Susannah's Garden (Blossom Street #3)(62)

“I managed to dig up one interesting bit of information. It’s rather complicated so I’d prefer to explain later.”

“Okay.” The frustration was killing her. “I might have some information myself.”

“Great. I’m putting out some feelers in Canada. Hopefully I’ll have more to tell you when we meet.”

“Canada?”

“I’ll explain everything on Tuesday,” she repeated.

“Right…have a nice weekend.” Susannah’s head was spinning. Did Jake live in Canada?

“Happy Fourth of July,” Shirl said and, with that, the line went dead.

“What did she tell you?” Chrissie pried. “What was that about Canada?”

Still absorbed in her thoughts, Susannah shook her head. “She said we’d talk on Tuesday.” Until then, her stomach would be in knots. Instinct told her she was close to finding Jake. She could feel it. Although maybe that was merely because she so badly wanted to talk to him.

“Dad doesn’t know about this, does he?” Chrissie said, accusing her with a look of righteous indignation.

“Ah…”

“I talked to him this afternoon, and he said he didn’t.”

Susannah scowled at her daughter, furious that she’d mentioned this to Joe. “Thank you very much,” she snapped.

Chrissie’s jaw sagged as though she’d been the victim of a great injustice. “I beg your pardon. I thought my parents communicated with each other. Guess I was wrong. I suppose this has to do with that old boyfriend of yours. That’s all you talk about, you know. Don’t think I can’t hear when you’re on the phone with your friend—it’s Jake this and Jake that. I even heard some of your phone calls to those other Jake guys. In case you’ve forgotten, you’re married.”

Susannah’s face burned with anger and guilt. “For crying out loud—”

“You’d better call Dad,” Chrissie cut in. “He wants to know what’s going on and frankly I don’t blame him.” Chrissie stormed out of the kitchen and disappeared down the hallway to her room.

Susannah grabbed the icy soda. Her hand shook as she brought the can to her mouth. Sooner or later, she’d have to tell Joe about the thousand-dollar fee to the private detective.

After taking a few minutes to let her pounding heart settle down, Susannah tried calling Joe at the office. Her one hope was that he was in the middle of a complicated root canal and couldn’t be disturbed. No such luck. He was between patients and eager to talk to her. He took the call in his office.

“What the hell is happening there?” he asked, clearly angry and worse than that, hurt.

Joe so rarely raised his voice that Susannah felt even guiltier. “Good afternoon to you, too,” she muttered.

“Susannah, I only have a few minutes. Tell me what you’re doing.”

“If you’re asking about the private investigator, I hired her to find Jake Presley.” There, it was out with no embellishments, no explanations and no excuses.

The silence between them seemed to shout at her, echoing Chrissie’s taunt. You’re married.

“It didn’t occur to you to talk this over with me first?” he finally asked. “How would you feel if I decided to look up Donna Terry? She was my first love, but you don’t see me paying good money to hire someone to find her.”

“This is different,” she insisted.

“I know you’re upset about what your father did,” he continued, “and I get that, but this is carrying things too far.”

“I want to talk to him.”

“Fine. Why go behind my back?”

“Because…because I knew you wouldn’t want me to and—well, okay, I knew how you’d feel. I don’t expect you to understand, but this is something I have to do.”

“So you went through with it even though you were well aware that I’d disapprove? My opinion doesn’t count?”

“Ah…”

“You can’t answer that, can you?”

“Joe, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I should never have handled this the way I did, but I didn’t feel I had a choice. I was afraid you’d talk me out of it or make me feel guilty for wanting to track him down.”

It was as if he hadn’t heard her. “I would hope you’d trust me enough to discuss such an important matter with me.”

“I know….” Her words faded. She wanted to explain what had led to her hiring the detective, but Joe wasn’t listening. She certainly couldn’t tell him that the money might well have been wasted.

“Why is it so important for you to find him?”

“It just is—for all the reasons I’ve already mentioned.”

“He didn’t bother to find you. Doesn’t that tell you anything?”

It didn’t, because Jake had to honor his father’s agreement with hers. She was under no such obligation.

Another silence, filled with accusations.

“Did you talk to the detective?”

“Yes. She was on her way out the door so we didn’t have a chance to say much. I’ve got an appointment Tuesday afternoon.”

“You’re keeping the appointment?”