Earnest by Kristin von Kreisler Read Free Book Online Page B

out of the condo.”
    She’d spoken the words, but the Anna he loved didn’t seem to be the speaker. She’d turned off the faucet of warmth that always flowed from her. He wanted his Anna back, not the frozen woman who’d met him on the porch. He wanted her to let him respond, but she wouldn’t listen.
    Stunned, Jeff leaned his head against the window, so his breath fogged the glass. Was he at fault? Had he been insensitive? Truly, he didn’t think so. He’d meant well. His intentions had been sincere.
    Tonight he’d intended to unroll his architectural plans and show her where she, Lauren, and Joy could set up new shops in a modern building with decent bathrooms, central heating, earthquake proofing, and stairs you didn’t have to take your life into your hands to climb. Jeff had wanted Anna to be pleased. He’d never dreamed that his goodwill could have gone so wrong.
    Especially when Anna was always loving—sometimes to a fault. Once she gave every penny in her purse to a homeless woman in Seattle, a kind gesture, but what if she’d had an emergency—Jeff shuddered to think—or if she’d lost her ferry pass and couldn’t get home?
    Countless times she’d put his needs before hers like that. The summer before they’d gotten Earnest, they’d taken a six-mile hike in Southern California. Toward the end, they’d gotten lost and were nearly out of water. The trail seemed to twist and turn forever, and the sun beat down and burned right through their cotton shirts.
    Jeff chided himself for not being prepared. His sweaty shirt stuck to his body, and he was getting a headache. From his daypack he pulled his and Anna’s plastic bottle and its two remaining inches of water. “Here.” He handed it to her.
    â€œI’m not thirsty,” she said.
    â€œYou’ve got to be. It must be a hundred degrees.”
    â€œNo, really. I’m fine.”
    â€œCome on. I don’t want you having a sunstroke on me.”
    â€œI don’t need water. Honest. You drink it.”
    At first he refused. He wasn’t about to hog up what little water they had. But as they continued to wander and she kept saying “no” every time he offered her the bottle, he began to feel like he might pass out—and he broke down and took a couple of slugs. She acted like she was some kind of drought-resistant camel till the trail finally looped around and they saw their car in the parking lot. Anna rushed to a hydrant outside the women’s restroom and turned on the water full blast. As she gulped it from her cupped hands, it dribbled down her chin.
    â€œI thought you weren’t thirsty,” Jeff said.
    â€œI wasn’t.”
    â€œYou’re pretty even when you lie.”
    Anna had been the only woman he’d ever known who’d sacrifice for someone else like that. It was still another reason for him to love her.And protect her even if he didn’t understand her and if she was frustrating the hell out of him right now.
    What am I supposed to do? Jeff looked out the ferry window at gulls who seemed to race each other across the water. They looked carefree and happy, as he and Anna and Earnest had been just hours before. Somehow Jeff had to get their pack of three together again. But how could he when Earnest was injured and Anna wouldn’t listen to anything Jeff said? He brooded over that question all the way to Seattle.
    As the crew was tying the ferry to the dock, Jeff decided that the only way he could stand his life being so out of control was to have a plan. First, as soon as he got back to his office, he’d call Dr. Nilsen and find out about Earnest. Until Jeff knew his condition, he could make no arrangements to help.
    Second, Jeff would win Anna back. He couldn’t do it with a grand gesture—he could hardly send her flowers, and she wouldn’t accept a dinner invitation. No, subtlety and