Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling Read Free Book Online

really sure what this meeting entailed.
    “I’d like to go to Seattle again.”
    “Someday maybe, but not this trip. I’ll have no time for sightseeing or anything.”
    “Will you see Charles and Gwynn?”
    “No time. I’ve not even told them I’d be in the vicinity. This trip came up so unexpected. Rush, rush, rush. Why they didn’t tell me before, but according to Ken’s boss immediately above him, there’s a problem and I’m the man to handle it.”
    “Good for you.” She patted his knee, earning a quick grin. Why was it that lines on a man’s face and silver sideburns looked sexy, but women were not to age? Another of those questions she’d seek answers for someday. She leaned back in the seat and stared out the windshield.
    He switched the dial to light classical, something they both enjoyed, and for a change, peace seemed to settle into the car interior, the black leather both smelling and feeling luxurious.
    “Maybe I should think of getting a new car, too. A Lexus maybe? Sedan would be good for taking clients to see the properties.”
    “If you can afford it, go for it. Although you might give it a lot of thought. They’re expensive, you know.”
    Her eyebrows arched in spite of herself. And this little number had not been expensive? She’d never known the sticker price, but then perhaps he had leased it, something she might consider as well. After all, it would be a business write-off. Whatever had happened to those years where they talked over finances, trying to figure out whom to pay and who would have to wait? They’d laughed and loved together, did family things with Charles and Gwynn, like sports and canoeing up at the lake property. With both of their children married and no grandchildren at this point, they had all seemed to drift in different directions. Although they had worked together to create the family celebration…
    “Four days?” She turned to stare at her husband. “The celebration the kids set up for our anniversary is Saturday.” With a special something going on at church on Sunday. But they were keeping that part a secret, so she couldn’t mention it just yet.
    “No problem, I’ll be back Friday night at the latest.”
    “Are you sure?” She fought to keep her tone calm when it wanted to go up an octave, bordering on shriek.
    “Of course I’m sure. I told the board I had to be back.”
    She stared at him, shock registering. He’d forgotten. “Wasn’t it on your calendar?”
    “Oh, I’m sure it was, er, is.” He gave her his toothy smile, sure she would acquiesce like she always had.
    No arguments tonight. Just nod and smile. Tread softly. Drop a brick on his head later. That thought surely didn’t help peace, but it did make her laugh inside. Breathe deep, tonight you are celebrating, just the two of you.
    He pulled the car in front of the Mansfield and stopped where a valet opened her door and greeted her with a smile. She let him help her out while Jack came around the front of the car and tossed the young man the keys.
    “Be careful with my baby here.” He patted the roof, took his ticket, and held out an arm to escort her inside.
    When he greeted the maître d’, the familiar response reminded her he’d been here before. But they had only been here once before, years ago. Jack always said they could not afford this kind of place. But back then, that was the truth.
    The gentleman smiled mirthlessly. “Going all out?”
    “Nothing too good for my girl.” His hand at her back guided her to follow the man with the leather-bound menus who seated them in a booth, shook out the fancy folded napkins, and placed the stiff, white cloths on their laps before opening and setting the menus in front of them.
    “Thank you, Henri.”
    “You are welcome, and if there is anything else you need, feel free to call me. I’ll take care of it.”
    Was that a tip Jack passed him? Jack, or at least the Jack she used to know, had been stingy with tips.