Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(85)

“There’s something else bothering you.”

She was surprised he’d noticed. “Don’t worry about me.”

“What is it?” Anson asked.

“It has nothing to do with you or the fire or anything.”

“Tell me,” he insisted.

She couldn’t hold back a sob. “Remember my friend Cecilia?”

“The woman who works for your dad?”

“Worked,” she corrected, and swiped at the tears that ran down her cheeks. “She’s moving. Her husband’s in the navy, and he was transferred and she’s moving to San Diego.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why do the people I love best all go away?”

“Allison…”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. You have enough worries—you don’t need to hear that.”

“I love you.”

The tears were coming in full force now. “I know.”

“Tell me about Cecilia,” he said. He seemed to understand how badly she wanted to talk to someone about this loss.

“She’s been such a good friend to me. She’s like the older sister I never had. You probably don’t remember what I was like when my parents divorced, but I went through a really dark period.” She sobbed again. No one else knew this next part. No one, not even Cecilia.

“Go on,” he said softly.

“She told me what it was like when her parents split up. I didn’t want to hear it and tried to block out everything she said. As much as possible I made her life miserable.

“Then one afternoon I came into the break room and found her by herself and she was crying. She didn’t want me to see, but I could tell she was looking at a picture. When I had the chance, I got into her purse and took out the picture.” If anyone had caught her, she would’ve been in serious trouble. “The photo was of her little girl who died. Later I learned she’d named her baby Allison, and that was one of the reasons she felt so close to me.”

The tears fell unrestrained, ruining her makeup. “I talk to Cecilia all the time and, oh, Anson, I don’t know if I can bear losing you both.”

“You’ll be able to keep in touch with her.”

“That’s what Cecilia said, too, and we’ve promised we always will.”

“I’m coming back to you, Allison,” he promised. “Somehow, I’ll make it happen.”

This was the hope that got her through each day. Just as Anson’s memories of her were the thing that sustained him.

Thirty-Six

Saturday, at the end of a long shift, Rachel checked her phone messages and found a slip with Nate’s name on it. Instead of returning his call, she dropped it inside her apron pocket, along with the two already there. She knew what he wanted. His parents were in town. The very thought of meeting Nate’s father and mother was enough to shoot chills of dread down her spine.

Thankfully Teri had given her a wonderful reason to avoid it. The fact that she’d eloped with Bobby Polgar meant everyone at the shop was doing double duty. As much as her own schedule would allow, Rachel had taken over Teri’s clients. Now she and Jane were the only staff left at the end of a long, frustrating Saturday.

Then, as if she’d just gone out for a few minutes, Teri Miller Polgar casually sauntered in.

The instant she saw her friend, Rachel squealed with delight. “Look at you,” she cried as she jogged across the salon and threw both arms around her. Teri radiated happiness. She positively glowed with it.

“It’s about time you got back,” Jane shouted from the reception desk where she’d laid out the cash. She came around and hugged Teri, too, and then grabbed her hand to examine her engagement and wedding rings. “Wow! Look at the size of that rock.”

“That’s not the only thing that’s big.” Teri loved saying the outlandish.

“Teri,” Rachel chastised, slapping her friend’s hand.

“Speaking of big, where is the mighty Mr. Polgar?” Jane asked.

Teri shrugged. “I was distracting him too much,” she said, and her eyes twinkled. “He’s off to Russia on some big chess tour.”

“You’re not going?”

“Do I look like I have a passport?” Teri chided, hand on her hip. “James brought me home, but I’m already miserable without my Bobby. I’ll bet he feels exactly the same way.”

“James the chauffeur?” Jane asked in a mock-dignified voice with a stagy British accent.

“The very one. He’s waiting for me outside.” Smiling, she surveyed the salon. “Believe it or not, I missed the place. I had James bring me here even before I went home.”

“Tell me,” Rachel said, dying of curiosity. “What’s it like being married to someone famous?”

Teri cocked her head to one side. “I don’t really see Bobby as famous, you know? He’s just Bobby. He thinks about chess almost all the time, and talks about it, too.” She grinned smugly. “Except when we’re in bed.” She giggled, then grew serious again. “I’m crazy about him. Me and Bobby Polgar—who would’ve guessed it?”

“Are you coming back to work?” Jane wanted to know.

“Of course,” Teri said, as if that should be understood. “I told Bobby I need to work. He can do his thing, but I have mine.”