Page 96 of Summer Weddings
He nodded helplessly. Walking into the kitchen, he reached for the phone.Chrissie couldn’t possibly realize what she’d asked of him. Even while that thought formed in his mind, he admitted he was grateful for the excuse to call Bethany.
He punched out the phone number and waited. Bethany answered on the second ring.
“Hello.”
Now that he heard her voice, he felt a moment’s panic. What could he say? He didn’t want to exaggerate and make it sound as if Chrissie was seriously ill, nor did he wish to make light of her request.
“It’s Mitch.”
No response.
“I’m sorry to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble.” She sounded friendly, but not overly so.
“Chrissie seems to have come down with the flu.” Then, on a stroke of genius, he invented the reason for his call. “Did she mention not feeling well at school today?”
“No, she didn’t say a word.” Concern was more evident in her voice than irritation.
“It’s probably nothing more than a twenty-four-hour virus,” he said.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.
He’d been born under a lucky star, Mitch decided. Without his having to say a word, she’d volunteered.
“As a matter of fact, Chrissie’s feeling pretty bad at the moment and she’s asking for you. I don’t want you to go out of your way—”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“No.” He wouldn’t hear of her walking that far in weather this cold. “I’ll come for you on the snowmobile.”
She hesitated. “Fine. I’ll watch for you.”
Mitch went back into Chrissie’s bedroom. “I talked to Ms. Ross.”
“And?” Chrissie nearly fell out of the bed she was so eager to hear the outcome of the conversation.
“She’ll come, but I didn’t want her walking over here in the cold. I’m going to pick her up on the snowmobile. You’ll be all right alone for five minutes, won’t you?”
Chrissie’s eyes filled with outrage. “I’m not a little kid anymore!”
“I’m glad to know that.” If he’d actually been upset about asking Bethany to visit, he might have pointed out that someone who wasn’t a little kid anymore wouldn’t ask for her teacher.
Mitch called out to Chrissie that he was leaving. He put on his insulated, waterproof jacket and wound a thick scarf around his neck, covering his mouth, before he stepped outside. The snowmobile was the most frequently used means of transportation in the winter months, and he kept his well-maintained. The minute he pulled up outside Bethany’s small house, her door opened and she appeared.
She climbed onto the back of the snowmobile and positioned herself a discreet distance behind him. Nevertheless, having her this close produced a fiery warmth he couldn’t escape—didn’twantto escape.
She didn’t say anything until they’d reached his house. He parked the snowmobile inside the garage and plugged in the heater to protect the engine.
Once in the house they removed their winter gear. Bethany was wearing leggings and an oversize San Francisco Police Department sweatshirt; her feet were covered in heavy red woollen socks. He stared at her, taking in every detail.
Mitch found he couldn’t speak. It was the first time they’d been alone together since the scene in his office. This sudden intimacy caught him off guard, and he wasn’t sure how to react.
Part of him yearned to take her in his arms and kiss her again. Only this time he’d be tender, drawing out the kiss with—
“Where’s Chrissie?” Bethany asked, mercifully breaking into his thoughts.
“Chrissie… She’s in her bedroom.”
