“I’m fine,” I tell her.
We rearrange some items at the store, go over the books, and discuss upcoming client appointments. At five o’clock, I turn the Open sign on the door of the shop to Closed.
“Do you want me to stay so you’ll have someone in your corner?” Terri’s face is earnest, her eyes warm with concern.
I smile. “You’re a sweetie, Terri, but really, there’s no need.”
“Well, feel free to call me if you want to talk afterward.”
She leaves, and I putter around the store, looking through the day’s sales receipts and seeing to odds and ends. About fifteen minutes before Zack is due to arrive, I call Sarah. “I’m nervous about talking to Zack. What do you advise?”
“Be cordial but direct,” Sarah says. “You need to know what you’re dealing with. You need to know his thoughts and how his wife feels about things.”
“I’m really worried about her.”
“I know you are. Maybe you and Lily should try setting up an outing with both of them so you can see how things go.”
“Not a bad idea,” I say. “Thanks, Sarah.”
Zack arrives five minutes early, which is fine with me, since I’mworking myself into an increasingly high state of anxiety. I spot him through the window as he approaches. My heart knocks against my ribs as his knuckles rap against the door.
I answer it, and my skin gets the premonition prickles. Every time I see him, I’m shocked all over again by how his eyes mirror Lily’s.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi.” I’m usually a hugger, but with him, I hesitate. Maybe it’s knowing I’m carrying his child; maybe it’s the fact that he’s married and so darned good-looking.
I hug him anyway, and it’s every bit as unnerving as I feared. My goose bumps get goose bumps.
“Come in, come in,” I say, stepping back from the door.
He glances at my belly. It’s funny how people do that as soon as they find out I’m pregnant, even though it’s too early for me to be showing.
He steps across the threshold and gazes around the shop. “Wow—what a great place!” He heads toward an old secretaire from an estate in Scotland and bends to look at the brass handles. “Does this fold down into a desk?”
“Yes.” I turn the skeleton key in the keyhole, and the cabinet drops to reveal a leather-lined writing table.
“Oh, that’s beautiful.” He runs his hand over the table. “My great-grandmother had a piece like this. Not as fancy, but the same general concept. I always thought it was so cool.”
“What happened to it?”
“My sister has it.” He opens a little drawer at the back of the desk.
“You like antiques?”
“Oh, yeah, I love them. Especially things that are handmade.”
“I’m surprised. I had you pegged as the contemporary type.”
“I guess I am now.” He closes the drawer. “Jessica’s taste runs to modern things.”
“I could tell when she was in the shop.”
“I didn’t know she was going to come by here,” he says. “Or crash Margaret’s party. I apologize on her behalf.”
“She was curious, that’s all.” I close the leaf of the secretaire and turn the skeleton key. “I probably would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes.” I wouldn’t have, but I’d googled her, hadn’t I? “Let’s go into my office to talk.” I gesture toward the back of the store. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thanks.”
