Less than a Stranger by Nora Roberts

Author:Nora Roberts [Roberts. Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2013-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Amusement parks lose their mystique in the light of day. Dirt, scratched paint and dents show up. What is shiny and bright under artificial light is ordinary in the sunshine. Only the very young or the very young-hearted can believe in magic when faced with reality.

Megan knew her grandfather was perennially young. She loved him for it. Fondly, she watched him supervising repairs on the Haunted Castle. His ghosts, she thought with a smile, are important to him. She walked beside the track, avoiding her own ghost along the way. It had been ten days since Pop had told her of the repair problems. Ten days since she had seen Katch. Megan pushed thoughts of him from her mind and concentrated on her own reality—her grandfather and their park. She was old enough to know what was real and what was fantasy.

“Hi,” she called out from behind him. “How are things going?”

Pop turned at the sound of her voice, and his grin was expansive. “Just fine, Megan.” The sound of repairs echoed around his words. “Quicker than I thought they would. We’ll be rolling before the Easter rush.” He swung an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “The smaller rides are already back in order. How about you?”

She made no objection when he began to steer her outside. The noise made it difficult to hear. “What about me?” she replied. The sudden flash of sunlight made her blink. The spring day had all the heat of midsummer.

“You’ve that unhappy look in your eyes. Have had, for more than a week.” Pop rubbed his palm against her shoulder as if to warm her despite the strength of the sun. “You know you don’t hide things from me, Megan. I know you too well.”

She was silent a moment, wanting to choose her words carefully. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything, Pop.” Megan shrugged, turning to watch the crew working on the roller coaster. “It’s just not important enough to talk about, that’s all. How long before the coaster’s fixed?”

“Important enough to make you unhappy,” he countered, ignoring her evasion. “That’s plenty important to me. You haven’t gotten too old to talk to me about your problems now, have you?”

She turned dark apologetic eyes on him. “Oh no, Pop, I can always talk to you.”

“Well,” he said simply, “I’m listening.”

“I made a mistake, that’s all.” She shook her head and would have walked closer to inspect the work crew had he not held her to him with a firm hand.

“Megan.” Pop placed both hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. As they were nearly the same height, their eyes were level. “I’m going to ask you straight,” he continued. “Are you in love with him?”

“No,” she denied quickly.

Pop raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t have to mention any names, I see.”

Megan paused a moment. She had forgotten how shrewd her grandfather could be. “I thought I was,” she said more carefully. “I was wrong.”

“Then why are you so unhappy?”

“Pop, please.” She tried to back away, but again his broad hands held her steady.

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