some clothes on. Molly’s waiting for us and we need to go.’
It turned out not to be a lie. When Shelby pulled into the driveway of the large, stone house in leafy, upscale Gladwyne, Molly was the first person she saw. The girl was standing in the doorway in shapeless sweat pants and a Jonas Brothers t-shirt, peering anxiously out at the driveway through purple-framed glasses. Her long, dark brown hair was twisted into a ponytail, and her round face, marred by acne, looked ashen. When Molly spotted them, she turned and called into the house behind her. Then she opened the door and started down the front steps. She was wearing large, furry green slippers that made her feet look like a clown’s.
Shelby parked, and lifted Jeremy, who was dozing again, out of his car seat. He fell against her chest, warm and completely relaxed. The young teenager came toward Shelby holding out her arms.
‘Molly?’ Shelby asked.
Molly nodded, as Shelby gently shifted Jeremy to her waiting arms. A couple appeared at the front door. Lianna was immediately recognizable from Chloe’s descriptions of her. She was a slim, beautiful woman with fine features, huge dark eyes and black hair. She was barefoot, wearing a comfortable-looking bathrobe, and a worried, sympathetic gaze. Behind her, Harris Janssen, the neurologist who had stolen her away from Rob, was not at all what Shelby had expected. Knowing how good-looking Rob was, Shelby had pictured his rival as a lothario who looked like a movie star. Harris was a balding, stocky man of medium height with a round face and a gap between his front teeth. He was dressed in casual, Saturday clothes, a pair of baggy cords and an oatmeal-colored sweater. He looked like the sort of man women would confide in as a friend, while they slept with other guys. Of course, he was a doctor, Shelby thought. There was something very attractive about having an MD after one’s name. And Chloe had always said, during the year she had worked in his office, that Dr Janssen was the soul of kindness. He was well known for his volunteer work, and Chloe had once told her that he often treated patients even if they had no insurance.
Harris was the first to offer his hand. ‘You must be Chloe’s mother. She’s such a lovely girl.’
‘Yes. Thank you,’ said Shelby. ‘She’s always spoken highly of you.’
Lianna reached out her hands to accept the bag of toys and clothes that Shelby had lifted from the back seat of the car.
‘There’s a bag of his favorite foods too,’ said Shelby. ‘I’m sure I’ve forgotten things but if you need anything . . .’
‘Molly has a key to the house,’ said Lianna, shifting the bags in her arms. ‘I’m sure we can find anything we need for him.’
‘I’ll take that,’ Harris said, reaching for the bag of groceries.
‘I can’t thank you enough,’ said Shelby. ‘Rob doesn’t want me to come, but I just have to be there.’
‘Of course you do,’ said Lianna, reaching out and briefly grasping Shelby’s hand in her own. Shelby felt the warmth of her grasp, and her gaze. ‘I’d do the same if it were Molly. Don’t worry about Jeremy. We’ll take good care of him. Just let us know – you know. I’m sure it will be all right.’
Shelby pressed her lips together, blinking back tears.
‘Do you need a ride to the airport?’ Harris asked.
‘I’ve got a taxi picking me up at the house in about half an hour,’ said Shelby. ‘I’m too rattled to try and drive there.’
‘Because I can drive you,’ said Harris.
‘No. I’m covered. But thank you so much,’ said Shelby.
‘Don’t worry about Jeremy,’ said Lianna.
Shelby nodded. She turned to Molly who was still holding Jeremy.
‘He weighs a ton,’ Molly said. Then she nodded to Shelby. ‘I’ve got him though.’
‘Thank you, Molly.’ Shelby bent over her sleeping grandson, inhaled his scent, and kissed him. Before her tears could splash on him, she turned away and got back in the car. The family in the driveway, their arms full of Jeremy and his belongings, frowned as they watched her go.
FOUR
Shelby consulted the airline callboards and made her way quickly to security. As she edged along patiently in the line, she felt grateful that she had the habit, from her job, of carrying her passport with her. She flew so often out of this airport on buying trips that it had been second nature to keep it zipped in a special compartment