Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(78)

“I’m hoping that, too.” He shuffled his feet, still a bit uneasy. “As far as Megan’s concerned, I appreciate that you took her under your wing. She obviously needed someone and I’m glad she chose you.”

Faith’s face grew red; he wondered if it was from the cold or something else.

“I’m sorry for getting so angry with you,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have said anything about you and Sally.”

Troy shrugged. “Sally was a blind date I got roped into. She’s the mother-in-law of one of my deputies. She was visiting from New York. Bart had a social obligation that particular night, and his mother-in-law was going to be alone, so he asked me if I’d mind taking her to dinner.”

“Oh.”

“Although it’s neither here nor there, it was only the one date.”

“You were right, though. It wasn’t any of my business. I must’ve sounded like a jealous shrew.”

“You didn’t,” he assured her.

“Grandma, Grandma, come and look at our tree,” Angela called out to Faith. Her brother trailed behind her.

“I’d better join my family.”

Troy took another step back. “And I should go find Megan and Craig.”

“I’m grateful we had this talk.”

He nodded.

“Merry Christmas, Troy,” Faith said softly.

“Merry Christmas.”

Megan and Craig had already chosen and cut down their tree by the time Troy located them.

“So, what do you think, Dad?” she asked.

Troy studied the tree. “Good choice. Do you plan to decorate it this evening?”

“I’m not talking about the tree,” Megan said. “I was asking about Faith.”

“Oh, that,” he murmured, unsure how to explain. “She’s very nice but I don’t think we have that much in common.”

His daughter’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding. Faith is perfect for you.”

“Let it rest, honey,” Craig said. “This is your father’s decision, not yours.”

It looked as if Megan wanted to argue but then she took her husband’s advice.

Troy helped Craig tie the fresh Christmas tree to the roof of the car. As they pulled out of the parking lot, Troy caught sight of Faith. She stood apart from her family, watching him. When their eyes met, she raised her hand in a gesture of farewell.

This time it really was goodbye.

Twenty-Seven

“Where are you?” Christie asked her sister, nearly shouting into her cell phone. Her heart pounded at an alarming rate. It was vital that she speak to Teri as soon as possible. She’d just finished her shift at Wal-Mart and had stopped by Teri and Bobby’s house—a visit that was also a convenient excuse to see James again. Since the night he’d come to her apartment, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Their time together had been so special—at least to Christie—and she needed to confirm that he felt the same way about her.

“…shopping.” Teri’s voice faded in and out.

“I didn’t ask what you were doing, I asked where you are. I need to talk to you, pronto.”

“Seattle,” Teri told her. “Bobby and I are shopping for cribs. We’re driving to a mall.”

“Oh.” Christie’s heart sank. “I went over to your house when I got off work…I thought you’d be here.”

“Sorry…disappoint you, but…” Once again Teri’s voice faded out.

“Are you with James?” Christie asked.

“Who? I didn’t hear you.”

“Never mind.” Obviously she was.

“What’s wrong?” Her sister must have detected the note of panic in her voice.

“Someone was here.”

“Where?” Teri shouted back.

“At the house. By the gate.”

A short pause followed, and Christie didn’t know if it was due to the bad connection or her sister’s worry.

“Who?”

“A reporter, and he wasn’t interested in talking to Bobby.”

“Then who…” Christie heard some static. “Me?”

“No, he wanted to talk to James.”

“Really? What about?”

“Well, for starters, his name isn’t James Wilbur.”

“Then what is it?”

Her head was whirling with what she’d learned. “His name is James Gardner.”

“That’s…interesting.” Since Teri was in the car with Bobby and James, the conversation was risky, but Christie had to chance it. Teri seemed to realize intuitively that she couldn’t reveal what Christie was about to tell her. Still, there was a limit to how much she could say over the phone, especially with both men in earshot.

“What else did he tell you?” Teri wanted to know.

“The reporter thought I was one of the help, so I played along. I let him assume I was the housekeeper and said Bobby and you, plus James, were out of town for the next few days.”

“Good idea.” Teri’s voice was louder now; wherever they were, cell phone reception had clearly improved.

“I need to talk to James. It’s important, Teri. His cover is about to be blown.”