Shirlee McCoy - Missing Persons

They could talk all they wanted. Seth had accomplished his goal. The only person he had to explain things to was Lauren, and he’d have plenty of time to do that while they worked on the menu for Jake. As for the rest of the ladies, they’d just have to hear the details from her.

Steff announced the next item up for auction and another bidding war began. This one over a summer’s worth of lawn service. Lauren’s sister made a bid, the woman next to her saying something that made the rest of the table laugh. As Lauren’s companions turned their attention to other things, Lauren whispered something in Deandra’s ear, grabbed a small handbag from the floor and stood, moving quickly toward the door and out of the room.

Five minutes passed, then ten as Seth tried to convince himself not to follow. He didn’t do a good job of it and finally gave up the effort, pushing back his chair and standing.

“Are you leaving already?” Jeannine looked up from a dinner roll she was slathering with butter.

“Just going to call and make sure my son isn’t giving the babysitter grief. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“As if that sweet young man could ever give anyone trouble.”

“I won’t tell him you called him sweet.” Seth strode away from the table.

The lobby was empty, the sounds of laughter drifting in from the events room barely disturbing the refined air the inn worked so hard to maintain. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, dialing his home number as he stepped outside into cool September air, his gaze scanning the parking lot.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Reese. It’s Seth.”

“Is everything okay?” Reese sounded as bubbly as ever. Apparently her ten-year-old charge hadn’t worn her out yet.

“Everything is fine. I just thought I’d check in. Make sure my son wasn’t giving you trouble about his bedtime.”

“You know he is. He wants more time to read the book I brought him.” A junior at Magnolia College, Reese had been Jake’s babysitter for two years. Seth had come to value her dependability. Being a single parent was hard. Having reliable child care made things easier.

“How much time do you plan to give him?”

“You know me too well. Is a half hour okay?”

“Works for me, but tell him that if he values tomorrow’s fishing trip, he’d better not push for more.”

“I will. See you when you get home.” The phone clicked as Reese disconnected, and Jake shook his head, smiling a little as he thought of his son and Reese conspiring to extend Jake’s bedtime. Dependable or not, Reese wasn’t nearly as far from her childhood as Seth was from his. That made her more likely to allow later bedtimes and extra snacks. Which was fine with Seth.

Once in a while.

And that was as frequently as he went out. According to Jeannine and a few other well-meaning neighbors and church ladies that wasn’t nearly enough, but Seth wasn’t in the market for a relationship. One marriage was enough for a lifetime.

He pushed aside the thought and the memories that went with it, and turned back toward the inn. That’s when he saw her—sitting on a bench near the corner of the building, her shoulders slumped, her dark hair spilling forward to cover her face. Lola. Despite what she said, despite what she wanted, that’s how he thought of Lauren. The nickname was one he’d coined when he’d met her his sophomore year of high school. A transplant from New Orleans, Lauren had seemed lost and alone as she wandered through the cafeteria of their Savannah high school. When she’d glanced his way and offered a sweet smile, Seth’s adolescent heart had melted. Despite his determination to keep the past at bay, the memories washed over him, bittersweet in their simplicity.

“You new?”

“Yes. I’m Lauren Owens. From Louisiana.”

“Well, Lauren Owens from Louisiana, it looks like you could use a friend. I’m Seth Chartrand. Want to have lunch with me?”

“I was looking for my sister.”

“No problem, Lola, I’ll help you find her. We can all have lunch together.”

Even now, the memory made him smile. Friendship had blossomed that day. From there love had grown. Unfortunately, Seth hadn’t known enough about life to value it. He liked to tell himself he’d matured since then. Sometimes he almost believed it.

He moved toward her, grass and leaves crackling beneath his feet, the sweet scent of newly mown lawn heavy in the air. “You look like you could use a friend.”

She tensed, but didn’t turn toward him. “No. Just some fresh air.”

“I guess that makes two of us.” He kept his words casual, ignoring her not so subtle dismissal.

“You shouldn’t have followed me out here, Seth.”

“Who said I did?”

“Didn’t you?”

“I thought you might like an explanation.”

“As long as you have the money to pay for what you bought, no explanation is necessary.” She stood, moving a few steps away, her lean form taut with whatever she was feeling. Eleven years ago he would have known, would have been able to read the look in her eyes, the expression on her face. Now she was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

“Maybe not, but I’m going to give you one anyway. My son has severe food allergies, Lauren. Making meals he can eat and enjoy is difficult. I thought learning from an expert in the field might make his life easier.”

She nodded, but there was no softening in her expression. “You’ll have to make me a list of what he’s allergic to. I’ll put together meal ideas based on that. Do you have an e-mail address where I can send the menu?”

“Sure.” He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the list of allergens.”

“It’ll be easier if you e-mail it to me.” She handed him her card, and Seth glanced down at her e-mail and business address. Savannah. She hadn’t moved far from home. At least in this she hadn’t surprised him. The Lauren he’d dated had always been content to be near home and family.

He, on the other hand, had been desperate for adventure and freedom.

“How does this work? Do I come to you? Or will you come to me?”

“Once the menu is agreed on, I’ll come to your house to prepare the food.”

“That’s a lot of miles on your car.”

“I’ll do the week’s worth of cooking in one visit.” She shrugged. “Even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’m staying with Dee for the next two weeks.”

“Vacation?”

“And favor. Steff asked me to take part in the auction. I agreed. Driving back and forth between Savannah and Magnolia Falls didn’t make sense. I figured I’d do the job, then take some time to relax.”

“Dee’s not in town, is she?” If she was, she must stay close to home. Seth had yet to run into her.

“No, but she’s close enough.” She smiled and it was the same sweet curve of her lips he’d noticed the first time he’d seen her.

“You haven’t changed, Lola.”

“The fact that you say that just proves how little you know about me.” She ran a hand over loose curls, avoiding eye contact. “I’d better head back in.”

He should let her go. She was right after all. He didn’t know her. But he did know that tonight had to be as uncomfortable for her as it was for him. Seeing each other after all these years, trying hard not to remember the way things had been, the way they had ended. If it was hard for him, it must be doubly difficult for Lauren.

Before she could walk away, he put his hand on her arm, feeling firm muscles beneath silky fabric. “I’m sorry if my winning your services is uncomfortable for you.”

“Tonight was about raising funds for Magnolia College. As long as I’ve helped do that, I’m not uncomfortable with the outcome.”