Page 101 of Finding Amanda

"You'd go all the way to New Hampshire, just to check on me?"

He was quiet for a moment. Finally, he said, "Actually, I think I would. Especially with what's going on. I mean, if I can help, it would be worth it. And I'd get to spend a couple of hours with you."

Somehow Alan held no interest for her now—like Ashley Wilkes to Scarlet after Melanie passed away. Or maybe she was numb. On the other hand, she would feel safer, knowing Alan was going to be there. "If you're sure . . ."

"Absolutely. I'm looking forward to it."

Friday morning,Mark drove down the driveway to what used to be his home. He planned to pick the girls up from school that afternoon, but Amanda hadn't wanted to send suitcases with them to school, so he was here to get their things. Two weeks ago they'd solved this problem in a simpler way—he'd stayed at the house. But now . . . well, it wasn't going to be his house much longer, and Amanda deserved her privacy.

He parked and trudged to the door. She opened it before he rang.

"Hi." Her focus was somewhere around his chin. She wore slacks and a sweater that showed off her petite figure. On her face, he saw the grief they'd both suffered these last few days. He hated himself for it.

"You ready for your trip?"

"Yes. Here's their stuff." She grabbed two suitcases from the floor behind her and handed them to him.

He took them, shifting them into one hand. "Thanks."

"Sure."

"Did you call Roxie?"

"Uh-huh. She said she told Baxter I'm skipping the book signing. Said he barely reacted."

A familiar sensation crept up the back of his neck, like tiny fingers walking toward the top of his head. He set the suitcases on the small porch and turned around, peering into the woods, across the front yard, and toward the street. Nothing seemed out of place. He turned to the door again and looked over Amanda's head into the house.

"What?" she said.

"Are you alone?"

"Of course I'm alone."

He ignored her irritated tone of voice. "Something's . . ." Mark rubbed the back of his neck. Something didn't feel right.They'd been talking about Roxie and Baxter McIlroy, and . . . what?

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. I just . . ." There was nothing out of place. But the feeling of impending danger was real. It was probably his fear of sending her away alone after what happened in New York. Still . . .

"You just what?"

He faced her again, seeing fear as she scanned the property.

"Nothing. It's nothing. Just a feeling. Listen, remember what you promised. Frank will walk you in and out of the inn, okay?"

She turned her attention back to him. "Yeah, I know."

"And somebody will walk you in and out of the bookstore."

"I'll be careful."

The prickling on his neck hadn't stopped, and he looked around again. There was no danger, but . . .

Amanda hugged herself. "You're scaring me."

"Sorry. It's nothing. Take care of yourself and call me if you need me. And call me if anything weird happens, okay?"

She smirked. "What do you mean, weird?"

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