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"I'll get you coffee," she said, pulling out an empty chair that faced the rest of the kitchen. "Sorry this is such a mess. Bonnie and I spent our afternoon in the attic, going through clothes. There were several things from when Colleen and I were little. Dresses, a couple of pairs of shoes. Even dolls, although she likes her corn-husk doll better than any of them."
Justin took the seat she offered. He stretched his feet out in front of him and rested his hands on the table. "I don't think Colleen is going to approve of Bonnie's wearing her old things."
"I know." Megan gave him a quick smile. "But I don't care. She wouldn't use them for her own daughter. When I offered, she said she'd rather buy all new. It's a waste, if you ask me. I'm glad Bonnie can use them."
As she spoke, she moved efficiently around the kitchen, getting a mug out of one of the cupboards, pouring the
coffee, setting it in front of him, then walking to the buffet next to the table and pulling out a tablecloth. She flipped up the cream-colored fabric and let it fall neatly in place. Before he'd stirred sugar into his cup, she'd placed a napkin, knife and fork beside the mug. She did the same at her place setting, then returned to the counter and started carving the chicken.
"You act like you've spent time in this kitchen," he said.
"Of course. Did you think I had a cook?"
"Your father did."
She shrugged. He liked the way her quick movement drew the back of her dress up slightly, molding it around her behind. Her lower half wasn't as curvy as her upper half, but there was plenty there to squeeze, he thought, then grinned. Megan was all friendly and open. She'd shut up quick enough if she knew what he was thinking.
When she turned to glance at him over her shoulder, he looked down at his coffee.
"I pensioned her off when Papa died. It was silly to have live-in help for just me."
"And the maid?"
Megan chuckled. "She's gone, too, although I admit I have a lady in twice a week to clean and I send out the laundry. By the time I get finished with the store, I'm too tired to dust. Colleen is scandalized by the whole thing. She thinks I should hire a manager to take care of the store. The trouble is, I don't know what I would do with my day then. I like working."
"Colleen is a-"
"Justin."
"Yeah, I know. She's your sister."
She wiped her hands on a towel, then moved to the oven and opened the door. "About five minutes." She walked to the table and sat across from him. "You look tired. Did you have a difficult day?"
"You could say that," he answered, trying to ignore the domestic nature of their evening. He was sitting in her kitchen answering questions about his day. As if they'd done this a thousand times before. Or maybe it was familiar because he'd imagined his life with Megan being made up of
moments like these. His fantasies about her hadn't all been hot images of her naked beneath him. Some had been quiet. Loving. They'd all been unrealistic, he reminded himself.
"You didn't find out anything about Bonnie's mother?"
"No. Everyone claims they never knew the woman. A few even admitted it's no great loss that she's gone. Mrs. Greeley wanted to know why I'm wasting my time with the investigation."
"I'm sorry."
She placed her hands flat on the tablecloth and leaned forward. Several strands of hair fell around her cheeks. She brushed them back impatiently. Her heart-shaped face was as beautiful as he remembered, her skin clear, her eyes large and expressive. He could read her sincerity in their depths. Suddenly, the need to talk to someone who would listen overwhelmed him. There was no one else he could trust.
"Colleen made good on her threat," he told her. "Before I could even ask, just about every woman I spoke to told me she wouldn't take Bonnie in. Some couple with a small farm on the edge of town said they had room if they got paid enough." He shook his head. "Doesn't anyone in this town give a damn?"
"I do. I'll take her, Justin. I would have this morning, but you wouldn't give me a chance."
"No."
"Why? You're being unfair. Do you think because I live alone I don't have the womanly skills to provide a home for Bonnie?"
