6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber Page B

her appetite was gone.
    â€œGeorgia isn’t going to change her mind this time,” Charlotte said calmly. “I spoke to her, too, and heard the determination in her voice. It’s over and frankly, I don’t blame her.”
    Olivia was saddened to learn that her brother had destroyed his marriage. She remained angry with him for what he’d done to Grace. He’d apparently thought Olivia would never learn of his deception but she had, and she’d let him know how upset she was. He’d brushed off her chastisement, with the implication that she was overstepping her bounds. In Will’s opinion, this wasn’t any of her business. But it was, and Olivia refused to forget what Will had done to her best friend.
    Once they were off the subject of incorrigible sons—David and Will—Charlotte and Olivia made Easter plans. Everyone was coming to Olivia’s for dinner, but Charlotte had planned brunch for Easter morning, following church services. She was bakingher cinnamon rolls, which were Jack and Ben’s favorite.
    Charlotte and Olivia chatted about some of Charlotte’s knitting friends as they finished lunch. Then Olivia paid for their meal and they returned to the courthouse.
    Allison Cox met her outside her chambers, waiting as Olivia flipped through her phone messages, something she hadn’t had a chance to do before leaving with her mother. The one on top made her smile. It was from Grace, and it said she’d see her at aerobics class that evening.

Ten
    A llison was convinced of two things: Anson would be back before graduation and she’d hear from him by Easter. The more she thought about it, the stronger the idea became. Anson would call her by Easter. She knew it. She felt it. She lived on that hope.
    Her day in court with Judge Lockhart Griffin had been revealing, to say the least. People did stupid things and seemed shocked when they were held accountable in a court of law.
    Anson wasn’t like the people who stood before the judge. He’d been working hard to do the right thing, and then it seemed everything had blown up in his face. No one believed he was innocent. Yes, he was angry and disillusioned with the Gundersons—understandably because they’d laid him off—but that didn’t mean he’d started the fire.
    She sat on her bed and studied her notes from theday in court. The phone rang in the distance and she left it for Eddie to answer, since he considered it his duty to check all incoming calls. He was okay as brothers went, she supposed, but sometimes he could be a real pest.
    â€œAllison!” he shouted as if she were deaf. “It’s for you.”
    â€œWho is it?” she demanded.
    â€œSome guy. He didn’t give his name.”
    Only half interested, Allison reached for the receiver in her room. She paused. “Hang up, Eddie.” When she heard the click, she said, “Hi,” in an indifferent voice.
    â€œAllison.”
    Her heart stopped. It was Anson.
    â€œWhere are you?” she asked, gripping the phone with both hands.
    â€œI can’t tell you.”
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œSort of.”
    She wasn’t sure what to make of that.
    â€œI needed to hear your voice,” he said. “I know what happened at The Lighthouse. Everyone thinks I did it, don’t they?”
    She couldn’t lie to him. “Yes.”
    He didn’t respond for a moment. “I swear to you, Allison, it wasn’t me.”
    â€œI believe you.” It was hard to speak past thelump in her throat. In her joy at hearing from him, she nearly floated off the bed. “How did you get past Eddie?” That was a crazy question when so many others were far more important.
    â€œI had a friend of mine call. I’m using a throw-away cell phone. No one’ll be able to trace it. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”
    â€œDo you need anything?”
    â€œNo…just