“Day after tomorrow,” he said.
It was a struggle not to reveal her dismay. “Good,” she said with forced cheer. “Then you’ll know something by the end of the week.”
“More than likely.” He studied her intently. “Susie, am I missing something? You’re saying all the right words, but I can tell you’re not wildly enthused about any of this. Is it the book? The trip? The timing?”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, faking a smile she hoped Mack wouldn’t be able to see through. She’d had enough practice at fooling him over the years, at not letting him see what was really going on inside her. He’d probably hurt her inadvertently a hundred different ways and never had a clue. She intended to keep it that way.
She looked up from the strand of lights she’d been clutching so tightly they’d marked her palm and forced a smile. “I can’t wait to hear how it goes and who this mystery athlete is. Any ideas?”
“Not a one,” he confessed. “Don wouldn’t even give me a hint.”
“Not even about the sport?”
“Nope. Not even that.”
She grinned, and this time it was genuine. “What if it’s some obscure women’s lacrosse player?” she teased. “Are you up on all the details about the lacrosse world? Or a swimmer? Maybe you’ll get to hang out in a pool all day, till your skin withers up like a prune.”
He laughed. “Given the advance they were talking about, I doubt it’s anybody obscure, no matter the sport. And I’m going to be less of a journalist and more of a writer on this one. I think my job’s going to be to write this person’s story, not investigate all their deep, dark secrets.”
“What fun will that be?”
Mack’s expression wavered. “Not much, to be honest,” he admitted with candor.
“Then why even consider it?” she asked before she could stop herself from once again questioning his decision.
“It’s a financial choice, Susie. I can’t afford to turn my back on any options right now. And who knows, like I said before, it could open doors for me to other book projects.”
“You’ve never mentioned wanting to write a book.”
“Frankly, I’d never even thought about it, but now seems like a good time to look at everything before I decide what I want for the future.”
“I suppose,” she said.
He regarded her curiously. “There it is again, that sense I’m getting that you are really not okay with any of this.”
“You’re imagining things,” she insisted, then stood up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Look, let’s leave the tree for now. I need to run, anyway. I have an early appointment in the morning and you probably have things you need to do to get ready for your trip. I’ll see you when you get back.”
She thought she’d injected just the right, breezy note into her voice, but Mack latched on to her arm and held her in place, a frown creasing his brow. He stood up, then leveled a look into her eyes that had her glancing away.
“What about tomorrow, before I go?” he asked.
“I’m busy,” she told him. “I might not have time to get together.”
His frown deepened, proving just how badly she was handling this. She was stirring his suspicions rather than allaying them.
“Busy doing what?” he asked, his skeptical tone proving her point.
“I have appointments all day,” she said. It was true as far as it went. She was doing a pre-op test, then going from that to outpatient surgery so they could do the biopsy.
“Want to have dinner tomorrow night?”
“Sorry, I can’t make it,” she said. “We’ll do it when you get back, okay?”
Mack nodded slowly. “Sure, if that works for you.”
“Have a safe trip,” she said, relieved that he’d stopped pressing her about tomorrow. “Call me from New York if you get a chance. Otherwise, I’ll see you Friday.”
“I’ll call,” he said.
Though his expression was still perplexed, he actually let her go this time. Only after she was outside and was sure his door was closed did Susie release the breath it seemed she’d been holding ever since they’d started discussing this whole book thing.
And then she cried.
She’d wanted so badly for Mack to be by her side when she walked into the hospital for the biopsy, but how could she possibly blame him for not being there when she hadn’t had the gumption to tell him? He would have postponed the trip to New York. A few days would hardly have mattered. She was sure of that, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to ask it of him, even though she could hear her father’s words echoing in her head that she was making a mistake.
Come on, she chided herself. She’d handled most of the crises of her life totally on her own, or with her parents’ backup. This would be no different, she told herself bracingly. Her mother would be with her. So would her father, Gram, her brothers, if she decided to tell them. Right now she didn’t think she would. It would only increase the chances of Mack finding out, and she didn’t want anything to spoil this business trip for him. She might not be happy about it, but it was a fantastic opportunity. He needed to be focused and at the top of his game, not worrying about her biopsy and the potentially devastating results.
There would be time to fill him in on his return. Maybe by then she’d have real news, rather than conjecture and speculation. Maybe it would even be good news.
For just a minute she let herself bask in that possibility, that the news would be good and all this fear would be behind her.
And whether Mack got this book deal or went ahead with the plan for the paper, they’d both be able to look toward a brighter future.
One thing for sure, if the news was good, she didn’t intend to waste another minute where Mack was concerned. They’d lost enough time already. She was going to fight for what she wanted. If she blew it, if things simply didn’t happen between them, well, so be it. At least she would have gone down fighting, instead of sitting on the sidelines hoping for something that was never meant to be.
When Mack got back from New York, he was bursting with excitement about the book deal. Everything had clicked into place. He already knew the football player, whose long career was winding down amid a scandal over a DUI accident in which a pedestrian had been killed. The victim’s family had been paid a huge sum of money, and the charges had been reduced. The athlete had been suspended from play by the league, which meant instead of leaving the game in a blaze of glory, he was going out with a whimper.
His hope was that this book would clear his name and allow him to move forward with all of the charitable goals he and his wife hoped to meet with their foundation.
“We won’t be able to ignore the controversy,” Mack told Brock Hunt. “If we do, if people think this book is just blowing smoke, it won’t accomplish what you want.”
“He’s probably right,” Brock’s agent agreed. “Deal with it head-on.”
Next to Brock, his publicist rolled her eyes. “Now you’re on board,” she said sarcastically. “I’ve been telling him to be straight with the media from the beginning.”
The agent didn’t look remotely chagrined. “Now the real scoop will sell books.”
Mary Long scowled at him. “You are such a sleaze.”
“But I know how to work an angle,” the man retorted.
“Oh, quit squabbling, you two,” Brock’s wife snapped. “For once, let’s just do the right thing.” Kelly Hunt turned to her husband. “It’s time for the truth to come out.”
Mack studied the soon-to-retire quarterback. “What is the truth?”
Brock hesitated, looking miserable. “I hate saving myself by taking someone else down.”
“What kind of friend would have let you take a fall for him in the first place?” Kelly asked reasonably, then turned to Mack and blurted, “Coop Mitchell was driving the car that night. That’s the truth.”
Mack stared at her. “That wasn’t in any of the police reports. I read them when the inci
dent happened. His name wasn’t even mentioned as being at the scene.”
“Because he’s the team’s bright young hope, Brock told him to take off. Coop was long gone by the time the police arrived. At that hour of the morning, there were no witnesses. Brock stuck around to deal with the situation.”
“Who paid off the family?” Mack asked. “The speculation was that Brock did.”
“It was the team,” Brock admitted. “They knew the truth. Coop told them. He wanted to turn himself in, but they said they’d come up with a way to get me off.” He shrugged. “And they did. The story should end right there. I don’t need redemption.”
“You do if you want anyone to contribute to this foundation of yours,” Mary said. “You and Kelly are doing good things, Brock. The foundation isn’t just your legacy. It’s providing hope for a lot of kids and their families.”
“The truth needs to be in the book,” Mack said forcefully. “If you can’t agree to that, I’m out.”
The room was absolutely still while Brock thought about what they’d all said. “Okay, fine, but it’s not the main thrust of the book, and we’re not going to sensationalize it, is that clear?”
Mack nodded. “That works for me.”
The editor who’d brought them all together looked around the room. “Then we have a deal?”
Mack reached out and shook the player’s hand. “We have a deal. How soon can we get together?”
While everyone else left the room, Mack and Brock worked out a timetable that would enable Mack to meet the publisher’s deadline. It promised to be a time-consuming few weeks, but the challenge was more exciting than he’d expected it to be. He’d left the meeting anxious to get back to Chesapeake Shores to fill Susie in. Maybe they could even go out and celebrate tonight. He might even take out the engagement ring that was hidden in the back of his drawer. He finally felt as if his fortunes were turning around.
Now that he was back in town, though, he couldn’t seem to track down Susie. She wasn’t answering her home phone or her cell. Nor was she in the office. Not even Jeff was there to fill Mack in on her whereabouts.
Thoroughly frustrated, he popped into the bookstore. Shanna looked startled and vaguely uneasy when she spotted him.
“What brings you by?” she asked, sounding less than welcoming. Actually, she sounded as if she could hardly wait for him to be on his way again.
“I’m looking for Susie. Any idea where I might find her?”
“Have you tried her cell?”
He nodded. “She’s not at home, or the office, either.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help,” Shanna said, avoiding his gaze.
During his years as a journalist, Mack had honed his skills at reading people. Shanna, bless her loyal heart, was lying through her teeth.
“I have the distinct impression that you know more than you’re saying,” he said, leaning across the counter to gaze directly into her eyes. “What’s going on, Shanna?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” she said, clearly flustered.
“Sure you do. You know exactly where Susie is, but for some reason you don’t want to tell me.”
She hesitated, then turned an unexpected scowl on him. “If you were any kind of friend, you’d know what’s going on,” she said, an accusing note in her voice.
He was taken aback by her sudden anger. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No, of course you have no idea, because you don’t ask questions. That way you can tell yourself later it was everyone else’s fault for not filling you in.” She stepped out from behind the counter and got in his face. “Do you love her, Mack? If so, now’s the time to step up and be a man.”
He stared at Shanna in shock. She was probably the least confrontational woman he knew, and she was clearly furious with him. He had absolutely no idea why. He knew, though, that he’d better find out in a hurry.
“Okay, slow down the train till I can get on board. What are you so angry about? And why are you taking it out on me? I haven’t even been around the past couple of days. If something’s going on with Susie, I know nothing about it because she didn’t tell me.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. She didn’t spill her guts to you, so you can wring your hands now and say, ‘Oh, so sorry, but I didn’t know.’”
“Didn’t know what, for God’s sake? Is Susie okay or not?”
“I don’t know. None of us know. The results aren’t back.”
Mack’s heart started pounding so hard, he was sure it would fly right out of his chest. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath. “Results?” he asked weakly. “Shanna, I swear to God, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to flip out and start throwing things.”
His outburst had her regarding him with surprise. “You’re really scared, aren’t you?”
“Terrified,” he admitted. “You’ve made your point. I’m an insensitive jerk. Now please tell me what’s going on with Susie. I’m feeling a little desperate here.”
Suddenly, after accomplishing what she’d clearly wanted, she looked guilty. “I can’t,” she said.
He stared at her. “What do you mean you can’t? Do you know something or not?”
“I know, but Susie doesn’t want a lot of people fussing over her. She didn’t even tell me till last night, and then she swore me to secrecy.” She hesitated, then added, “I will tell you this much, though. You need to talk to her, Mack. And this time don’t let her gloss anything over, okay? Make her tell you the truth. Whether she’ll admit it or not, she needs you right now.” She frowned at him again. “And so help me, if you don’t step up, I will have Kevin take you out in the middle of the bay and dump you overboard.”
“Won’t be the first time,” he commented, though the moment definitely didn’t call for humor. It was obvious how worked up she was, and how worried. “Where is she?”
Shanna didn’t answer immediately, looking torn over having revealed so much already.
“I can’t tell you that, either,” she said eventually.
Mack stared at her, not comprehending. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve said too much already.”
“So help me, Shanna…” he began, only to have her expression completely shut down.
“You know Susie, Mack. Where do you think she’s likely to go if she’s hurting?”
That was the thing. There were plenty of people Susie might turn to. He’d always thought he would be one of them, but she hadn’t even been taking his calls since he’d gone to New York. He’d left half a dozen messages, and she’d returned none of them. Now he knew exactly how she’d felt when she hadn’t been able to reach him after he was fired.
“Never mind,” he said, understanding the position he’d put Shanna in. “I’ll find her.”
She gave him the first genuine look of sympathy she’d shown him since he’d turned up at the store. “I’m sorry, Mack. If it were up to me, I’d tell you. Susie’s the one who insisted that none of us tell you anything. I have to respect her wishes.”
“I get that. I really do,” he admitted. “It’s frustrating as hell, but I’m glad you’re in her corner.”
“Always.”
“I am, too, you know.”
Shanna nodded. “I think I get that now. Good luck, Mack.”
The minute he was in his car, he headed for Jeff and Jo O’Brien’s house. When he rang the bell, it was Matthew who answered.
“Is Susie over here?” Mack asked.
“Nope. I haven’t seen her for a couple of days,” Matthew said, his expression guileless.
Whatever was going on, Matthew was as clueless as he was, Mack concluded.
“Are your folks here?”
“No, they drove up to Annapolis for some kind of event Uncle Thomas is hosting for the foundation. I think Uncle Mick and Megan went, too.”
“Would Susie have gone with them?”
Matthew just shrugged. “No idea. Sorry.”
“O
kay, thanks,” Mack said, thoroughly frustrated.
He sat his car and called Jake to see if Bree knew anything, then tried Will. He drew a blank with each call.
Where else would Susie go if she was sick or in trouble? The answer dawned on him at once. It should have been the first place he’d thought of. She was at her grandmother’s. She had to be.
Now he just had to pray that Nell O’Brien was feeling kindly toward him, because when it came to protecting a member of her family, she could be the fiercest person around.
9
“Mack has been turning the town upside down looking for you,” Shanna told Susie when she arrived at Nell O’Brien’s cottage.
“He can’t have looked that hard. The town’s not that big,” Susie said, wrapping one of Gram’s quilts from Ireland more snugly around herself. She couldn’t seem to get warm, despite a blazing fire in the fireplace.
“It is when the O’Briens present a united front of silence. Your parents are in Annapolis tonight. Matthew and Luke don’t know anything. There’s no one who’ll give Mack a clue that you’re over here at Nell’s.”
For once the whole family-solidarity thing seemed like a good thing. “Yay, O’Briens,” Susie said halfheartedly.
Shanna merely frowned at the jest. “Of course, if he were half the reporter I’ve been told he is, he would have followed me straight here. He had to know I’d come looking for you the second he left the bookstore.”
“I don’t think his mind works like yours,” Susie said wryly. “Or maybe he doesn’t want to find me as badly as you think he does.”
“Okay, that’s it,” Shanna said, clearly losing patience. “You love this man. He loves you. This game you’ve been playing has gone on long enough. This is the big moment of truth, the turning point. You owe it to Mack to fill him in on everything that’s going on, not just with your health, but your feelings. Get it all out there and let him help you through this.”
Susie winced under Shanna’s impatient scrutiny. “Okay, I admit that I love Mack, heaven help me, but come on, Shanna, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that he loves me. And what do I have to offer him, anyway? The chance to watch me go through surgery and who knows what kind of treatments after that?”
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