Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #6)(79)

“It happens,” Margaret said. “Get over it.”

To my astonishment, Alix grinned. “Yeah, I guess I should. It’s my own fault. We were supposed to meet at the café at f ive and I was late. He didn’t feel he should hold on to a table, so he left.”

“And when you did arrive, there wasn’t one available,”

Margaret f inished for her.

“Exactly.” She exhaled slowly. “I didn’t want to upset him and I’m usually on time, but there were extenuating circumstances.”

I’d never known Alix to be intentionally late. In fact, she was generally the f irst to show up, as she had tonight. She needed structure, and since I knew what her life had been like as a child, I understood why.

“Casey wanted to talk. It wasn’t like I could put her off, and then I had to rush to f inish up the menu plans for my boss. Winter’s going on vacation and asked me to take over for her.”

“Casey?” Alix had spent time with Casey? That afternoon?

Suddenly it all made sense. I should’ve realized Casey would seek out Alix, but until that moment it hadn’t occurred to me. Alix nodded and looked from Margaret to me. “You mean you didn’t know she was with me?”

“No,” Margaret said f latly. “We didn’t have a clue where she was, and she was gone for hours.”

“I’m glad she could talk to you,” I said, although it was diff icult not to feel a twinge of jealousy. I so badly wanted Casey to feel safe enough, comfortable enough, to turn to me. Instead she’d gone to Alix. Her reasons were completely logical—

and, of course, I’d done the same thing. I’d gone to Alix, too, asking questions about her experience as a ward of the state so I could understand Casey’s.

Alix seemed a bit confused. “She said you were the one who sent her to me.”

I’d mentioned it, only that had been weeks ago. Naturally I was curious as to what Casey had said, especially since they’d talked for such a long time, but I didn’t ask. I hoped Alix would volunteer the information; when she didn’t, I left it at that.

“Is everything settled between you and Jordan?” I asked instead.

“Not really,” Alix said, looking dejected. “He was pretty upset with me. He said I should’ve called his cell, and he was right. Hopefully we’ll grab some dinner after class.” Then a smile twitched at the edges of her mouth, and the tension eased from her face. “I’ll f ind a way to make it up to him later.”

Margaret hooted with laughter. “I just bet you will,” she said, winking at Alix.

Chapter 28

Phoebe Rylander

Phoebe wasn’t a baseball fan. However, when Hutch invited her to attend Stitch and Pitch night at the Mariners’ game, she was eager to accept. Everyone in the class had gotten tickets and it would be an enjoyable Thursday evening, quite different from her usual activities.

Hutch picked her up at work and had dressed in a Mariners’

jersey, complete with baseball cap. She had to admit he looked athletic and rather charming in a boyish manner. She knew he’d started working out at a gym three mornings a week and it showed. In fact, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Judging by the way he kept stealing glances at her, the feeling was mutual. Ever since Monday night when Clark had tried to deceive her, Phoebe had a renewed appreciation of Hutch. He was honest and forthright, whereas anything Clark said simply couldn’t be trusted. With him, the truth was all too f lexible. The crowds streamed into the stadium. As she and Hutch reached their seats, he left her to stand in a long line to purchase the ever-popular hot dogs.

Phoebe watched the pitcher warm up, and the excitement in the crowd was contagious. She saw Lydia, Brad, Casey and Cody f iling into the row in front of her and Hutch, half a dozen seats to the right. Both kids had catcher’s mitts, obviously hoping for foul balls. Lydia had her knitting; Phoebe had brought hers, too.

“Hello,” she called out.

Grinning, Lydia turned around. “Hi! I don’t suppose you’ve seen Margaret, have you?”

Phoebe nodded. “She was in line at the ladies’ room.”

“Oh, good. She made it.”

“Elise Beaumont was there, too.”

“I’m glad Margaret managed to talk her into coming,” Lydia said.

“There’s Anne Marie.” Phoebe impulsively stood up to wave. Ellen was with her, as well as another couple she didn’t recognize. Anne Marie waved back from several rows below. Sitting down again, Phoebe leaned forward to ask Lydia,

“Who’s that couple with Anne Marie and Ellen?”

Lydia shaded her eyes, peering down at them, then shook her head. “I don’t know.” After a moment she twisted around to speak to Phoebe again. “Anne Marie’s been dating this guy named Tim, but I don’t think that’s him.”

“Why not?”

“Well, mainly because he’s holding hands with the other woman.”

“Oh.”

She craned her neck to get a better view. “The thing is, it sort of looks like him.”

“You’ve met him?”

“Once, when I dropped into the bookstore to pick something up and he was there.”

Hutch returned, holding a cardboard container laden with two huge hot dogs slathered with condiments, including sauerkraut and mustard, plus two giant-size sodas and a bag of hot, roasted peanuts.