Willow Brook Road(57)
An image of Sam and that sizzling moment they’d shared the night before immediately came to mind. She could say it was a bad idea from now till doomsday, but she was having more and more trouble believing it.
Mack stopped by the real estate management office to try to lure Susie to lunch and found her with Shanna.
“Come on, Susie. Tomorrow’s book-club night and it’s your turn. Please don’t back out. We’ve been missing you like crazy at Sally’s in the morning. We want to catch up.”
Susie opened her mouth, about to decline again if Mack knew anything at all about his wife, but Shanna kept right on talking over her. “You won’t have to do a thing,” she promised. “We’ll bring the food, the drinks, all of it. We’ll even clean up.”
“Sounds like a great deal,” Mack said, watching his wife closely.
Susie barely spared him a glance before shaking her head. “I’m not ready for a girls’ night. And I haven’t even read the book.”
Shanna grinned. “When has that ever mattered to anyone except me? Half the time I’m the only one who’s read it. You know this is just an excuse for all the O’Brien women to get together.”
Mack kept silent, praying that Susie would break down and say yes. She needed her friends, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
“Okay,” she said at last. “But not one word about what happened to Mack and me, okay? I can’t talk about not getting the baby.”
“Promise,” Shanna said. “I’d better get back to the store. I’m training a new salesclerk and she panics if we have more than one customer at a time. See you tomorrow at seven. Don’t lift a finger. We’ll do everything.”
Susie nodded, though she still didn’t look especially happy about agreeing to it.
When Shanna had gone, Mack took her place beside his wife’s desk. “That should be fun. You need to spend some time with the girls.”
She gave him a wry look. “So you’re free to play hoops with the guys? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how closely you’ve been sticking to home.”
“It’s not as if spending time with my wife is a huge sacrifice,” he responded. “In fact, I came by now to see if you have time for lunch.”
“At Sally’s?” she asked, a frown in place.
“Unless you’d prefer someplace else.”
“Anyplace else,” she said fervently.
“Panini Bistro, the pizza place, Brady’s? Your choice.”
“Home,” she said at once. “I can make salads there.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go out?”
“Very sure.”
“Because you don’t want to run into anyone who might ask about the adoption?” he guessed.
She nodded. “I’d told everybody it was happening, Mack. I was so excited. Now I just don’t know what to say. It hurts seeing the pity in their eyes.”
He reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry, babe.”
“It’ll get better eventually,” she said with more hope than confidence in her voice. “People will hear what happened, if they haven’t already, and will avoid the topic.”
“They will, you know. If they don’t drop it, if they do ask, it’s only because everyone in this town adores you.”
“I suppose.”
“Before I forget, Sam told me last night that he’ll be in touch about looking at houses as soon as school starts and he has more time. He’s been spending most of his spare time with Bobby.”
Her expression brightened marginally. “They’re doing okay?”
“It sounds like it. I know Carrie’s been helping out,” he said, then could have kicked himself when dismay once again washed over Susie’s face. “Let’s go have lunch. I think it’s cool enough to sit on the porch.”
She nodded, but it was clear some of the life had gone out of her again. When she stood up, Mack drew her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I love you more than anything,” he told her. “And I hate that you’re hurting.”
“I’m trying to get past what happened, Mack. I really am.”
Mack believed her, but they both knew that pain that deep simply didn’t vanish overnight.
With the morning off after working late the night before, Sam bought Bobby a fishing pole at Ethel’s Emporium, then took him to the town pier to see what they could catch. Bobby eyed the worms with distaste.
“They’re yucky!” he declared.
Sam laughed. “I’ll grant you that, but the fish love them.”
He glanced up with relief when he heard Henry, Davey and Johnny approaching. Shanna had called that morning and offered to send them along to help with a fishing lesson.