311 Pelican Court - Debbie Macomber [103]
“That sounds great,” she said. Her spirits soared as she drove home, planning the rest of her menu.
Jack was only ten minutes late, and by then she had salad made, the table set and the pie waiting on top of the stove. She greeted him with an enthusiastic kiss. Sliding his arms around her waist, he held her a moment longer than necessary.
“I could get used to this,” Jack said, following her into the kitchen. The chicken pie smelled savory and enticing, the crust a perfect golden-brown.
“So could I,” she confessed.
Jack had intended to go back to the office, but he stayed instead, and they cuddled up on the sofa and watched television. At eleven, Olivia reluctantly kissed him good-night at the door, then wandered into her bedroom, feeling contented and relaxed. She looked forward to another evening like this one; they’d be having dinner again soon, on Valentine’s Day, and she was already thinking about possible restaurants.
When she woke the next morning, it was because she’d heard a noise. Then she heard it again. It seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Frowning, Olivia sat up in bed. Reaching for her housecoat at the end of the bed, she slipped her arms into the sleeves, then hurried downstairs.
To her dismay, she found Stan sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and reading the Seattle morning paper. After the divorce, she hadn’t bothered to change the locks, but she couldn’t believe that, all these years later, Stan still had a key. Perhaps she’d forgotten to lock the door when she said goodbye to Jack.
“Stan!”
“Morning,” he said, as if he sat in her kitchen each and every day.
“What are you doing here?”
He set the coffee mug down. “Sorry if I startled you. I was in the neighborhood.”
Olivia was so furious she could barely speak. How dared he enter her home without permission!
“Did you get my roses?” he asked.
Olivia ignored the question. “What are you doing in my home?” She emphasized the fact that this house was hers; he no longer had any rights to it. Or to her…
He gave her that hurt-little-boy look she knew so well. “You’re upset, aren’t you?” he said.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to sneak into my home like…like a thief.”
“You’re absolutely right,” he agreed. “I apologize, Olivia. Now, please, don’t be angry with me. You know I hate it when you’re angry.”
Olivia refused to fall victim to his cajoling. “I don’t want it to happen again. Do you understand?”
“Of course,” he said, then smiled as though she was the most enthralling woman in the world. “Now, tell me, did you receive the roses?”
“I did.”
“You’ll go out with me on Valentine’s, won’t you?”
“No, Stan, I won’t. I think it’s time you finished your coffee and left.”
He shook his head. “I think you’re actually glad to see me, but you won’t admit it.”
“No, Stan, I am not glad to see you. Now, would you kindly leave.”
Twenty-Two
Zach replaced the telephone receiver and sighed heavily. Dashing off to the grade school because Eddie had been in a fight was not how he’d planned to spend his afternoon. However, the school had phoned him, and he didn’t have any choice.
He called Cecilia into his office. “Please cancel my three o’clock appointment, apologize and reschedule as soon as possible.”
Cecilia nodded. She seemed shocked when he reached for his briefcase and collected his coat. “You’re leaving?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
In other circumstances he would’ve phoned Rosie and asked her to deal with the situation. Eddie was an easygoing boy and not prone to fistfights. Whatever had caused the altercation, Zach was convinced it hadn’t been Eddie’s fault.
Since his blowup with Rosie in the office that day, Zach hadn’t been in contact with her. He felt bad about it, especially when Cecilia had told him how much she’d enjoyed meeting Rosie. Zach felt guilty for leaping to conclusions, but what else was he to think when he’d heard Rosie was busy chatting with Cecilia? Naturally enough, he’d assumed she was grilling his assistant for information about Janice.
Only later,