habit of never ignoring phone calls prevented her from letting it ring more than three times.
“Hello.” There was no mistaking the testiness in her voice.
“You sound cheery,” Molly said. “Anything wrong?”
“Not a thing,” Alice said, deliberately forcing a happier note into her voice if only to avoid all the questions likely to be on the tip of Molly’s tongue. “Why are you calling so late?”
“Because your car’s sitting in my parking lot, and Patrick’s sitting at my bar staring into a beer with a moody expression,” Molly said, her tone wry. “I figured there’s a story there.”
“Ask him.”
“I did. He told me to mind my own business.”
“Well, there you go. Sounds like good advice to me,” Alice said.
“You’re not going to tell me what’s going on?” Molly asked.
“Nope.”
“Then I’ll have to draw my own conclusions,” she said. “A lover’s spat, that’s what I think. Whose fault was it?”
“No spat. No fault.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. She and Patrick hadn’t exactly fought over his stubborn refusal to have sex with her. He’d taken a stance and she’d had little choice but to accept his decision.
“Yeah, right,” Molly said, her voice filled with skepticism. “And I’m Winnie the Pooh.”
“Come to think of it, you do hear a remarkable resemblance to him,” Alice said. “All round and with that cute little upturned nose of yours.”
“Not funny,” Molly retorted. “Okay, if you’re not going to cough up any valuable information, I’ll go back and try my luck with Patrick again. He usually caves after a few beers. He’s on his second now.”
“Leave the man alone,” Alice advised, almost feeling sorry for him. Molly could be more relentless than a nor’easter when she put her mind to it.
“Because you don’t want me to upset him, or because you’re afraid he’ll talk?”
“He won’t talk,” Alice said with confidence. What man would willingly admit he’d turned down sex when it was offered? Besides, if he was noble enough to say no, he was certainly too noble to kiss and tell.
“We’ll see,” Molly taunted. “And by the way, if I find out you did anything to hurt him, I’ll be over there to tear your hair out.”
Alice sighed. “He’s very lucky to have you as a friend. You know that, don’t you?”
“I like to think so,” Molly said. “And it works both ways. Patrick’s been a rock for me, too.”
“When did you need someone to lean on, Molly?” Alice asked, overcome with curiosity. Molly had never seemed the type to need anyone to bolster her spirits or to drag her back from the edge of despair. Once more Alice had the feeling that it had something to do with Daniel Devaney.
“Everyone needs a friend,” Molly replied lightly. “You should remember that.”
“I know it all too well,” Alice insisted.
“Okay, then. Stop by after school tomorrow. I’m making meat loaf and mashed potatoes for the special.”
“I’ll be there as long as they’re not being served with a lot of personal questions thrown in for dessert.”
“Can’t promise that,” Molly said. “Be here anyway.”
“I may have things to do,” Alice hedged. Scrubbing the toilet was an option. The bathroom could always use another thorough cleaning.
“Be here,” Molly repeated, then hung up before Alice could argue.
Alice sighed. Once her friend got a notion in her head, there would be no peace until she had the answers she wanted. Alice figured she’d be up all night trying to come up with some that would satisfy Molly and not make herself look like a complete idiot in the process.
Patrick knew that Molly wasn’t going to rest until she figured out what had gone on between him and Alice. She’d pestered him for an hour the night before until he’d finally left the bar just to get some peace and quiet. He also knew she was going to pull the same stunt with Alice. He doubted Alice would be up to fending off Molly, especially if Molly made it seem that she knew more than she did. She was tricky that way. She’d almost gotten to him by hanging up the phone and claiming that Alice had already told her side of the story. He’d realized differently at the last second and kept his own mouth clamped firmly shut. Alice might not be so quick to catch on.
He told himself that was why he was waiting outside the school when the bell rang at the end of the first day back from their late spring break. Kids streamed from the building, their shouts filling the