Читать книгу Missing Persons - Shirlee McCoy - Страница 9

Lauren had changed. That much was obvious. Seth watched as she moved to the front of the ballroom and took her place next to Steff, her fitted black dress hugging slender curves and long lean lines. Dark hair, longer than she’d worn in high school or college, fell past her shoulders in thick waves. She hadn’t tried to tame it as she had so often when she was younger. That in itself was a surprise. What surprised Seth more was her direct gaze, the confident way she held herself, smiling out at the crowd as if she enjoyed being there.

And maybe she did.

Seth had certainly grown and changed during the past decade. It shouldn’t surprise him that Lauren had, as well. Somehow, though, it did. When he’d heard that she’d be offering a week’s worth of her services as a personal chef at the auction, he’d wondered what it would be like to see her again, had wondered if she’d be married or single, changed or the same. He’d pictured her in loose sweaters and baggy jeans, hair pulled away from a pale makeup free face. He’d thought she’d stand quietly in the background, a little mousy, a little shy. What he hadn’t imagined was the self-assured professional she’d become, the stunning beauty she no longer tried to hide. Where she’d once been content to hide in the shadows of her sister’s popularity, she now seemed determined to shine, her understated sophistication exactly what Seth would have expected from any other woman in her profession.

He just hadn’t expected it from her.

As if she sensed his thoughts, she turned her head, scanning the tables, her gaze drifting from person to person and finally coming to rest on Seth. For a moment, their gazes held, a million memories passing between them. Then she looked away, her smile fading just a bit, some of the animation and vitality seeping from her expression.

He’d done that to her. And a lot worse. Though, as she’d said earlier, that had been years ago. He’d apologized for the way he’d broken off their relationship and then he’d put it behind him.

At least he’d thought he had.

“You’re going to bid on this aren’t you?” The stage whisper came from Jeannine Maynard, a retired employee of Magnolia College and Seth’s busybody neighbor. She’d been the one to tell him about the renowned chef from Savannah who planned to auction off a week’s worth of allergen-free meals.

“It’s why I came, Ms. Jeannine.”

“Then get to it before the auctioneer closes the bid and you lose out.”

Seth raised his card, topping the previous bid and noting the slight widening of Lauren’s eyes. She wasn’t happy, but he hadn’t expected her to be. Unfortunately for both of them, Seth’s son Jake’s dietary needs took precedence over anything else.

“You’re going to pay a pretty penny if you want to win this one, Seth. Quite a crowd showed up tonight.”

“There’s no surprise there.” An older gentleman seated next to Jeannine spoke up. “Everyone is hoping there’ll be some mention of the investigation into the body that was found at the college.”

“Skeleton. Not body. Buried under the sidewalk of all things. You’d think someone would have noticed while they were pouring the cement.” Jeannine flashed her own card, upping the bid and smirking at Seth.

“Not if the body was under a layer of dirt.” Seth flashed his card again, caught Lauren’s glare, but chose to ignore it.

“Do they have any idea whose body it was?” The woman across the table leaned in, her eyes wide behind thick-lensed glasses.

“If they do they aren’t saying.” Seth flashed his card again, driving the bid higher.

“From what I hear, they think it’s a woman. Young. Maybe a student who was attending the college.” Jeannine spoke quietly, and everyone at the table leaned toward her. Except for Seth. He’d heard the information before, had spent way too much of his time speculating about who it could be. A woman. Someone who’d disappeared ten years ago.

Ellen.

His half sister and his parents had had a big blowup the year Jake was born. Ellen had stormed out of the house and never returned.

That had been ten years ago. About the same time the first renovations had been done on Magnolia College’s library. About the same time the sidewalk had been poured. She’d had friends in Magnolia Falls and a job doing freelance photography for the public relations department at Magnolia College. And now she was gone.

Seth flashed his number again, trying to block out the conversation and his own morbid thoughts. Sure Ellen had had a lot of friends in Magnolia Falls. It was possible she’d visited there after the blowup with their parents, but that didn’t mean she had. It certainly didn’t mean her body had been hidden under a sidewalk for the past ten years.

Seth bid a final time, winning Lauren’s chef services and then following her progress as she made her way through the crowded room. She took a seat at her table, whispering to her sister, Deandra, who wasn’t quite as restrained. She shot Seth a look filled with malice. Obviously, she wasn’t going to let bygones be bygones. Jennifer, Cassie and Kate were at the table, too, and glanced in Seth’s direction before leaning forward and beginning what looked like an animated conversation.

They could talk all they wanted. Seth had accomplished his goal. The only person he had to explain things to was Lauren, and he’d have plenty of time to do that while they worked on the menu for Jake. As for the rest of the ladies, they’d just have to hear the details from her.

Steff announced the next item up for auction and another bidding war began. This one over a summer’s worth of lawn service. Lauren’s sister made a bid, the woman next to her saying something that made the rest of the table laugh. As Lauren’s companions turned their attention to other things, Lauren whispered something in Deandra’s ear, grabbed a small handbag from the floor and stood, moving quickly toward the door and out of the room.

Five minutes passed, then ten as Seth tried to convince himself not to follow. He didn’t do a good job of it and finally gave up the effort, pushing back his chair and standing.

“Are you leaving already?” Jeannine looked up from a dinner roll she was slathering with butter.

“Just going to call and make sure my son isn’t giving the babysitter grief. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“As if that sweet young man could ever give anyone trouble.”

“I won’t tell him you called him sweet.” Seth strode away from the table.

The lobby was empty, the sounds of laughter drifting in from the events room barely disturbing the refined air the inn worked so hard to maintain. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, dialing his home number as he stepped outside into cool September air, his gaze scanning the parking lot.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Reese. It’s Seth.”

“Is everything okay?” Reese sounded as bubbly as ever. Apparently her ten-year-old charge hadn’t worn her out yet.

“Everything is fine. I just thought I’d check in. Make sure my son wasn’t giving you trouble about his bedtime.”

“You know he is. He wants more time to read the book I brought him.” A junior at Magnolia College, Reese had been Jake’s babysitter for two years. Seth had come to value her dependability. Being a single parent was hard. Having reliable child care made things easier.

“How much time do you plan to give him?”

“You know me too well. Is a half hour okay?”

“Works for me, but tell him that if he values tomorrow’s fishing trip, he’d better not push for more.”

“I will. See you when you get home.” The phone clicked as Reese disconnected, and Jake shook his head, smiling a little as he thought of his son and Reese conspiring to extend Jake’s bedtime. Dependable or not, Reese wasn’t nearly as far from her childhood as Seth was from his. That made her more likely to allow later bedtimes and extra snacks. Which was fine with Seth.

Once in a while.

And that was as frequently as he went out. According to Jeannine and a few other well-meaning neighbors and church ladies that wasn’t nearly enough, but Seth wasn’t in the market for a relationship. One marriage was enough for a lifetime.

He pushed aside the thought and the memories that went with it, and turned back toward the inn. That’s when he saw her—sitting on a bench near the corner of the building, her shoulders slumped, her dark hair spilling forward to cover her face. Lola. Despite what she said, despite what she wanted, that’s how he thought of Lauren. The nickname was one he’d coined when he’d met her his sophomore year of high school. A transplant from New Orleans, Lauren had seemed lost and alone as she wandered through the cafeteria of their Savannah high school. When she’d glanced his way and offered a sweet smile, Seth’s adolescent heart had melted. Despite his determination to keep the past at bay, the memories washed over him, bittersweet in their simplicity.

“You new?”

“Yes. I’m Lauren Owens. From Louisiana.”

“Well, Lauren Owens from Louisiana, it looks like you could use a friend. I’m Seth Chartrand. Want to have lunch with me?”

“I was looking for my sister.”

“No problem, Lola, I’ll help you find her. We can all have lunch together.”

Even now, the memory made him smile. Friendship had blossomed that day. From there love had grown. Unfortunately, Seth hadn’t known enough about life to value it. He liked to tell himself he’d matured since then. Sometimes he almost believed it.

He moved toward her, grass and leaves crackling beneath his feet, the sweet scent of newly mown lawn heavy in the air. “You look like you could use a friend.”

She tensed, but didn’t turn toward him. “No. Just some fresh air.”

“I guess that makes two of us.” He kept his words casual, ignoring her not so subtle dismissal.

“You shouldn’t have followed me out here, Seth.”

“Who said I did?”

“Didn’t you?”

“I thought you might like an explanation.”

“As long as you have the money to pay for what you bought, no explanation is necessary.” She stood, moving a few steps away, her lean form taut with whatever she was feeling. Eleven years ago he would have known, would have been able to read the look in her eyes, the expression on her face. Now she was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

“Maybe not, but I’m going to give you one anyway. My son has severe food allergies, Lauren. Making meals he can eat and enjoy is difficult. I thought learning from an expert in the field might make his life easier.”

She nodded, but there was no softening in her expression. “You’ll have to make me a list of what he’s allergic to. I’ll put together meal ideas based on that. Do you have an e-mail address where I can send the menu?”

“Sure.” He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the list of allergens.”

“It’ll be easier if you e-mail it to me.” She handed him her card, and Seth glanced down at her e-mail and business address. Savannah. She hadn’t moved far from home. At least in this she hadn’t surprised him. The Lauren he’d dated had always been content to be near home and family.

He, on the other hand, had been desperate for adventure and freedom.

“How does this work? Do I come to you? Or will you come to me?”

“Once the menu is agreed on, I’ll come to your house to prepare the food.”

“That’s a lot of miles on your car.”

“I’ll do the week’s worth of cooking in one visit.” She shrugged. “Even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’m staying with Dee for the next two weeks.”

“Vacation?”

“And favor. Steff asked me to take part in the auction. I agreed. Driving back and forth between Savannah and Magnolia Falls didn’t make sense. I figured I’d do the job, then take some time to relax.”

“Dee’s not in town, is she?” If she was, she must stay close to home. Seth had yet to run into her.

“No, but she’s close enough.” She smiled and it was the same sweet curve of her lips he’d noticed the first time he’d seen her.

“You haven’t changed, Lola.”

“The fact that you say that just proves how little you know about me.” She ran a hand over loose curls, avoiding eye contact. “I’d better head back in.”

He should let her go. She was right after all. He didn’t know her. But he did know that tonight had to be as uncomfortable for her as it was for him. Seeing each other after all these years, trying hard not to remember the way things had been, the way they had ended. If it was hard for him, it must be doubly difficult for Lauren.

Before she could walk away, he put his hand on her arm, feeling firm muscles beneath silky fabric. “I’m sorry if my winning your services is uncomfortable for you.”

“Tonight was about raising funds for Magnolia College. As long as I’ve helped do that, I’m not uncomfortable with the outcome.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course. I think we’re both professional enough to keep the past where it belongs.”

“Professional enough? Sure. But that doesn’t change the facts.”

“What facts, Seth? That we dated years ago? That you broke up with me? That same story plays out a million times a year with a million couples. It’s not something we need to make an issue of.”

Maybe they didn’t, but it was an issue for Seth. Being near Lauren brought back memories he’d spent a long time trying to forget. Maybe tonight was about more than Jake and his food allergies. Maybe it was about making amends. Not that that was possible. He’d broken Lauren’s heart, laughed at her dreams, calling them boring and mundane. Just thinking about it was enough to make him cringe. “The past is still between us. Whether we make an issue of it or not.”

“Look, Seth—”

Seth’s cell phone rang, interrupting her words. He glanced at the number, his chest tightening with worry. Reese didn’t call unless there was a problem. “It’s my son’s babysitter. I’ve got to take this.”

Lauren moved a few steps away, but didn’t return to the inn. “Hello?”

“Seth, it’s Reese. Jacob’s having a reaction to something. He’s breathing okay, but I think you’d better come home.”

“Did he have anything to eat besides what I left for him?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you certain?” He started toward his car, his stomach clenching with anxiety. Jake’s reactions ranged from mild to severe depending on the allergen.

“If he had anything else, he’s not admitting it.”

“I’ll be home in ten minutes.” He slid the phone into his pocket, started toward his car.

“Is everything okay?” Lauren kept pace beside him, her words filled with worry.

“I’m not sure. My son is having an allergic reaction to something. I’ve got to get home to make sure he’s okay and to convince him to be a little more honest about what he’s had to eat.”

“Why don’t I come with you? Once you get things settled, we can go over the list of his allergens. That way I can get started on the menu right away.”

Surprised, Seth paused with his hand on the car door, turning to face Lauren. “And get our business over with more quickly?”

She shrugged, a thick dark curl sliding over her shoulder and resting at the V of her dress. “The sooner we do, the sooner I can get started on my vacation.”

“I think maybe I should be insulted.”

“It’s nothing personal.” And neither was their business agreement. She didn’t have to add the rest for Seth to hear it.

“I get that.”

“If you’d rather we take care of things by e-mail and phone, that’s fine.”

“Now works. If you don’t think you’ll be missed.”

“I’ll be missed, but I’ll give Dee a call on her cell phone to let her know what’s going on.”

“Then let’s go.” He rounded the car, pulled open the passenger side door, inhaling a whiff of subtle perfume as Lauren slid in.

Perfume. Understated elegance. Dark wild curls. Confidence. Not the Lauren he’d dated for five years.

The changes should have made her a stranger. They didn’t. And as Seth started the engine and drove toward home, he couldn’t help thinking that having her in his car, having her beside him felt good. Even right.

And that was something he shouldn’t be thinking at all.