A Season of Angels Page 0,77

studied the tranquil waters.

"I'm so glad to see you," she said. She slipped out of her coat and waited a moment, wondering how long it would take Chet to notice her new dress, but he seemed preoccupied and said nothing. Monica was a bit hurt, but let it pass.

"I'm dying for a cup of coffee," she said.

Chet waved for the waitress, who carried the glass pot over to the table. "Do you want something to eat?" he asked Monica.

She shook her head. "Just coffee for me, thanks."

"Me too." The waitress refilled his cup and poured hers.

Chet smiled over at her and the same intense look was back, the one she'd noticed earlier. His frown deepened as if he'd become aware of a change.

"Something's different," he said, studying her.

Monica beamed proudly. He had noticed. "I'm wearing a little makeup," she whispered, leaning toward him. "Out of the blue I got a call from Donna Watkins, a lady from church. She invited me to lunch. Donna's wonderful with clothes and scarves and pretty pins. . . . I didn't always think so, but that doesn't matter now. She claimed she was getting dressed that morning and had the irrepressible urge to call me and invite me out.

"After lunch she took me shopping. I bought the dress and" - she tossed back her head to expose her earlobes - "these. They're lovely, aren't they?"

Chet's eyebrows shot toward his hair line at the sight of the small gold earrings. "I thought you claimed jewelry was a tool of the devil."

She might have thought that at one time, but would never have said so, at least not publicly. "Don't be ridiculous. I said that if a woman opted to wear jewels, then whatever she chose should enhance a meek and gentle spirit."

"Earrings do all that?"

He was teasing her, but she didn't mind. "I think so. Donna did too, but then she had on these huge Christmas tree decorations. They're wild. As far as I can see, each woman is left to her own interpretation of this."

She took a sip of coffee, grateful for the warmth it offered her. "Do you like the dress?" She tried to make light of it, but her heart was dangling precariously on her sleeve. Everything she'd bought that afternoon had been with Chet in mind. Each time she stepped before the mirror, her first thought had been what he would think when he saw her.

"It's very pretty."

It wasn't much as compliments went, but enough. "It's the first thing I've had in years that isn't black, gray, or navy blue. Donna says I'm a summer, if you know what that means. I didn't until she explained, but basically I should be wearing pastels, pinks, pale blues, and the like."

Chet nodded, but looked distracted, as if this summer business were beyond him.

"I'm sorry," she said, setting her cup down hard in the saucer, "I didn't mean to get sidetracked. Tell me what happened with my dad." She was breathless with anticipation. "He didn't say a word to me."

"Nothing happened."

Chet certainly seemed to be uncommunicative this afternoon. "Nothing?" she demanded. There was more to this than met the eye.

"I explained I was a private investigator and had cut through his yard. I apologized for the intrusion. As far as I could tell he believed me. After he'd read over my license he went back into the house."

"That was it?" Surely there was something more. It wasn't her imagination, her father had been unnecessarily quiet all morning. He seemed preoccupied and absentminded. When she mentioned meeting Donna for an early lunch, he'd encouraged her, and even sounded pleased. He insisted she needn't come back to the office when she'd finished. Since she was volunteering downtown, she should go directly there.

"You seem so quiet," Monica said after several moments of silence. She'd never seen the serious side of Chet. She'd seen him angry and frustrated, aroused and flippant, but never serious.

He didn't seem to hear her. "I don't think I ever realized how truly beautiful you are."

Unaccustomed to compliments, Monica felt herself blush. Her heart was so full, it felt as if it were ready to burst. Love must do this to a woman, she decided, but she wouldn't change this incredible feeling for the world.

He leaned forward and reached for her hand, gripping her fingers hard with his own. "I've been doing some thinking."

"About us?" Her chest tightened as though she already knew what he was going to say. In that same moment she