Letters from Peaceful Lane (New Americana 3)

“Not even if it would save the American Heartland?”

Allison’s hand went to the door latch. “I can’t make that decision now,” she said. “Talk to Burke. He’s the only one who can answer your questions.”

“Wait.” Allison had opened the door. He reached out and put a hand on her arm. “You’re forgetting something.”

He reached behind the seat for his briefcase, opened it, and took out a plastic ziplock bag. “This is everything from Burke’s Porsche, including the keys,” he said. “The phone’s in there, too. Do you want to keep it for him, or should I take it up to him now?”

Allison lifted out the phone and the charger. “Take these to Burke. Maybe being able to call his friends will make him feel less disconnected. Thanks for the ride and the news, Garrett. Brianna is flying in this afternoon. While she’s here, I won’t have much spare time. But I hope you’ll keep me posted about the business.”

He caught her shoulder as she moved to step out of the door. “I’m hoping you’ll do more than let me keep you posted, Allison. With Burke out of action, I’m going to need your help making decisions. I know you ran a small business yourself, so you understand what it takes. I’m willing to take you in, show you the ropes, and make you part of the agency.”

“Is that an offer?”

“If you want to call it that. Think about it and let me know.”

“All right. But no promises. Burke never wanted a working wife.”

“But things have changed. You could be a lot of help to him, and to me. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to Burke. If it’s a yes, I’ll leave telling him to you.”

“Thanks . . . I think. But I’ll let you know.”

“That’s all I’m asking. Give my best to Brianna.”

Allison closed the door, climbed into her car, and pulled out of the visitor lot. Garrett had given her plenty to think about. But with Burke lying helpless and in pain, she wasn’t about to rush any decisions.

Morning sunlight had brightened the day. The sky had cleared to a dazzling blue. The hillsides blazed with autumn colors as Allison drove the winding mountain highway toward home. The Ozarks were old mountains. Worn and rounded by time, they were very different from the jutting peaks of the Sierras and Rockies. But they held their own kind of beauty—a beauty that whispered of ancient wisdom and magic when the wind blew through the trees. And never was this country more beautiful than on a sun-sparkled autumn day after a night of rain.

No one had shown Allison the spot where Burke’s car had gone off the highway and rolled down the slope, but she knew the dangerous curve where the accident had most likely happened. She slowed the car as she rounded the sharp turn, looking for skid marks, but there were none. The road had been wet, she reminded herself. The Porsche would likely have hydroplaned, jumped the guardrail, and tumbled over the edge. As Garrett had said, Burke was lucky to be alive.

She’d planned to go home, find the policy, and call the insurance company about the car. But now that Garrett had taken care of that, she had time on her hands. Brianna wouldn’t be getting in for several hours yet. She could stop at a convenience store for milk and sodas, then go home and do some last-minute tidying of the house, or better yet, put on her sneakers and try to walk off some nervous energy.

Arriving home after her stop at the roadside store, she put the snacks away in the kitchen and went upstairs to change her shoes. Then, with her phone and the house key in her jacket, she went back outside and hit the jogging path that ran along the shore of the lake.

The morning air, smelling of last night’s rain, was cool on her face, the calm surface of Table Rock Lake like a smooth blue mirror. A heron, stalking fish in the shallows, flapped skyward at her approach.

She wasn’t alone on the path. Approaching from the other direction, a fit young mother in tights was pushing her baby in a jogging stroller. Allison gave them a smile as she stepped aside to let them pass. Just looking at the pair made her feel old.

Before they were married, Burke had made it clear that he’d already raised one child and had no desire for others. Allison, already past thirty, had understood and gone along with his wishes. Sometimes she caught herself wondering what she’d missed, but now that Burke was injured, maybe it was just as well that she didn’t have a baby to worry about.

If Kate’s letters were any indication, she’d done most of the child raising while Brianna was young. But Allison had to give Burke credit. After Kate’s death he’d cut back on traveling and restructured his life to be present for his daughter. It was a shame he couldn’t have done it while Kate was alive and still in good health. But it appeared they’d had some wonderful times when he was home, with the boat and their friends. And somehow, through good times and bad, they’d been able to keep their love alive.

Would she be as lucky? Allison wondered. Or was it already too late to save her marriage to this proud, stubborn, driven man?

Her thoughts shifted to Garrett’s offer that she come and work for the agency. In some ways it sounded like a good idea. It would keep her busy, and possibly sane, while Burke was recovering. She’d be earning a salary, she supposed—but since it would be Burke’s money, there wasn’t much financial incentive to take the job. Still, if she could be Burke’s eyes and ears, making sure that no employee or client took advantage of his absence to bend the rules, that could be important.

But wasn’t that Garrett’s job?

And what about being home to aid Burke with his recovery? How much was he going to need her? How much would he allow her to help him?

Her decision would have to wait. Right now there were too many uncertainties involved.

She’d walked more than a mile along the path, to a long, little-used wooden pier that jutted out into the lake. Making her way to the end of it, she stood for a moment, gazing out across the water toward the marina on the far shore, where Burke’s boat was stored on its trailer. When was the last time he’d taken it on the water? If he had no plans to use the expensive craft, why hadn’t he sold it? Only Burke could answer those questions, and this was no time to ask him.

Turning around, she started back. Where the shoreline curved, she could see the tree-sheltered houses along Peaceful Lane. All of them had been built back in the 1970s with high windows and broad balconies offering magnificent views of the lake. These days, most of the owners were either retirees or wealthy people who used the houses as vacation homes. None of them had much in common with a young bride who didn’t fish and had never even been on the water.

Burke had been smart to buy the house when he did. The property was worth more than twice what he’d paid for it. Maybe if they fell on hard times, he could sell it, and they could move to a smaller place. But would he let it go when it held so many memories of Kate? Would Brianna?

Kate had resented the expensive home, which Burke had evidently bought without consulting her. But she’d lived in it for a long time. Had she grown to accept the place, even to love it?