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Authors: Sherrill Bodine
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You’ll love him. I met him in Paris. He’s one of the great guys, like my husband. And I’ve only met four such men in my life.” Three more quick cheek kisses. “Must go, angel. I can’t be late to pick up my bunny, Chloe, from junior high.”
As Nadia floated away, Lynda turned to Rebecca. “Are you encouraged?”
“
Encouraged?
Far from it.” Her image of David Sumner was becoming clearer, and, for the first time, pinpricks of fear shot down her spine at the thought of meeting him.
“
Of course he was charming to Nadia. She’s beautiful. Sexy. And has yet to see forty.”
“You have a point,” Lynda murmured while they both watched Nadia slip through the door with Shannon a few steps behind. “I would be careful of that Shannon, if I were you.” Lynda offered her opinion with cool confidence. “She’ll bury you if she can.”
A great rush of affection for Lynda nearly undid her composure. “Thank you for your concern, darling. I’m so grateful not
everyone
believes I’m already dead and buried.”
Chapter 7
A s David drove out of the city toward the Pizza Palace near Ellen Sumner Park for the end-of-the-season party with the Little League team, his cell phone buzzed in his ear. He hated the damn earpiece he wore but had no choice since he refused to have a driver.
“I wanted to let you know some news.” David heard the excitement in Tim’s voice. “I got a call tonight from the Culinary Institute. They want Rebecca to be a guest chef at their big fund-raiser. We couldn’t have paid for better exposure for the Food section, or a bigger PR opportunity for you as a new player in Chicago.”
David smiled, thinking of Rebecca’s last column. “I’ll bet she’s pleased to be showing off her cooking expertise.”
“I’m telling her in the morning.” Tim’s hesitation was nearly imperceptible, but David caught it. “I think she’ll be pleased, but honestly I didn’t know she was such a good cook until she took this job.”
Again, David felt that jolt of amused surprise at Rebecca’s actions. But this time his instincts, like a burning itch, told him something wasn’t ringing true. Great cooks usually liked to show off their talents.
“In all the years you’ve worked together, Rebecca has never had you over for dinner?” David asked incredulously.
“No. But she sometimes brings in cakes and cookies whenever anyone has a birthday. She brought in a delicious cake for Rose Murphy about a month ago. Until now I always thought she picked the stuff up at a bakery in Lincoln Park.”
David’s itch spread. “When is this fund-raiser?”
“In two weeks. I plan to do a promo on it in every edition.”
David rapidly thought through his schedule. The party for the team to give out new uniforms was tonight. He hoped it would keep the kids looking forward to next season so they would all continue to play. Tomorrow he flew to California to be with his sons to celebrate Ellen’s life, like they did every year on the anniversary of her death.
He tensed, gripping the wheel tighter. Like the last four years, he would put on a good act for the boys. No sorrow. He would continue to embrace life like Ellen wanted for all of them. But he knew deep inside he could never escape the pain. Even though the boys told him he was too rigid in his faithfulness to Ellen’s memory. She’d thought him rigid sometimes, too, especially in business. He knew he had the tenacity of a terrier when it came to getting what he wanted. He brought his type-A game to improving the worth of the
Chicago Daily Mail.
He made his decision and did his best to hide the interest in his voice. “Tim, I’ve decided to come into Chicago earlier than planned. Book me for the fund-raiser. It’s time for me to meet Rebecca Covington in person.”
On Monday morning, Rebecca stepped inside the
Daily Mail
revolving doors and through the glass saw Kate, Tim, Pauline, and Shannon staring back at her.
What now?
Resisting a
As Nadia floated away, Lynda turned to Rebecca. “Are you encouraged?”
“
Encouraged?
Far from it.” Her image of David Sumner was becoming clearer, and, for the first time, pinpricks of fear shot down her spine at the thought of meeting him.
“
Of course he was charming to Nadia. She’s beautiful. Sexy. And has yet to see forty.”
“You have a point,” Lynda murmured while they both watched Nadia slip through the door with Shannon a few steps behind. “I would be careful of that Shannon, if I were you.” Lynda offered her opinion with cool confidence. “She’ll bury you if she can.”
A great rush of affection for Lynda nearly undid her composure. “Thank you for your concern, darling. I’m so grateful not
everyone
believes I’m already dead and buried.”
Chapter 7
A s David drove out of the city toward the Pizza Palace near Ellen Sumner Park for the end-of-the-season party with the Little League team, his cell phone buzzed in his ear. He hated the damn earpiece he wore but had no choice since he refused to have a driver.
“I wanted to let you know some news.” David heard the excitement in Tim’s voice. “I got a call tonight from the Culinary Institute. They want Rebecca to be a guest chef at their big fund-raiser. We couldn’t have paid for better exposure for the Food section, or a bigger PR opportunity for you as a new player in Chicago.”
David smiled, thinking of Rebecca’s last column. “I’ll bet she’s pleased to be showing off her cooking expertise.”
“I’m telling her in the morning.” Tim’s hesitation was nearly imperceptible, but David caught it. “I think she’ll be pleased, but honestly I didn’t know she was such a good cook until she took this job.”
Again, David felt that jolt of amused surprise at Rebecca’s actions. But this time his instincts, like a burning itch, told him something wasn’t ringing true. Great cooks usually liked to show off their talents.
“In all the years you’ve worked together, Rebecca has never had you over for dinner?” David asked incredulously.
“No. But she sometimes brings in cakes and cookies whenever anyone has a birthday. She brought in a delicious cake for Rose Murphy about a month ago. Until now I always thought she picked the stuff up at a bakery in Lincoln Park.”
David’s itch spread. “When is this fund-raiser?”
“In two weeks. I plan to do a promo on it in every edition.”
David rapidly thought through his schedule. The party for the team to give out new uniforms was tonight. He hoped it would keep the kids looking forward to next season so they would all continue to play. Tomorrow he flew to California to be with his sons to celebrate Ellen’s life, like they did every year on the anniversary of her death.
He tensed, gripping the wheel tighter. Like the last four years, he would put on a good act for the boys. No sorrow. He would continue to embrace life like Ellen wanted for all of them. But he knew deep inside he could never escape the pain. Even though the boys told him he was too rigid in his faithfulness to Ellen’s memory. She’d thought him rigid sometimes, too, especially in business. He knew he had the tenacity of a terrier when it came to getting what he wanted. He brought his type-A game to improving the worth of the
Chicago Daily Mail.
He made his decision and did his best to hide the interest in his voice. “Tim, I’ve decided to come into Chicago earlier than planned. Book me for the fund-raiser. It’s time for me to meet Rebecca Covington in person.”
On Monday morning, Rebecca stepped inside the
Daily Mail
revolving doors and through the glass saw Kate, Tim, Pauline, and Shannon staring back at her.
What now?
Resisting a
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