing what she wanted. She found it torture to sit in the same classroom with Anson five days a week and not be allowed to speak. Now this. It killed her to know that the boy she loved was on the other side of the front door, talking to her father. She had no idea what their conversation could possibly be about, and that made it even worse.