he was putting on a brave face. He had worked so hard on the 5K for months, and things were about to go from bad to worse for him.
“I realized I forgot the trophy. I left it at home.”
“It’s okay.” Allie patted his shoulder. “Dad, Mom’s having a hard time. She wants to go home.”
“We can’t.” Her father frowned, his fake smile shaken.
“She wants to leave now, Dad.”
“Too bad.”
Allie felt stung. “It’s not her, it’s the meds. They make her weird. She just told me, ‘I’m not myself.’ ”
“I got her an appointment next week.” Her father took off his cap, palmed his balding head, then put his cap back on.
“She said she was sorry, Dad. I’m just saying she needs—”
“Enough.” Her father looked into the distance, where the runners had gone. “The problem with the turnout was unfortunate. They tell me Will Smith made a surprise appearance at the mall this morning, to promote some new movie. It was on the TV news and the radio. Everybody must be there. We caught a tough break.” Her father shrugged. “I don’t know what happened to Morty or the girls from Shawn’s office. Something must have come up. Still, this is a great crowd. Enthusiastic, that’s what counts. Positivity. People working together, helping each other. Helping these kids, eradicating this awful disease.” Her father brightened, giving a thumbs-up to a passing volunteer. “And your friend Sasha ran, too. That was nice of her.”
Allie couldn’t stand her father saying nice things about Sasha, especially today.
Her father turned to the finish line, with its blue banner that read YOU JOGGED FOR JILL! “Sasha’s a nice girl. She lugged some heavy boxes. She’s on the cross-country team. Quite the athlete, that one. Very fit.”
Allie blinked, trying not to feel criticized. “I would’ve helped, but I was taking care of Mom and she really wants to go.”
“She has to wait.”
“She can’t.”
“She has to. Tell her.”
“Fine.” Allie turned on her heel, crossed back to the table, and sat down next to her mother, on the hard plastic chair. “We can’t go yet. It won’t be much longer.”
“Then Fran will take me home when she gets here. I don’t want to ride with your father.”
“Mom, really?”
Her mother didn’t reply, sitting stiffly upright, and Allie tried to watch, trying not to think about Jill. This time last year, they were getting her sister chipped ice that wouldn’t give her any comfort. Jill had been dying, and they all had known it, trying to stay strong. Trying to be there for Jill. Allie didn’t want to let her go, but wanted her free from her suffering.
The runners reappeared, racing toward the finish, and in the lead was Sasha, her ponytail flying, her arms pumping, and her legs churning. Allie watched aghast as Sasha crossed the finish line, her arms flung wide and her smile ear to ear. The sun shone on her blond hair, and the sky was so blue it hurt. Somewhere, way up above, was Jill. Gone, one year ago today.
Everybody clapped for Sasha.
Allie’s father among them.
CHAPTER 20
Scott Browne
Scott stood near his office window, pressing the handheld phone to his ear so nobody could overhear his conversation. He was on the phone with Tiffany, one of the girls he’d been seeing, and it wasn’t a conversation he wanted his secretary to overhear. The office was open on Saturday, since real estate was one of the businesses that got more active on weekends, not less.
“Scott, when are you gonna pick me up tonight?” Tiffany purred. “I can be ready at five.”
“I’m ready now.” Scott chuckled, but he wasn’t kidding. He’d already played nine holes and he had an hour to kill before this afternoon’s meetings. He wouldn’t mind sneaking out for a nooner.
“I’m always ready for you, baby. I’m at the pool. Come over. All I have to do is take off my bikini.”
“Your bikini?” Scott’s mouth went dry. Tiffany sunbathed without her top, which drove him crazy. She was one of the few dancers with natural tits. The woman’s body was proof of heaven.
“The black one I wore on your boat, remember? You said you liked it?”
“I love it.” Scott felt movement in his golf shorts. Fore!
“My skin is soft and warm, and I have oil all over me.” Tiffany laughed in a throaty way, and Scott headed for the door, almost running into his secretary, who was standing in the threshold, waving to get his attention.
“Scott, sorry to interrupt—”
“What?” Scott covered the phone with his hand,