When Love Returns by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Author:Kim Vogel Sawyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2015-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

At breakfast Wednesday, Mr. Mallory paused in shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth. “Ms. Zimmerman, I know my reservation was only for two nights, but would it be all right if I stayed one more?”

Mother spoke before Suzanne could answer. “Haven’t you finished your business?” Her gaze narrowed. “You never said exactly what kind of business you’re conducting in Arborville.”

He grinned at her. “No. I suppose I didn’t.” He looked at Suzanne. “Well?”

Suzanne set her coffee cup aside. Truthfully, she wanted him gone. Not because he’d been any trouble. She only saw him at breakfast and for a few minutes in the evening before he closed himself in his room. But being with Anna-Grace both day and night was taking its toll on her. She needed some separation. If not for escaping to the barn and calling Paul on her cell phone to release her pent-up frustration, she might have combusted by now.

She offered what she hoped was a convincing smile. “There isn’t anyone scheduled for your room tonight, so it’s fine if you need to stay another day.”

“Good.” He drank the last of his coffee, tipping the cup nearly upside down to catch every drop, then clunked it onto the edge of the table. “Could I get a refill?” He dug into his eggs again.

Suzanne started to rise, but Anna-Grace touched her wrist. “I’ll get the pot.” She scurried out.

Mother stared at their guest for several seconds, indecision playing on her mouth. Suzanne tried to catch her eye, to give her a pleading look. She didn’t want her outspoken mother scaring off a paying guest. But Mother wouldn’t shift her gaze from the man. She cleared her throat. “Mr. Mallory?”

He swiped his napkin across his mouth and gave her a glance. “Yes?”

“My daughter Sandra called yesterday afternoon and said you’d stopped by her house.”

He nodded. “I sure did.” Anna-Grace came in with the coffeepot. He watched her round the table and fill his cup. “Thank you, Miss Braun.” He bounced a smile at her and raised the cup to his mouth. After taking a loud slurp, he smacked his lips. “Mm, that’s good coffee. You ladies have figured out the way to a man’s heart, that’s for sure.” He waggled his thick eyebrows.

Mother’s frown didn’t fade. “Not an hour after Sandra called, I heard from my daughter-in-law, Tanya. She also had a visit from you.”

Mr. Mallory gripped his mug between both palms. “So did your daughter Shelley. But you probably already knew that.”

“Yes, I did.” Mother leaned sideways and rested her elbow on the wheelchair’s armrest. The ribbon falling from her cap crumpled against her forearm, the black stark against the robin’s-egg blue of her dress. “All three of them said you asked some unusual questions. So I’m curious what your business is here in Arborville. Is my family involved somehow?”

The man lined up his fork, knife, and spoon on his empty plate, his movements slow and deliberate. He lifted his napkin to his mouth and rubbed it back and forth, then wadded it up and laid it over the silverware.

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