Page 24

Steffie spread a thin layer of her sister’s strawberry jam across her English muffin. “I went out for a while.” She didn’t add any details because her father was sitting at the table, lingering over his cup of coffee and the paper. He’d make all the wrong assumptions if he knew she’d been with Charles.

They’d spent nearly two hours driving around the area. Charles had taken her past several new businesses, including fast-food restaurants and some specialty boutiques. He’d shown her the recently constructed six-plex movie theater, a new housing complex and a brand-new mall on the outskirts of town. The drive had been highlighted by an ongoing commentary that included the latest gossip.

Steffie hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in ages. Charles had been entertaining and fun, and he seemed to take pains never to refer to their past differences.

It was late when they’d gotten back to the house, but they sat in the car for another thirty minutes, talking, before Steffie went inside.

She’d fully expected to lie awake half the night savoring the time she’d spent with him, but to her astonishment, she’d fallen asleep immediately.

“Steffie was out with Charles,” their father announced without looking up from his paper. “She didn’t get home until late.”

Steffie feverishly worked the knife back and forth across the muffin, spreading the already thin layer of jam even thinner.

“Charles Tomaselli?” Norah repeated as though she wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“Two girls and a boy,” David returned cheerfully.

“I beg your pardon?” Steffie asked.

“You and Charles,” he answered. “You’re going to get married and within the next few years have your own family.”

Rather than argue with her father or listen to more of this, Steffie glanced at her sister. “I need to do a few errands around town, but then I’m driving to Portland. Does anyone need anything?”

“Portland?” her father echoed. “Whatever for?”

“I thought it was time I applied for my doctorate and a part-time teaching position at the university. I am qualified, Dad, as you well know since you paid dearly for my education.”

“But you can’t worry about finding work now.”

“I realize the country’s in a recession, but—”

“I’m not talking about the economy,” he said. “You’re going to be married before the end of the summer, so don’t go complicating everything with a job.”

Steffie could feel the heat leap into her face. He seemed so certain of a marriage between her and Charles, and that exasperated her no end. “Dad, please listen—”

“It doesn’t make sense for you to be starting a job or a course and then taking time off for a honeymoon.”

Steffie wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to humor him anymore. This had gone on long enough, but she didn’t know what to say. She was aware that her father claimed everything would work out between Valerie and Colby, too. After seeing her older sister’s pale, drawn features that morning, Steffie had no faith in her father’s words. Not that she’d really ever believed him…

“I don’t actually expect to make a lot of contacts, since most of the offices won’t be open on a Saturday, but I’m hoping to look around, check out the library, get a few names. Obtaining a teaching position now might be difficult, anyway, especially for the fall session. But I’d like to get started on a thesis soon.”

“In other words you’re going to Portland, no matter what I say?”

“Exactly.”

“Then go shopping when you’re done,” her father suggested. “Try on a few wedding dresses. Both you and your sister are going to need ’em. Soon.”

Norah was watching Steffie closely and spoke the moment their father had left the kitchen.

“What are we going to do?” Norah pleaded.

“I don’t have a clue,” Steffie said, fully agreeing with her sister’s concern. “If Dad insists on believing—”

“Not Dad,” Norah blurted out impatiently. “I’m talking about Valerie.”

Steffie’s exasperation with her father was quelled by her compassion for Valerie. “What can we do?”

Norah’s face was pinched with worry. “That’s the problem. I don’t know, but we can’t let her leave town like this. She came down early this morning…. I decided I had to tell her about Colby dating Sherry Waterman.”