Page 109 of Finding Amanda

She giggled. "It's like culinary extortion."

"If I die of a heart attack today, it'll have been worth it."

Amanda stopped said with mock disapproval, "That's not funny."

He offered a low, throaty chuckle. "Just jokin'. I'm as healthy as a horse. Here we are."

She unlocked her car and climbed in. "Thanks, Frank. I know this is silly, but Mark insisted."

"Too bad he couldn't come with you this weekend. I was looking forward to sharing war stories with him."

She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I know he's sorry he couldn't make it."

"Call me when you're close, and I'll meet you out here. When are you due back?"

"Probably between five and five-thirty."

"Good. You should beat the snow. See you then." He closed her door and rapped on the roof of her car. She pulled away, waving as she turned onto the country road.

Within fifteen minutes Amanda was driving up the on-ramp to the interstate toward the bookstore in Concord.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Mark drove as fast as he could in the traffic. The drizzle was enough that he had to run the wipers, but not enough to keep them from scraping against the glass. Their rhythmic squeaks added to his already heightened anxiety.

He merged onto Route 93 and dialed his mother's phone number, praying she'd answer.

"Hello?"

"Ma, can you watch the girls for me?"

"Well, hello, Mark. And how are you today?"

He stifled a growl. "Sorry. I'm fine. How are you?"

"As you know, it's been months since I've seen my only grandchildren, but other than that I'm doing all right. I had dinner at the club with Rhonda and Jenny last night. It was delightful. They served this?—"

"That's great. Can you watch them or not?"

"Well, it is short notice. I was planning to?—"

"Fine. Forget it. I'll call Dad." Mark waited in silence. They'd been divorced for years, but for his mother, the battle with her husband still raged.

"Now, don't be hasty. I didn't say no. What's the big rush, anyway?"

Mark looked at his girls in the rearview mirror. They were sitting quietly, watching the portable DVD player he kept for long drives. They probably weren't listening, but they were master eavesdroppers. And the truth was none of his mother's business.

"Amanda's teaching a class up near Waterville this weekend, and I'm joining her."

"Humph. And why would you do that? I thought you two were over."

"No, Mother, we're not, despite what you told Annalise."

"You should be thanking me, Mark. You and I both know you should've married her in the first place."

Thank her? Right. Helovedit when his mother intruded in his marriage. "You're wrong. Can you watch them or not?"

"When?"

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