Emma's Secret (13 page)

Brewster’s Bakery was packed. All the tables and chairs were full of people sipping cappuccinos and eating the shop’s famous homemade pastries. Laurie spotted two seats left at the far counter and sidestepped through the packed house. Megan followed after her, but not before stopping to look at the plated desserts in the cooling case. There were two pieces of Jan’s homemade coconut cream pie left.

Luckily, Jan was behind the counter and saw her looking at the pies. She pulled the pie plate out of the case and held it up. Jan’s petite frame made it seem like she never touched a single dessert in the store, but Megan knew otherwise and often wished for her metabolism. Regardless, it was Jan’s sweet tooth that made this shop what it was.

“Two pieces, please. I’d be in the doghouse if Peter knew I had a piece of your pie and didn’t bring him one.” She smiled, knowing Peter often teased that he should have married Jan when he had the chance back in third grade when she’d kissed him on a dare. Jan’s husband, Charlie, would blush and stutter in mock protest, while Jan herself would laugh and punch Peter in the arm, claiming he never had a chance compared to Charlie.

Jan shook her head. “Sorry, sugar, but someone already claimed these.” She set the pie plate on the counter and slid the slices onto individual plates. She then reached below her and pulled out a shaker, with which she dusted a fine coating of chocolate powder on top of the pies.

Megan groaned. She’d been looking forward to having a piece of pie all night. She studied the other desserts in the case, but nothing else called out to her.

“However, your handsome husband did call me earlier and warned me you’d be in, so I set aside a full pie for you to take home. He wanted me to remind you to share.” She winked at Megan before handing the two plates to the customer, who waited patiently.

Megan smiled. It figured that Peter would guess they’d come here after the movie. She glanced around the crowded shop and waved at several people she recognized. When it was Megan’s turn to order her cappuccino, she tried to get Laurie’s attention to find out what she wanted, but she seemed to be too engrossed in whatever she was looking at on her phone.

“Two mocha lattes, please. One with soy milk and no whip. Jan has a pie set aside for me, but”—she leaned over to peruse the treats again—“two almond biscotti. Please,” she added to the teenager at the till.

After paying, Megan made her way over to sit beside Laurie. She must have surprised her because it took a bit for Laurie to
realize she’d sat down, and when she did, she quickly turned off her phone and threw it in her purse.

“Something you want to tell me?” she teased at her friend’s furtive demeanor.

A red flush crept its way up Laurie’s face as she looked away. Megan gasped in surprise.

“No way. You’re not holding out on me, not now. How long did you think you could keep it a secret?” The way Laurie’s eyes widened, Megan knew she’d hit it dead on. Laurie was finally involved with someone.

“What’s his name?” Megan turned her chair slightly so that she could face her best friend.

Laurie shrugged, trying to hide her embarrassment. “It’s probably nothing, which is why I haven’t said anything yet.”

Megan narrowed her eyes. “Not buying it.” She reached out and gently touched Laurie’s hand. It shocked her to feel her friend’s body tremble. “Laurie, are you okay?”

She witnessed the struggle on Laurie’s face, and realized that this must be harder on her than she thought.

“It’s been over four years; it’s okay, you know. He would want you to move on and be happy,” she whispered.

Laurie shook her head. “I know. I tell myself that all the time. But it’s hard. Kris was the love of my life. But…”

Megan leaned back as Jan set their coffees on the counter. Megan smiled at her in thanks. She wished Jan would walk away, but she didn’t know how to say it without hurting her feelings.

“It’s good to see you finally in the land of the living, honey.” Jan leaned her hip against the counter. “You have no idea how much people have missed you.”

Megan snorted. “I’ve always been living. I just prefer to do it quietly right now. The last thing Emma needs is to be in the spotlight. She didn’t handle it well when she first came home.”

“This town just needs to learn to mind its own business,” Jan grumbled.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?” Laurie muttered as she dropped her gaze to her coffee mug.

“Really? You’re going to go there?” Jan’s eyebrow rose.

When Laurie’s face burned bright red, Megan crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Someone want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Laurie mumbled.

Jan snickered. “I can’t believe you haven’t told her yet.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Megan kept silent. Something was going on, and she had a feeling it had to do with whatever Laurie had been doing on her phone earlier. The question was why was she the last to know? With Laurie’s gaze burning holes into the counter, Megan reached for her latte and took a sip, waiting for the delicious warmth to flow into her. Jan made the best mocha latte around.

“Hey.” Laurie glanced around the shop. “Where’s Shelly Belle?”

“It’s too busy in here, so she’s sleeping in the back office. Now stop trying to change the subject.”

The flow of voices surrounded them as they waited for Laurie to respond. Laurie bowed her head before finally raising her tear-filled eyes. The look on her face, the uncertainty and doubt, had Megan reaching across and enfolding her best friend in a hug.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” said Jan. Megan pulled away. “It’s not the end of the world, and no one is dying. Our girlfriend here”—Jan cocked her head toward Laurie before lowering her voice—“was caught in a heated embrace last night with—”

“Just a man,” Laurie interjected.

Jan’s brow rose.

“What man?” Megan asked. Something was up. “Who is he? Where did you meet him? Why don’t you want me to know about this? Why didn’t you say something when you showed up this morning?”

Laurie shook her head. “I was going to tell you, but there was the picture, and then the…” Her voice drifted off.

“Oh, no, you don’t. This isn’t about me.” Megan turned to Jan, who shook her head and clamped her lips together. “Who is it? It’s not like I’m going to be upset. As long as it’s not Peter,” Megan joked.

Laurie drew herself up tall and reached for her own cup. She slowly brought it to her lips and took her time taking a sip before lowering it.

“It’s no one, Meg. I only met the guy at the new shooting range that just opened up over on County Road 14. We chatted for a bit and then went for drinks afterward.” Laurie shrugged her shoulder, yet she didn’t look at her.

“So you shot a gun, had some drinks, and then”—Megan glanced at Jan—“were caught in a heated embrace, but it’s nothing?” Why was Laurie hedging so much?

Her friend’s cheeks bloomed a nice shade of red. “I had too many drinks, my bad.”

“You’re really going to use that excuse?” The challenge in Jan’s voice was clear.

A sad smile flittered across Laurie’s face. “It’s not an excuse; it just is what it is. I won’t be seeing him again, so really it doesn’t matter.”

Megan groaned. “I still can’t believe I’m only just hearing about this. I must be the worst friend in the…” A blank look crossed
both Laurie’s and Jan’s faces moments before terse smiles and narrowed eyes focused beyond her shoulder. She swiveled in her chair.

“Martha, Evelyn, how nice to see you,” Megan cooed, knowing she couldn’t hide the fakeness in her tone. Why, tonight of all nights, did she have to run into the two people she detested the most?

Martha Greer and Evelyn McNish could have been twins for the way they walked, talked, and dressed. Best friends for years, they were inseparable and always seemed to meddle in anything that was happening around town. Neither woman would ever be seen in Jan’s bakery in sneakers; only dress pants and heels would do. Martha always wore a string of pearls around her slender neck, while Evelyn never wore less than the opulent diamond necklace her husband bought her for their twentieth anniversary. They were both slightly older than Megan, slightly skinnier, and slightly more beautiful. They were also terrible gossips and had made Megan’s life miserable with all their backhanded whispers about how she was losing her mind in that first year of Emma’s disappearance.

“Megan,” Evelyn purred, “it’s been forever since we’ve seen you. How are you?” The slightest smile was plastered on her face.

Megan squared her shoulders and reached for the cup she’d placed on the counter. She needed something in her hands to keep her occupied. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Martha placed her hand over her heart and sighed. “We’re so glad to hear that. We pray for you daily; we want you to know that. You must be feeling so relieved to finally have your daughter back home where she belongs, despite the horrible nightmare she must have experienced. I hope you’ve taken her in to see Dr. Brown. You never know what this type of trauma could do to such a young child.” She sighed dramatically while shaking her head.

Megan didn’t miss how Evelyn’s lips quirked during Martha’s speech.

Jan frowned at the two ladies. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, Martha. Don’t you read the paper? Our angel is fine; no need to be so dramatic.”

Megan turned her head and smiled at Jan before looking at the two women again. “She’s right. Emma is fine and adjusting well. I appreciate your concern.”

Evelyn placed her hand on Megan’s shoulder. “Of course she’s not fine. You don’t have to pretend to us. To be ripped out of her mother’s arms and forced to live secluded…”

“She wasn’t ripped out of my arms.”

“And who knows what could have happened to her during the last two years.”

“Nothing happened to her.”

“Of course she’s not okay. But don’t you worry. We’re all here to support you.” Evelyn squeezed Megan’s shoulder with her thin hands, her grip stronger than expected.

“I assume that program you forced parents to participate in will cease now?” Martha tsked.

“Excuse me?” Megan didn’t believe she’d heard the woman correctly.

“Well, we all assumed you only started that program out of guilt.”

“There’s nothing for Megan to feel guilty for.” Laurie stood up beside Megan and placed her arm around her. “You should be the one to feel ashamed for even suggesting that. And no, the program continues. Parents aren’t forced to do anything, Martha Greer. Maybe if you and Evelyn had offered to help out, since you live on the routes, you would know that.”

Martha’s carefully sculpted brows rose straight to her hairline. “Why would we do such a thing? Back in our day, we took care of our own children’s safety and didn’t rely on others, not like the mothers of today’s society.” She harrumphed in disgust.

That was it. Megan had had enough. She stood, causing the women to take two steps back.

“Since you ladies are both prime examples of how to raise children, I would love for you both to help me in my program. I do need volunteer walkers, and since I know you enjoy your daily walks around the neighborhood, this would be perfect for you. I’ll add you to my list.” She tightened her hold on her purse, grabbed the boxed pie Jan held in her hands, and then glanced over her shoulder at Laurie.

Without any further words, Megan pushed past the two women, their exclamations of surprise and outrage ignored as she blew a kiss to Jan and waited for Laurie to join her at the front door. Inside she fumed, her entire body tense as she struggled to remain calm. She couldn’t believe the nerve of those two women.

“Are the claws back in yet?” Laurie threaded her arm through Megan’s as they walked toward the car.

Megan snorted. “Not yet.” She needed to calm down, breathe deep, and just forget about the two busybodies inside.

“You know not to listen to them, right?”

They’d stopped beside Laurie’s car. Megan gave her a reassuring smile before opening her door. “I know.”

The ride back to Megan’s house was quiet. Their words echoed in Megan’s head until a headache formed. A tiny seed of guilt had always lingered deep inside of her. And always would.

As Megan opened her front door, she waved at Laurie, who backed out of the driveway. She thought about the tense atmosphere in the car and shook her head. She’d tried to lighten the mood by asking about Laurie’s mysterious man, but Laurie clammed up and refused to say anything more on the topic. Laurie also begged off their morning run, claiming her parents were coming over for the day, so she needed to clean.

Megan heard the lie in Laurie’s voice but kept quiet. Laurie’s house was spotless.

Laurie rarely dated, but when she did, she was like a kid in a candy shop, so for her to clam up and not tell Megan who the man on the shooting range was seemed odd.

Unless she thought Megan wouldn’t approve?

After keying her security code into the house alarm, Megan placed her keys in the dish on the side table. Peter’s office light was on, so she took the pie into the kitchen to cut two pieces. She ignored the cluttered countertop with a half-filled popcorn bowl and dirty water glasses. Her attention was drawn to the lit screen of Peter’s cell phone on the counter. She didn’t see much before it went dark, but she did see the name. It was
her
. Samantha Grayson.