The Trouble with Angels (Angels Everywhere #2)(75)

Paul told him about the hiking trail.

"I don’t suppose you’d like company?” Steve asked hopefully. "Listen, if you’d rather not have me along, just say the word. I know I can be a real nuisance at times.”

"What makes you say that?” Paul asked, genuinely surprised.

"We used to spend quite a bit of time together, don’t you remember? Then Barbara got sick and, I don’t know, everything changed.”

Paul didn’t feel any comment was necessary. "You’re welcome to come along if you like,” he told his old friend. He wasn’t seeking company, but he didn’t have the heart to turn Steve down.

Paul’s generosity was rewarded with a big smile from Steve. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed Steve’s companionship. As Steve had said, the two had grown apart following Barbara’s illness and death. The fault was his own, Paul realized with regret.

As if he understood that Paul had been seeking solitude, Steve didn’t seem inclined to talk on the hike, which took all of the morning and a small part of the afternoon.

Steve strolled back to his campsite and dropped onto the folding chair. "Guess I’m not in as good a shape as I thought,” he muttered. "I think I’ll rest up and then find a phone and call Myrna. She tends to worry if she doesn’t hear from me.”

"I’ll talk to you later, then,” Paul said.

Steve hesitated. "I’m not going to say anything to Myrna about what you told me, about you resigning from the church.”

"It’s fine, Steve. Everyone will learn about it sooner or later.”

"I suppose you’re right,” he agreed with some reluctance, "but I was thinking that if you were to change your mind, then the fewer people who know about it the better.”

"I’m not going to change my mind,” Paul said with confidence.

Paul decided to rest himself. He cushioned a rock with his sleeping bag and leaned against it to soak up the sun. he heard Steve drive off and smiled softly to himself. His friend didn’t realize how fortunate he was to have a wife, even if that meant he had to leave a campground to phone her.

He was half dozing when he heard a car approach. At first he assumed it was Steve returning, but the engine sound didn’t match the clunker his friend drove.

Paul opened one eye to find a familiar-looking car slowly making its way down the dirt road. It took him a moment or two to realize the vehicle belonged to Leta Johnson, his secretary. Former secretary, he reminded himself.

Paul stood when Leta parked and climbed out of the car. She glared at him, fairly sizzling with righteous indignation.

"If you want to resign, that’s fine with me,” she snapped, slapping down the sealed envelopes on the top of the picnic table. "But you can damn well mail your own letters. As a matter of interest, Bernard Bartelli phoned. Madge hasn’t much longer to live. He asked for you. Just exactly what am I supposed to tell that dear man? Tell me, Paul.”

Her voice broke, and Paul realized he’d been a fool to think he could run away from his responsibilities.

"Tell him I’m on my way to the hospital right now,” Paul said, and started to gather up his equipment.

16

Karen was on the phone when Maureen walked in the door that evening after work. She was tired and frustrated and in no mood to cook dinner. The Christmas tree wasn’t up yet, and she had a stack of cards left to write, and if she didn’t mail them the following morning, it was doubtful they’d arrive before Christmas.

She set down her briefcase and her purse and saw her daughter give her a look rife with guilt. Without being obvious, Maureen listened in to half of the conversation. She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, removed the chicken br**sts she intended to roast, and set them on the counter.

"Sure, that will be fine.” Karen’s gaze followed Maureen around the kitchen.

"Okay,” Karen added, and nodded. Her face lit up with a bright smile. "Don’t worry, okay? I’ll tell Mom.”

Brian.

It could only be her ex-husband, Maureen decided. He’d gone behind her back and telephoned Karen when he knew Maureen wouldn’t be there to act as a buffer. The man had sunk to new levels of deceit.

"I’m looking forward to it, too.”

Maureen wasn’t going to scold Karen for speaking to Brian, but she wanted to make sure this sort of thing didn’t happen again.

All contact with their daughter was to be arranged with Maureen in advance. It wasn’t Karen’s fault that Brian had gone against the provisions stated in the divorce settlement. He knew the terms as well as she did. The next time her ex-husband called when Karen was home alone, Karen would be instructed to phone him back. Brian could talk to Karen only when Maureen was present, and he damn well knew it.

"I can’t wait,” Karen whispered excitedly into the mouthpiece.

So Brian was up to his old tricks, Maureen mused. No doubt he was making promises he had no intention of keeping. Then again…Her stomach tightened as she considered the alternative. Perhaps he would make his promises good. If he intended on fighting her for custody of Karen, then he’d need their daughter’s cooperation. What better way than to give her the things Maureen couldn’t? He was married with a baby, and Karen loved babies. It would be just like him to plot to steal their daughter away from her. How he’d love to collect child support payments from her!