Shocking Sapphires - Ann Omasta Page 0,38

sommelier poured us each a glass of crisp white wine, I cleared my throat and said, “Do you remember when I said that I already knew everything I wanted to know about you?”

Molly raised her eyebrows and answered, “Vividly.”

“Well, that was a lie. I want to know every tiny little detail about you.”

Her face lit up at my words before she asked, “Like what?”

“Everything,” I answered before launching into a barrage of questions without giving her time to answer. “What is your zodiac sign? Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? What’s your favorite color? Do you have any shoes besides Converses? What is your middle name? Have you always lived in Brunswick Bay Harbor? What is your favorite children’s movie?”

She laughed at the flurry of questions before saying, “Slow down, cowboy. I’m a Scorpio, and I usually throw kick-ass Halloween parties to celebrate my birthday. I rarely drink soda, but when I do, it’s Moxie, like the true Mainer that I am. I love bright green.” She angled her head toward the street where her Jeep was parked and added, “Obviously.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “I can’t imagine why anyone would ever wear anything other than Converses––the most comfortable and fashionable shoes on the planet––except maybe for attending weddings and funerals. I’m trying to expand my collection to include every color of the rainbow. They really do go with everything.”

I smiled at that, but let her go on without interrupting as our salad plates were presented to us.

“My middle name is Marie. I moved down to Portland for college, but I couldn’t wait to return. This quaint little town is and always will be home. My favorite children’s movie is The Tiny Mermaid. I love the music and underwater scenes, but I wish the main character didn’t give up her family, friends, and her entire life as a mermaid just for a boy.”

I nodded as I picked at my salad, appreciating her complete and thoughtful answers to my long string of questions.

She leaned forward to ask, “What else you got?”

Thoroughly enjoying myself, I said, “Tell the truth… You missed Scout more than me, didn’t you?”

“Oh, no contest,” she nodded, not caring that she was denting my ego.

I was thrilled that she loved my son so much, but I needed to find a way to make her care that much about me.

My eyes darted to hers when she added, “And that’s saying a lot because I was miserable without you.”

“Me too,” I answered, my voice gravelly with emotion.

After taking a sip from her wine glass, Molly asked me, “Do you have any more questions for me?”

“I do,” I answered almost immediately. “How did you get that scar on your forehead?”

31

Molly

Grant’s eyes bulged out with surprise as he stared at me after I answered his question. “Wait… You were one of the real-life kidnap victims depicted in the screenplay? How did I not know this??”

I absently rubbed the small indentation as I remembered Kevin Durley conking me on the head with a rock. After shrugging my shoulders to answer his last question, I said, “It was the scariest time of my life. I can’t imagine how poor Claire survived nearly a year as his captive. I’m so glad they have that madman locked up.”

“Me too,” Grant whispered, seeming truly stunned by what I’d been through.

He shook his head as our plates of delicious-looking pasta and grilled chicken were delivered. Then he said, “You know, I always thought small-town life would be boring, but I’m starting to sense that it’s anything but.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” I assured him as I tucked into my pasta and groaned in delight as the myriad of marvelous flavors assaulted my taste buds.

After swallowing the first bite, I leaned forward to give him the insider’s scoop, “Alex left this out of the movie, likely out of respect for his wife, but while Claire was missing and presumed dead, he had an affair with the nanny, Josie, whom he had hired to help him watch little Hannah.”

Grant’s eyes were locked on mine, riveted to every word I was saying as I went on. “When Claire returned, Alex got her pregnant with their second child and then found out that Jo was also pregnant with his child.”

“What?!?” Grant asked, sounding utterly scandalized.

I nodded and continued. “Josie ended up with Dean Waters, Dani’s brother. He is raising the child as his own, but Alex is still involved in little Jaxson’s life. Alex and Claire have worked through his