50 Harbor Street - Debbie Macomber [119]
“Not that I know of.” But Cecilia was afraid that whatever Anson requested, Allison would do.
“Then it can’t be too serious.”
“Don’t bet on it.” Cecilia nestled more comfortably in the crook of her husband’s arm. “I’m telling you, Ian—this kid is trouble.”
“Is he hanging around Allison a lot?”
“Apparently not. He had some sort of confrontation with her recently and she hasn’t seen him since.” Cecilia paused, biting her lip. “He hasn’t shown up for school, either, which worries her.”
“Did she try to find out where he is?”
“I asked her, and she started to cry.”
“And?” Ian pressed when she didn’t immediately continue.
“According to Allison, Anson’s mother claims she hadn’t seen him for a few days, which she doesn’t happen to think is any big deal. Can you imagine that? Anson’s eighteen now, but it shouldn’t matter what age he is. If he’s living at home and he disappears, then the woman should be concerned.”
“Surely he has friends.”
“Allison says he runs with a rough crowd.” This didn’t surprise Cecilia; kids like Anson and his buddies weren’t the type of friends she wanted Allison to have, but she dared not let the girl know that.
“Hasn’t anyone checked with these guys?”
“I suspect Allison has. But if she found out anything, she didn’t say.”
Ian was silent after that.
“Allison’s really worried, and I don’t blame her. She asked her father to talk to Seth Gunderson.”
“About what?”
Cecilia realized she’d never filled in this part of the story for Ian. “Back in December, Mr. Cox spoke to Seth on Anson’s behalf.”
“That was good of him.”
“Mr. Cox was the one who recommended Anson for the job, so he feels responsible for what happened. He wanted to hear what Seth had to say.”
“What did he learn?”
This was where it became confusing for Cecilia. “Well, Mr. Gunderson said he wasn’t a hundred percent positive that it was Anson who took the money, and because he couldn’t be sure, he laid off another of the kitchen staff, too. Both had opportunity. Naturally, Allison believes the other guy did it. She says this Tony was out to get Anson because he made Tony look bad.”
“How?”
Cecilia gave a small shrug. “Supposedly because Anson was such a hard worker.”
“That certainly gave Tony a motive, didn’t it? And Anson, too—if he thinks Tony’s been on his case, maybe spreading rumors about him.”
“That’s exactly what I figured,” Cecilia agreed. She couldn’t blame Seth Gunderson for laying off Anson. He had the motive, the opportunity and the reputation.
Her husband was quiet for several minutes. “That’s all true,” he finally said, “and I wouldn’t totally rule him out, but in my opinion, the kid’s gotten a bad break.”
“He isn’t right for Allison,” Cecilia insisted.
Ian was quiet again, and then he said, “You know, I’m glad you didn’t listen to the people who told you it was a mistake to go out with a Navy guy.”
“Oh, Ian.” She turned into his embrace. “I’m glad, too.”
She was. Not only that, her husband had given her something to think about.
Forty-Eight
Rachel laughed at Jane’s joke as they walked out to the parking lot after work on Saturday. It was the shop’s busiest day and she’d been on her feet for almost ten hours; she was exhausted. Laughter was a good release, even if the joke had been silly and a little off-color.
The parking lot was dark, only fitfully illuminated by nearby streetlights. Approaching her car, keys in hand, Rachel stopped abruptly when a tall, lean man came out of the shadows. Terrified, she couldn’t move.
Until the man spoke.
“Rachel, it’s Nate.”
She felt instantly weak until the anger kicked in, rescuing her. “You scared me out of ten years of my life,” she snapped. “What do you think you’re doing, hiding in the shadows like that?”
“Sorry.”
“You should be!”
He held up both hands. “All I wanted to do was talk. I wasn’t interested in starting World War Three.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you came sneaking up on me.” Just then, Jane drove by and slowed down as if to check out the situation. As soon as she recognized Nate, a gigantic smile formed and