50 Harbor Street - Debbie Macomber [107]
Without a word to her friends, Allison joined him. She knew something was terribly wrong even before he spoke.
“Ditch your friends,” he said, eyeing Kaci and Alicia, who were a few paces behind her.
She sucked in a breath. “I can’t do that.”
“Fine.” He turned and walked away.
“It’s all right,” Kaci said, hugging Allison briefly. “Go. Meet us at Waldenbooks at three.”
Allison nodded gratefully and hurried after Anson. He was walking through the mall at such speed that she had to run in order to catch up with him.
“Anson, stop!” she called.
He turned around but didn’t smile when he saw her.
“What happened?” she asked. Clearly something had, otherwise he would never have spoken to her. He’d kept his word to her father. “Why are you here?”
“To see you. Eddie told me you’d gone to the mall. I took the bus.” He looked past her, his eyes hard as flint. “I lost my job.”
“The Lighthouse laid you off?” That didn’t make sense. Her father had checked on how he was doing, and Seth Gunderson had said Anson was conscientious and diligent in his work habits. There was even talk of promoting him from dishwasher to working as a prep cook. Her father seemed pleased that his faith in Anson had been well placed.
“Does this have anything to do with Tony?”
Anson frowned. “Who told you about him and me?”
“My dad. Mr. Gunderson mentioned that the two of you weren’t getting along. Is he involved in…in getting you fired?”
“Probably.”
“Did they give you a reason?” she said, her hand on his sleeve. Anson was so cold and angry and with his whole Goth regalia, including the heavy pewter cross he wore around his neck, people obviously found him menacing. Shoppers gave them a wide berth as they stood outside the food court.
Anson refused to meet her gaze. “They said it was reduction in force.”
“Maybe business slacked off,” she said, thinking quickly. “That happens, you know.”
“It was an excuse.” His eyes narrowed as he spoke.
“Do you think there was another reason?” she asked softly, her hand still on his arm.
For the first time he looked directly at her. But this boy wasn’t the Anson she knew. He was irate and resentful, and she felt as though every bit of his fury was directed at her. Allison nearly dropped her hand and stepped back.
“Mr. Gunderson thinks I took something that didn’t belong to me. He thinks I took cash out of his office.”
Allison had the sudden urge to sit down. She walked over to an empty table and pulled out a chair. Anson followed.
“You didn’t do that.” She refused to believe Anson was guilty of such a thing.
Pain flashed from his eyes but was immediately shielded. “That’s not what Seth Gunderson believes.”
“He talked to you?”
Anson nodded. “He talked to everyone.”
“Did he have any proof?”
“How could he?” Anson asked hotly. “I didn’t do it.”
Allison reached for his hand, curling her fingers around his. She needed to touch him, to reassure him. At first he resisted and tried to pull away. Then he entwined their fingers, holding onto her as if she were the only solid thing in a world that was crumbling. Allison didn’t know what to say that could make this better.
“What can I do?” she asked after a while.
“Nothing,” he said and swore. “I wouldn’t go back there if they begged me to. I worked my butt off for that restaurant and then they treat me like—”
He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to; Allison knew what he intended to say.
“I’ll talk to my dad,” she suggested. Her father had been willing to help Anson before. Once she explained the situation, he would again. She hoped.
“No.” His voice was harsh. “Not this time.” He laughed. “Your father can’t do a damn thing for me. I was the obvious suspect, you know. Mr. Gunderson knows I was responsible for setting the park shed on fire. If they were going to accuse anyone, it would be me—and why not? I’ve been in trouble. I was a convenient scapegoat.”
“But it’s not right!”
“Not everything is right, Allison. You live in this comfortable world where everything turns out perfectly. It isn’t like that for everyone.