Chapter Sixteen
Savannah had promised to help Rachel with her Cookies in the Park event on Saturday morning. Instead of decorating gingerbread houses, as Rachel had arranged during the Christmas on the Square celebration earlier in the week, Rachel set up cookie decorating. Several large tables were placed by a booth in the park. Each held a pan of cookies shaped like a Christmas tree, a star, and a boot. Children and adults were encouraged to decorate their own cookies, covering them with icings of different colors, sprinkles, gumdrops, chocolate chips and other toppings. An adult needed to be available to help, so Savannah had volunteered to supervise the tables for a couple of hours and keep the pans of cookies replenished.
She’d just finished her shift and was talking to Rachel when she said, “Isn’t that Harlan over there? Who is that boy he’s with?”
Savannah looked in the direction Rachel pointed. “I don’t know. He said he had plans this morning but he didn’t say what.”
“That’s not his nephew,” Rachel said. “He’s too old. His sister Laurel’s little girl, Katrina, is Katie’s age and her son is just a year or two older.”
“That must be his...godson.” Or, according to Randall, his son.
You don’t believe that.
No, I don’t, but he’s awfully close to him. The two of them look very comfortable in each other’s company.
Great. She wasn’t arguing with herself, she was arguing with that damned imaginary voice.
“He looks a little like Harlan,” Rachel said as the two began to walk toward them.
“He does, doesn’t he?” she asked in a hollow tone.Stop it!she told herself.Do not let your father get to you. He already screwed up your chance with Harlan once. Don’t let him do it again.
Rachel shot her a sharp glance. “Savannah, are you all right?”
“Yes, of course.”No, I’m not.
Harlan reached them and introduced everyone. “Hi, ladies. This is Alan Lang. Alan, meet Savannah Taylor and Rachel Wood.”
Alan mumbled something and gave them a shy smile as they all shook hands. Hands back in his pockets and wearing a hooded Whiskey River High School sweatshirt, he seemed like a typical teenage boy.
Who looked like Harlan.
Rachel said, “Alan, how about a cookie? You can decorate it or just slap some icing on it, whichever you want to do.”
At the mention of food, he perked up. “Sure, thanks. Uncle Harlan, do you want one?”
“Absolutely.”
As Rachel and Alan left for one of the tables, Harlan looked at Savannah and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Something is. You look upset.”
She didn’t think this was the time or place to ask, “Is that boy your illegitimate son?” So she denied it. “I’m fine. I didn’t expect to see you here, though. You said you had plans but you didn’t mention they were with your...godson.”
Harlan looked toward the boy with an indulgent smile, then back at Savannah. “Alan’s parents are tied up with his little sisters today, so we’re hanging out. I was surprised he wanted to come to the park, but I get the feeling there’s a girl involved.”
