Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(84)

The moment was perfect. Afterward, they’d stared at each other for a long time, and then Anson had said that kissing her was even better than he’d expected. For her, too.

Her phone rang, jolting Allison out of those comforting memories. She snapped open her cell and saw that he was right on time. “Anson?” she whispered.

“I’m here. You got the message from Shaw?”

She nodded. His friend had called the night before and told her Anson would phone at nine. That was all he said, then he’d simply cut off the connection. “He seems to enjoy playing courier.”

“Shaw’s a good friend,” he said.

“I know,” she said. “Oh, Anson, I miss you so much.” She tried to keep the emotion out of her voice, but she’d had some bad news and was struggling to hold it in. The last thing Anson needed was her dissolving into tears over a matter that didn’t involve him. There was nothing he could do.

“How was graduation?” he asked.

“All right. I wish you were there. The rose was beautiful. Thank you so much for that, and the message, too.” Her faith in him might have wavered, but Anson continued to love her.

“You talked to the sheriff?” he asked, getting directly to the point. “About the information Shaw gave you?”

“Yes. I told my father and we went in to see the sheriff on Monday.” This next part shouldn’t come as any surprise, so she drew in a deep breath. “Sheriff Davis wants to talk to you.”

Anson snickered. “Sure he does.”

“Anson, you can’t stay in hiding for the rest of your life!”

The returning silence rang like an alarm between them.

“I tried,” he finally said.

“You tried?” she repeated. “What do you mean?”

“I phoned the sheriff.”

“You talked to Sheriff Davis?” This was wonderful news, but no one had said a word to her. “I didn’t know, I thought—”

“No, I didn’t talk to him,” Anson said. “I tried to talk to him. He wasn’t there. I asked when he’d be available and I got this runaround. No one seemed to be able to tell me.”

Allison found that difficult to believe, until she remembered overhearing a conversation between her parents. “Oh, I can explain. His wife died recently. You must’ve phoned at that time.”

“What happened to his wife?”

“I’m not sure exactly, but Mom said she’d been sick for years.” It all made sense now. “He took some time off after the funeral.” She was encouraged by Anson’s effort. “Try again, okay?”

Anson seemed to consider her suggestion. “Maybe I will.”

“You didn’t tell the people at the sheriff’s office who you were—did you?” She felt positive he would’ve received more cooperation if he’d identified himself.

“No…The only person I want to talk to is the sheriff himself.”

“Well. I know he’s back in the office. My dad mentioned it last night.”

“Okay.”

All at once there didn’t seem to be anything more to say. “Thank you for the rose,” she said again. Allison had pressed it between the pages of a thick book, wanting to save it forever. The card, too.

“I’d’ve given anything to be with you.”

“I know.”

Some unidentifiable noise drifted into the background, and she wondered where Anson was. “I should go,” he murmured.

“Are you taking care of yourself?” she asked.

“I’m doing all right. What about you?”

“I’m okay.”

“Just okay?” he asked.

She was silent for a moment. “Do you know where I am, Anson?” Of course he didn’t. “The football field,” she told him.

“In the bleachers?”

She smiled, holding the small phone close to her ear. “And do you know why this spot is so special to me?”

“It’s where I kissed you the first time.”

He did remember.

“All I could think about that night was kissing you. You looked so pretty. Your cheeks were rosy with the cold and you wore this bright red coat…. I figured you could go with any guy you wanted and yet you were with me.”

“Don’t,” she said, her throat tightening.

“Don’t?”

“If you keep on talking like that, I might start to cry.” She tried for a humorous approach. “I look terrible when I cry.”

“I wish I could kiss you right now.”

“Me, too.” It was at this point that she lost her composure. “Oh, Anson. I can’t go on like this.”

He didn’t speak right away; when he did, his voice was low and harsh. “You’re all I think about. That’s what gets me through each day. I don’t know where I’d be now if it wasn’t for you. Just remember that, okay? No matter what happens about this fire or anything else, just remember you’re the best thing in my life.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“I realize you don’t know if you can trust me,” he said. “But for my sake try. Please, Allison, try.”

“I will.”