Page 100 of Finding Amanda

She ran down the stairs, looked at the phone, and saw Alan's number. Disappointed, and frustrated at her herself for feeling that way, she answered it.

"Hey," he said. "I've been trying to reach you."

How many times had Amanda ignored him since they'd last spoken? She'd lost count. When he'd called Tuesday morning,Amanda had thought she and Mark were getting back together. She wasn't ready to tell him that. And then, after Mark's shocking news, she couldn't bear to talk to anyone. Had that really just been the day before? She'd lived a lifetime of sorrows since then. "Sorry. It's been an interesting few days."

"You don't have to be sorry. I was worried about you. Any news from your friend?"

In the kitchen, Amanda filled a glass with water and took a sip. "Nope. I think we've figured out who Gabriel's contact is, though."

He inhaled sharply. "Who?"

"An agent named Baxter McIlroy."

Alan blew out his breath. "Never heard of him."

"He's new." She made her way into the living room. "Works for Roxie. He was one of Sheppard's students a few years ago."

"Wow. What did he say when you confronted him?"

"We didn't confront him. We're feeding him false information to try to keep him away from me."

"That's a good idea. So things are looking up then?"

Amanda set her water on the coffee table and collapsed on the sofa. "Not really. I'm filing for divorce."

"Oh, Amanda, I'm sorry."

She swallowed. The wordsI'm finealmost escaped, but they would have sounded cavalier, and they would have been a lie. "Thank you."

"I know how hard it is. After my wife and I decided to call it quits, I felt like . . . like a leaf in a hurricane, you know what I mean? For weeks the slightest things would toss me here and there. I'd smell her perfume, or I'd walk by a place we'd been together, and the memories would come flooding back. It was . . . unbearable."

"Yeah. That describes it."

"But it gets better, I promise."

"I hope so. I'm numb right now."

"I bet. Does that mean you don't want company this weekend? I figured Mark had the kids, and maybe you'd have some time for dinner or something. As friends, of course."

"I can't," she said, thankful for the excuse. "I'm headed to New Hampshire to teach some classes."

"Classes? Where?"

"A retreat for interior designers. I'm working Friday night, Saturday morning, and Saturday night. I'll be pretty busy."

"What about Saturday afternoon? Are you free?—?"

"I have a book signing."

"Oh. That's too bad. Where in New Hampshire are the classes?"

"Up near Waterville Valley."

"At a hotel, or . . . ?"

Amanda sighed. "Honestly, I really need to be alone. I'm sorry. You can understand that, can't you?"

He chuckled softly. "Of course I do. But alone isn't really safe. Maybe I could stop by the bookstore to check on you."

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