Page 39 of The Night the Lights Went Out
Merilee lifted her head from where she’d been looking under the couch. “I can meet her outside if it’ll be awkward, Wade. I forgot you two dated.”
“They more than dated,” Sugar interjected. “They were engaged. Invitations had already been sent out, as I recall. And then she found what she thought was a bigger fish, even though it was obvious to everyone that she was still madly in love with Wade.”
“Sugar... ,” Wade warned.
“I’m just stating facts. Someone has to. No need for everyone to get upset.”
“I’m not upset,” Wade said.
“Neither am I.” Merilee’s cheeks flushed.
“I’m upset,” Colin piped up helpfully. “We were supposed to go skating, but Lily and Bailey said they didn’t want to break any legs because then they couldn’t be on the cheerleading team.”
“It’s true,” Lily shouted from the hall. She was sitting on the floor with what looked to be a thick album opened on her lap.
Colin rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t even know if she made the team yet.”
“Please sit down, Sugar,” Merilee called from the kitchen, apparently still looking for her shoes. “This might take a few minutes.”
Sugar sat down on the edge of the sofa and waited for Merilee to hobble back into the room with one shoe on before pointedly staring at her watch.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” Wade asked, holding up a strappy low-heeled sandal. “I found it behind a stack of what looks like high school yearbooks.”
Merilee’s expression changed slightly from harried to wary, her gaze moving from the shoe to the book Lily was looking at.
“Lily, I thought I told you that we would look at them together. You really need to ask permission before touching someone else’s things.” Merilee took the shoe and the book in one quick movement, shutting it without looking at it. “Sorry.”
“It’s just a book,” Lily said, her voice wavering. “I didn’t know I had to ask permission.”
Merilee squatted down next to her daughter. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to snap at you. But they are private, and I’m not sure I’m ready to share them with you yet.”
“I’ve got some scary photos of me in high school, too, so I can’t say I blame you, Merilee.” Wade’s tone was light, but Sugar knew he was lying. The boy had never taken a bad picture in his life. But if he thought his confession would make Merilee open up about why she didn’t want her daughter to look through the yearbooks, they were both disappointed.
Merilee stood, then gathered the yearbooks into her arms and stepped back to examine Wade’s shelves. “You’ve done a beautiful job, Wade. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. And if it’s all right with you, I’ve brought stuff over to fix the cellar door, too.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
He looked at her closely. “You’ve got...” He lifted his hand and moved back a strand of hair. “Your hair was stuck in your lipstick.”
Her cheeks reddened. “Oh. Thanks.”
The hallway was narrow, leaving little room for her to back up or look away. Sugar watched as Merilee’s eyes widened, as if she was really noticing Wade for the first time. Noticing him as a woman would notice a man.It’s about time,Sugar thought, suddenly remembering Tom and the first time she’d seen him.
Wade backed away first, allowing Merilee to carry the yearbooks back to her bedroom, which was followed by the sound of a drawer opening, then closing with a solid thud. Letting everyone know exactly where to find them.
Colin was already running to the door before the rest of them heard the car outside. “I’ll go see who it is!” he shouted as he yanked open the door, followed closely by Merilee and Wade.
Merilee smelled Heather’s perfume before she appeared in the doorway, her halo of golden hair seeming to illuminate the room. She smiled brightly at the small group of people. “Well, if I’d known it was a party, I’d have come sooner and brought a dish.”
Without waiting to be invited, she stepped forward and enveloped Merilee in an embrace. “Don’t you look charming today, Merilee? I absolutelyloveyour haircut—so flattering.” Straightening, she winked in Wade’s direction. “And your skin is practically glowing. It must be the company.”
As Merilee stammered incoherently, Wade’s arm made its way to Merilee’s shoulder. “Hello, Heather. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. You’re looking good, Wade. And so are you, Sugar. You must tell me what vitamins you take, because you never seem to age.” She wisely didn’t approach Sugar for a cheek kiss or hug, most likely owing to the fact that Sugar was doing her best to stare her down with a glare that might have turned some women into ice.
Heather continued to smile as if nothing bothered her, but Sugar knew she’d seen Wade’s arm. Knew it from the brief flash of those perfect blue eyes.
