Letters from Peaceful Lane (New Americana 3)

If Garrett had taken Burke’s key and searched the file cabinet, the loan application would be gone by now. But what if he hadn’t found it? What if it was someplace else—like the desk?

Not much chance of that. But as long as she was here, it wouldn’t hurt to cover all the bases.

Spurred by a flicker of hope, she began rummaging through the desk drawers, lifting out binders, envelopes, and trade magazines and returning them to their places. If Burke had been working late nights on the application, he might have been too tired to lock the documents in the file cabinet. But the faint hope grew fainter as she searched. It wasn’t here, she told herself. She was wasting her time.

One drawer to go. Then she would get up, leave, and try to make new plans on the way back to the hospital.

A large, softcover office-supply catalog took up most of the space in the bottom drawer. Allison picked it up and saw something tucked between the pages. Her pulse galloped as she opened the catalog and found what she was looking for—the ten-page application and supporting financial statements protected by a manila folder.

Most banks might have put their loan applications on line. But Burke’s bank was as traditional as he was. Everything had to be filled in and submitted on paper.

She’d planned to take the folder and leave the hefty catalog behind. But just then she heard Garrett’s voice outside the door, speaking to the receptionist. Hastily, she thrust the folder between the pages and, with the catalog under her arm, stepped out of Burke’s office, and closed the door behind her.

Garrett replaced his startled look with a smile. “Hello, Allison. What are you doing here? Have you decided to accept my offer? And what are you doing with that catalog?”

Her smile was almost as fake as his. “The jury’s still out on your offer. As for the catalog, Burke will be working out of the house for a while. I’m hoping some updated furnishings and supplies will make it easier for him.”

“You can find all that stuff online,” Garrett said.

“I know.” The fiction was necessary. “But Burke’s hospital room isn’t set up for online shopping. With the catalog, I can browse while I keep him company and get his take on what to choose. Don’t worry, I’ll bring the catalog back in a few days.”

Garrett was still eyeing her with suspicion. He was also blocking her way to the exit. Allison tightened her grip on the catalog and took an evasive move to one side. “Thanks, by the way, for offering to lend Brianna the company car. That’ll save me from having to play chauffeur.”

“Brianna was the one who brought it up,” he said. “She wanted the freedom to come and go as she pleased. I’ll say this for the girl—she knows how to get what she wants.”

Whatever he’d meant by that last remark, Allison didn’t like the sound of it. All she really wanted was to leave, but she knew that if she didn’t speak up now, she might regret it later.

“Garrett,” she said, “Brianna’s going through a difficult time right now. She’s very vulnerable. No matter what she says or how she might behave, she needs to be protected. I hope you’ll respect that need. If

you take advantage of her in any way, you’ll answer to me.”

Garrett sucked in a breath. He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I know you’re concerned. But give me a break, Allison! What kind of predatory jerk do you think I am? Brianna’s like my kid sister, and that’s the way I treat her—the only way, always.” His gaze narrowed. “Do you understand? Are we good?”

Allison sighed. “We’re good. I just had to say it. I had to be sure.”

“Fine. Then let’s forget it. Tell Brianna I’ll be bringing the car around a little later.”

“I will. Right now I need to be getting back to the hospital.”

Before he could ask her any more questions, she dodged around him and hurried outside to her car. Her hand shook as she laid the catalog on the seat, thrust the key into the ignition, shifted into reverse, and backed out of the parking space.

Was Garrett less innocent than his protests proclaimed him to be? Had he really switched the keys to the file cabinet? Had he bought her story about needing the catalog, or had her own nervousness given her away?

Maybe her imagination was working overtime. But Allison had learned to trust her instincts—and unless those instincts were wrong, she had just made a ruthless and unprincipled enemy.

CHAPTER 7

Allison parked in the visitor’s lot and hid the catalog under the seat before getting out and locking the car. The sun, setting above the hills, cast long shadows across the asphalt. Overhead, a V of migrating ducks glided low, to settle on the placid waters of Lake Taneycomo.

She returned to her husband’s hospital room to find Burke asleep in bed and Brianna in the armchair, playing with her phone and looking bored. She glanced up as Allison walked in.

“It’s about time you got back,” she said.

Allison glanced at the wall clock. “I was gone less than an hour. Has your father been all right?”

“He’s been fine,” Brianna said. “After he finished eating, the nurses came in and took the drain out of his incision. They said that he’ll be more comfortable now, and that he could be transferred to rehab in the morning.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Allison blinked back grateful tears. Burke would still be in pain, but at least the frustration of lying helpless in bed would be eased. He could focus on getting his strength back.