Quiet Walks the Tiger - By Heather Graham Page 0,39

the real pain of parting. “It will only be a few days, sweetheart,” Wes mumbled gently, his face buried in the silkiness of her hair. “Just a few days...”

Then he was gone, and Sloan was drifting on a high plateau of clouds. “Just a few days,” she repeated to herself, and then she would have her newfound love forever, sanctioned by the laws of God and State. She didn’t think it possible to be any happier.

Jim accepted her news with calm and pleasant resignation. “I admit,” he said with a grin, “I didn’t expect this all to come about so quickly, but”—he gave her a broad grin—“I wasn’t really planning on having you for the fall quarter. You know,” he mused, “I might not be here myself.”

“Really?” Sloan queried, surprised. “Why not?”

“If I can swing the financing, I’m going to open a school and perhaps form a professional company.”

“That’s marvelous!” Sloan applauded him. “Maybe you’ll let me ‘guest’ teach when I’m in Gettysburg!”

“There will always be a place open for you, Sloan,” he assured her. “Anyway, at this time, it’s only talk...So when is the wedding? Saturday, you say? Do I get to be there?”

“Of course.” Sloan grinned. “Family and adoptive family. You fit the latter category!”

The children—Jamie being the only one with a coherent memory of his real father—thought the idea of their mother marrying Wes and providing them with a new father was wonderful. They were thrilled that both Florence and Wes would be living with them, enthusiastic about moving to Kentucky where they could keep a pony.

The only person who accepted Sloan’s news dubiously was—oddly enough—Cassie. Sloan wasn’t sure exactly what went on in her sister’s mind; Cassie didn’t say much, but that was why Sloan was bothered. Cassie should have been as ecstatic as she—after all, Cassie had practically thrown them together.

Despite her unusual quiet and reserve, Cassie spent the days helping Sloan. She promised to handle all the catering arrangements for the wedding and also handle the details like cleaning, flowers, liquor, etc. George was happy to handle the sale of Wes’s house; Wesley’s attorney was a pleasant sort who seemed to take everything in stride, as if instant adoptions were a daily thing. He wished her the best of luck, smiling sheepishly as he told her he could well understand his client’s rush.

With all that going on, Sloan didn’t worry overmuch about her sister. She was determined to take all of her classes each day, since she would be putting such a burden on Jim when she was gone. Along with working, she was busy helping Florence move in and packing the few personal items Wes had in his house. They wouldn’t be back in it once the wedding had taken place.

On Thursday morning Cassie called her at work. “I think you’ve forgotten something,” she advised.

“What?” Sloan asked, frowning into the wire. She’d kept checklists on everything she was doing, and as far as she could tell, things were going fine.

“Shopping. If I’m not mistaken, your wardrobe isn’t going to make a European trip.”

“Oooooh.” Sloan had been standing and she sat. Cassie was right; her wardrobe was practically nonexistent—she had been carefully pulling together her few decent outfits each time she saw Wes.

“I’ll pick you up at work,” Cassie said. “George can bring the kids to Florence for you, and you and I can have dinner and do a little spending.”

Sloan thought for a moment. She had her paycheck in her purse, and now there wasn’t any reason why she shouldn’t spend it. By habit she hadn’t cashed it, mentally balancing mortgage payments and bills. And now, suddenly, what was a huge sum to her was pennies to Wes. She chuckled softly. She could easily spend the entire sum, and Wes would still think her thrifty.

“Thanks, Cass,” Sloan said. “Sounds like a good idea.”

It wasn’t until she set the receiver down that she realized Cassie had sounded funny. She wasn’t really interested in shopping—she was interested in having dinner together and...talking?

Maybe she had been wrong, Sloan thought later as she and Cassie both decided on spinach salad at a local restaurant. Cassie was remaining as reserved as she had been about the whole thing. Several times as they chatted she was sure Cassie was going to say something about the problem bothering her, but she didn’t. Still, it was odd. They talked about everything but the wedding.

Cassie livened up when Sloan went on her spending spree, giving harsh sibling advice on colors and styles.