Page 79 of If We Never Met

"Good," Gianna said with a smile.

As Gianna left, he looked at Keira, and even though he'd just told Gianna he was looking forward to the boat party, he was really more interested in getting Keira alone. "How long is this boat trip?"

"Several hours. There will be plenty of food and drinks." Her smile grew more tentative. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No, just wishing we could be alone."

Her dark-brown eyes sparkled at that comment. "Maybe we can be alone later."

"I hope so."

"I'd bail on the boat, but it's Hailey's birthday."

"I get it. And it sounds like fun."

"It will be fun, I promise. How was your rehab today?"

"It went well, a shorter session this morning, but I felt good about it." He paused as another team began to arrive at the field. "I guess we should go. Do you have your car? I walked here."

"You did? That's a good walk from the inn."

"It's a beautiful day."

"And no one accosted you?"

"Nope. No one waiting outside rehab or the inn. Maybe the press is over us. It's a little surprising, but I'll take it." As they walked toward the parking lot, he added, "By the way, I had breakfast with Mark Langley this morning."

She stopped abruptly. "What did he say?"

"Not a lot, but I did tell him I'd witnessed an argument between him and a woman. He did not tell me her name. He made some vague reference to her being an old friend going through some issues in her life."

"Anything else?"

"He wanted to know if I'd mentioned her to you. I said I had. I hope that wasn't the wrong answer, but I'm curious to see if it will compel him to speak to your mother or you about Mandy."

"Maybe it will."

"He knows you're suspicious of him, Keira. He said he'd like to get to know you better because he's very interested in continuing his friendship with your mom. I suggested he talk to you."

"Okay. But I'm a little worried that now he has time to make something up."

"It's a possibility, but he also knows that he has to say something. Maybe that will give you another clue to pursue or will ease your mind. He also mentioned that his wife passed away a few years ago."

"That's interesting. I couldn't find anything on her, although I have to admit I didn't look that hard. I was focusing on him and Mandy. Did he say anything else about her?"

"Only that his son blamed him for the divorce and that he and his son are not close."

"I wonder why Richard blamed him for the divorce."

"He didn't say."

"Did you mention the fire?"

"I didn't want to go that far. Did you talk to your mom about Mandy?"

"I didn't get a chance. She had an early breakfast with a good friend of hers, and then Mark took her to the farmers' market. They're going to spend the day together. But the three of us are supposed to have dinner together tomorrow night, so I need to find time for a discussion very soon."

As they reached the parking lot, he was distracted by the squeal of tires and a van pulling into the lot.

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