Part 18 (1/2)
”Of course,” Jackson replied.
As the Brightons made their way across the crowded room, Teddy returned with the two gla.s.ses. After handing them to Sam and Anne, he glanced around the room for his parents and grandmother. ”Thank you for answering all my questions, Dr. Van Horn,” he said, ”but I'd better join my family.”
”My pleasure, Teddy. And, please, if you think of more, stop by the cabin.”
Anne heard Sam's soft gasp.
”I'll be happy to answer them,” Jackson continued, oblivious to Sam's reaction.
Sam, her face drained of color, took a step away from Jackson and Teddy. Lifting her gla.s.s, she downed the lemonade in one long gulp. ”Anne, it's getting close in here. Would you come out on the deck with me?” she said, pa.s.sing her hand across her forehead.
Jackson's focus s.h.i.+fted to Sam. ”Wait, are you feeling ill?”
She gave a quick shake of her head. ”No, I just need some fresh air. Anne can go with me-you stay and make the rounds.”
Anne followed Sam across the room, until she paused at the French doors leading to the deck. Sam hesitated, as if bracing herself, then, taking a deep breath, she slid open the door and stepped outside. In the pale light of the lanterns, Anne saw her eyes dart to the shadows before crossing to the railing.
”He won't come to the cabin, will he?” she asked in a low voice.
Anne didn't have to ask who ”he” was. ”I don't know,” she replied.
She drew her shawl tightly around her shoulders. ”I don't want that kid near Roxy.”
”I don't blame you.” Anne tugged on her bottom lip. What could she say that wouldn't escalate Sam's fears? ”I don't know what Teddy was trying to prove. Maybe he was putting on an act for the benefit of his grandmother in hopes she'd loosen the leash?” She stepped closer to the railing and looked down at the water. ”I take it you didn't tell Dr. Van Horn about your confrontation with Teddy.”
”No.”
”Why not?”
”In case you haven't noticed, my family doesn't take my concerns very seriously. If I would've told Jackson about the incident, he would've minimized it. Accused me of being paranoid.”
”When is Dr. Van Horn going back to the Cities?”
”Early Monday morning.”
Angling away from the railing, Anne laid a comforting hand on Sam's arm. ”Hopefully, Teddy won't stop by tomorrow. After Dr. Van Horn leaves, he won't have a reason to stop by.” Her mouth tightened in a grim line. ”But if he does show up while I'm there, I won't let him in.”
Sam gave a quick shake of her head. ”But what if you're not?”
”Don't worry about it. There's no sense in borrowing trouble.”
Turning away from the railing, Sam staggered slightly forward. Her shawl slid down her arms as she ran her fingers through her hair. ”Whew,” she said abruptly. ”I'm hot. Are you hot?”
”No, but if you-” A figure stepping into the light startled her. ”Edward,” Anne exclaimed. ”I'm sorry. I didn't see you.”
”I came around from the front,” he replied, motioning toward the steps at the side of the deck. ”I didn't want to brave the crowd. Mother's inside.”
Suddenly, from her place next to Anne, Sam giggled and moved forward. ”Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Anne?” she asked in a coy voice.
Anne whirled toward Sam in surprise. The young woman's tenseness had disappeared as she stood directly in front of Edward with her head c.o.c.ked. If Anne hadn't known better, she would've sworn she saw Sam wink at him.
”Um-” she stuttered in confusion. ”Edward Dunlap. He and his mother own the little gas station at the four corners.”
”Edward,” Sam said, stepping closer and extending her hand. ”I'm Samantha Moore.”
Edward grasped her hand reluctantly. ”Samantha.”
She moved in closer without letting go of his hand. ”I'm staying at the old Jones place. Maybe you know of it?”
”Yes,” Edward answered in a tight voice.
Moving her hand up Edward's arm, Sam smiled at him. ”Did you know Blanche?”
Anne shook her head in disbelief while Edward s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably. Fritz had warned Sam-she herself had warned Sam-that talking about Blanche made people nervous. What did she think she was doing? Taking a step closer, Anne opened her mouth to interrupt, but before she could get the words out, Edward jerked back, his head whipping toward the crowd inside.
”Excuse me, but I see my mother waving at me.”
He turned on his heel, clutching his arm tightly to his side, and left them alone on the deck.
Taking Sam's shoulder, Anne spun her around. ”Fritz and I both warned you not to ask about Blanche,” she hissed.
”So?” Sam replied with a toss of her head. ”I'm curious. If I know more about her, I might be able to figure out who's wandering around my dock at night.” She glanced over her shoulder to where Edward now stood at his mother's side. ”Was he one of Blanche's *friends'?”
”There've been stories-” Anne stopped, watching Edward with his mother. ”But I don't want you asking him a bunch of questions. Edward's life isn't easy. He's in constant pain and he doesn't need you bugging him.”
Sam fluffed her hair and Anne felt her lack of concern. What was with her tonight? She'd never seen Sam act this way. First Teddy schmoozing with Dr. Van Horn, now Sam acting like she didn't have a care in the world. It was as if she'd stepped into an alternate universe. No one was acting the way Anne expected.
”Oh, forget it,” Sam said, fluttering her hand at Anne. ”This party's a drag. Let's see if we can juice it up.”
Juice it up? What in the h.e.l.l did she mean by that?
An hour later, Anne understood what Sam had meant. Once she was back inside the cabin, Sam had flitted from group to group, introducing herself, smiling and laughing at old jokes, and even mildly flirting with some of the men. At first, Anne had followed in her wake, but had finally given up when Sam started verbally sparring with Irene Brighton. She now leaned against a wall watching Sam carry on. For someone who claimed to have a problem with crowds, Sam certainly knew how to work a room.
”Has she been drinking?” a voice next to her asked.
Anne's attention slid to Greg, who'd come up silently beside her. ”As far as I know-just lemonade. With all the medication she's taking, she can't have a drop of alcohol.”
She looked back at Sam, who had her hand on old Mr. Abernathy's arm as she . . . My G.o.d, was she fluttering her eyelashes at him? Anne's eyes sought out Dr. Van Horn. Had he noticed Sam's behavior? Yup-from the tight-lipped expression on his face, it looked like he had. She shoved away from the wall.
”This might get ugly,” she whispered over her shoulder to Greg. ”I'm getting her out of here.”
Anne made her way to where Sam had been standing only to find her gone. Casting her eyes around the room, she spotted her by Fritz's baby grand piano, whispering to him. Fritz's eyes flew wide open in what looked like surprise as he shook his head. Sam persisted, leaning in close. Finally he slowly nodded, and pulling out the bench, he sat down and began to play.