Alana by Denise Devine

Author:Denise Devine [Devine, Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Alana stored her Mercedes in the garage and drove the Buick a half hour southeast to the town of Lonsdale to meet Reid. He needed to pick up a printed copy of his manuscript at the office supply store so they agreed to converge there. She drove the station wagon into the store parking lot next to his red Chrysler Pacifica and waited for him. He emerged from the store a few minutes later leading Hannah with one hand and carrying a flat brown bag with the other.

Alana jumped out of her car and met him at the passenger side of his SUV. She opened the door and got in while he settled Hannah snugly in her safety seat.

“Lana!” Hannah cried excitedly. “I get a Happy Meal!”

Alana turned in the front seat and smiled. “You do? Isn’t that fun!”

Hannah’s long curly hair hung in ringlets past her shoulders. Her head bobbed up and down like it was on a spring. “And a toy too!”

“What time are you having lunch?”

Hannah thought for a moment and shrugged.

“You have to be a good girl when we go to our appointment,” Reid said as he buckled the seatbelt holding her car seat. “No running around or fussing. All right? Just sit on Daddy’s lap and when we’re finished, we’ll go straight to McDonald’s. Okay?”

“Oh-kay.” Hannah nodded while she spoke, smiling from ear to ear.

Reid pulled on the buckle to make sure it was secure then shut the car door and rounded the vehicle. He slipped into to the driver’s seat and gave Alana a ‘thumbs up.’ “So far, so good, but I have reinforcements, just in case.” He pointed to a busy bag on the floor next to her feet filled with small toys, fruit and other healthy snacks.

They pulled into the realty parking lot at ten-fifty that morning for their eleven o’clock appointment.

“We’re here to see Mr. Eldridge,” Reid said to the receptionist as they approached the front desk.

“I’ll let him know you’re here.” The young blonde motioned toward a line of upholstered chairs in the reception area. “Have a seat. He’ll be out to meet you shortly.”

Hannah immediately became enamored with the fish tank and stood in fascination watching a vivid blue angelfish flutter up and down next to the glass.

Mr. Eldridge kept them cooling their heels for fifteen minutes. When he appeared in the lobby to meet them, he was cordial, but he approached them with caution, as though he already suspected the reason for their visit. Tall, thin and white-haired, the older man wore a tailored gray business suit and matching tie over a white shirt.

Alana and Reid took turns shaking hands with him and introducing themselves. Dan Eldridge led them into his office and shut the door. “Please have a seat.” He sat down behind his large desk. “So, what can I do for you?”

Taking a deep breath, Alana folded her hands in her lap to project an image of calm—the opposite of her current feelings.

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