“I will,” Claire promised as she gave her mother an impulsive hug. Ruth tolerated it for a moment, hugged her back rather awkwardly, then eased away.
“I’d better get back out,” Ruth said.
“Of course.”
Claire followed her mother out of the stockroom and watched with that amusement again as her mother gave a careful look at the few customers in the bookstore to make sure no one needed anything before she turned back to her.
“The children are with Jeff and Holly this weekend, aren’t they?”
“They’re going shopping for cribs, I think.” An activity Macy would love but Owen would abhor. Jeff probably would never clue in that an eight-year-old boy had zero interest in outfitting a nursery.
“Need some company? I’m supposed to go listen to some chamber orchestra concert at the resort with Janice Ostermiller, but I can probably back out if you think you might be lonely.”
Where was that coming from? She’d been alone every other weekend for the past two years and her mother had never jumped to keep her company unless she needed something from Claire.
“Don’t change your plans. I’m fine. The truth is, I’ll enjoy the quiet. I’ve got plenty of work to keep me busy for the benefit.”
“Owen told me he hasn’t seen the police chief around for a while.” Ruth’s tone was deceptively casual. “I’m glad to hear you listened to my advice.”
And there went the warm glow from her mother’s generous gesture. It fizzled and popped a forlorn little death.
She sighed, remembering the heat of his hands on her arms out on the street a short time ago, that ridiculous urge she had to just close her eyes and rest there against him for a week or two.
“I told you, Riley and I are just friends. We still are. Nothing has changed in that department.”
“Well, I don’t expect he’ll be around much longer.”
The thought of his leaving clutched at her heart. “Why? What have you heard?”
“Nothing. Not really. Oh, you know how people talk.”
“Excuse me, I’m looking for your regional photography section.” A man she didn’t know, probably a tourist, she guessed, interrupted them before Ruth could answer, much to Claire’s frustration.
“Oh, yes. Let me show you.”
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later, Mom. Thank you for the donation. You can still change your mind, you know.”
“I won’t,” Ruth said firmly, then headed off to help her customer.
Claire paused there for a moment in Maura’s cozy, warm bookstore, then she pushed the door open and headed back out into the May sunshine.
The delicious smells of yeasty bread and something spicy and delicious emanated from the café and Claire’s stomach rumbled. She needed lunch and right now the idea of the café’s hot chicken salad on a croissant was close to her idea of heaven.
She pushed open the door and immediately wished she could back right out again. I’m meeting someone for lunch or I’d offer to buy you a sandwich over at the café.
Riley hadn’t mentioned that someone was a young, beautiful redhead with long fingernails and a particularly grating sort of laugh.
She wanted nothing more than to hurry right back out, but she was hungry and her foot hurt and Dermot Caine, owner and operator of the café, was greeting her.
“Claire, darlin’. Haven’t seen you in here in an age!”
“Hi, Mr. Caine. Hey, can I have a chicken salad sandwich to go? I’m kind of in a rush.”
“Coming right up, doll. You sit right there and I’ll have it for you quick as a wink.”
The five minutes it took him to make her sandwich were excruciating. Even though she studiously avoided looking at Riley’s booth, she couldn’t help overhearing the redhead’s grating laugh, with a very flirtatious edge.
Finally Dermot brought out her sandwich wrapped in a white paper bag. She paid quickly and, steeling herself, finally looked toward Riley’s booth and forced a casual wave. He gave her an unreadable look but lifted a hand to return the greeting.
When she was certain she was completely out of sight of any patrons in the café, Claire sank onto a bench against the wall, one of several conveniently placed around the downtown for footsore shoppers.
She leaned her head against the sun-warmed brick and closed her eyes. She was definitely going to have to get a grip on herself. Hope’s Crossing was a small town and they were bound to run into each other on a regular basis. Riley was going to date other women, there was no question about it. Claire had no claim on him—he’d made that clear—and she certainly couldn’t fall apart every time she saw him with someone else.
Seventeen