past her. The other girl wore an Our Lady of the Cove T-shirt, too.
Standing there for a moment, Hannah watched the new arrival join her friends at the other table. The blonde whispered something to her two friends, and they all laughed.
Hannah shrank back into her chair. Had they noticed her making an ass out of herself? Was that why they were giggling? She gazed down at the tabletop and started to count to herself. In thirty seconds, she’d get up, walk out, and find something to eat at the Grub Hub. She didn’t care if it was a stale hot dog that had been on one of those rotisserie things since Tuesday—just as long as she didn’t have to sit here alone.
After twenty-three seconds, she became aware of someone standing beside her table. Hannah figured it was the waitperson, and she hesitated before looking up.
“Please tell me that you haven’t ordered yet, because the food here really sucks.”
Rachel was smiling down at her.
Hannah sprung to her feet. She almost wanted to hug her.
Ten minutes later, they were headed to town, walking through a residential section with beautiful, big old homes. The tree-lined street ran alongside a bluff overlooking the beach. The sky was darkening and ominous over Lake Michigan. It looked like a storm was rolling in. Hannah could feel the wind picking up and the temperature dropping.
Rachel explained that she’d seen her note to Eden on the bedroom door. She apologized for running off earlier. Alden had needed to pick up a pair of prescription eyeglasses at Target in Lake Bluff. “It didn’t dawn on us until we got there,” Rachel said. “We should have invited you along. You probably need stuff for your room or groceries. Anyway, we can still pick up anything you need while we’re here in town tonight.”
Hannah asked where Alden was. With Riley out of the picture—if not completely, then at least until a week from Saturday—she couldn’t help wondering about Alden.
Rachel shrugged. “Beats me. I dropped him off at his dorm about fifteen minutes ago.”
As they approached the town, Hannah spotted her first firefly. She wanted to chase it, cup it in her hands, and watch it light up. Rachel was amused. “God, you’re like a little kid! It’s just a lightning bug.”
“Well, they don’t have them in Seattle,” she replied, out of breath. She gave up on the chase. There was something so magical about the glowing insect—and this moment with her cool, sophisticated “big sister.” Just minutes ago, she’d been so alone and depressed. But Rachel had come to her rescue, and they were on their way to have dinner together. A part of her was actually glad Eden had disappeared. It would have been a real drag to have her half-sister along.
In a cozy Italian restaurant called Bellini’s, they ate the most delicious pizza Hannah had ever tasted. She’d never seen pizza cut in squares before, but apparently, that was how they did it in Chicago.
They were just finishing up dinner when Hannah worked Alden into the conversation again. She finally had the nerve to ask: “So—are you guys like—dating or anything?”
“Me and Alden?” Rachel laughed. “God, no. He’s practically like my brother. We grew up together. His mother was a maid in our house, an Irish girl, and single. She died from a brain tumor about ten years ago. But Alden stayed on—with the house staff looking after him, well, the house staff and me. And now he’s looking after me. At least, that’s what my father thinks about the setup. Alden started here last year. My parents are paying for it.” She picked up a square of pizza, but then seemed to change her mind about eating it and put it back. “Anyway, no, Alden and I aren’t dating. Why do you ask? If you’re interested in him, you’re shit out of luck. Alden will deny it until he’s purple in the face, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s gay as a Christmas goose. Or he’s at least a Kinsey five.”
“Oh, I wasn’t interested,” Hannah lied. She tried to hide her disappointment and fiddled with a breadstick. She should have known. He seemed too good to be true.
Rachel sipped her Diet Coke. “I didn’t want to ask you this in front of Alden earlier. But how is it with your dad? I mean, I’ve read such terrible things about him screwing around all the time, but he really can’t be that awful.”
Making a face, Hannah squirmed in her chair. “I used to think I was so lucky. Most of my friends, their parents are divorced, or if their parents are still together, they can’t stand each other. But my mom and dad seemed happy, always hugging and kissing, very lovey-dovey, almost nauseatingly so. As far as fathers go, my dad seemed pretty cool. I mean, all my girlfriends thought so. Then the shit hit the fan, and I found out he was this sleazy serial cheater. And so did everyone else, because the whole thing became a media sensation. Anyway, while all that was happening, he was laid up in the hospital with major injuries—”
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, I read that he was shot and crashed his car.”
“As angry as I was, I kind of felt sorry for him, too,” Hannah admitted. “But I couldn’t really forgive him, y’know? I don’t think I ever will. He hasn’t been the same since all this happened. He doesn’t even look the same—thanks to the accident.” She shrugged and worked up a smile. “Anyway, aren’t you sorry you asked?”
“Not at all,” Rachel murmured. She actually seemed fascinated. “I read something about your dad and your aunt having an affair. Is that true? Him and your mom’s sister?”
Hannah snapped the breadstick in half. “Yep, it’s true.”
“What was she like? Or don’t you want to talk about it?”
“Oh, I don’t mind talking about it with you,” Hannah said. “Actually, I never knew her. She died before I was even born. It was a suicide. She took a swan dive off the roof of a high-rise apartment building.”
“Yeah, I read about that, too. But did your mom or dad ever say anything about her?”
“Up until two years ago, my younger brothers and I had no idea she even existed.” Hannah sighed. “My parents kept it a secret that she had a kid sister. But last year, I got my mom to open up about her. Her name was Molly, and I guess she was a major flake—really irresponsible, sort of a wild child. But she was pretty. My mom was so mad at her about the affair that she destroyed every photo of Molly she had. Then a couple of years ago, she had a change of heart and contacted some of Molly’s high school and college friends for any pictures they’d saved. She managed to track down a few. I’ve seen them. Molly really was a knockout. Anyway, I don’t know much else about her. It’s not like my mom and dad talk about her. And for obvious reasons, bringing her up in a conversation with them tends to be a real buzz-kill.”
“That’s so sad,” Rachel whispered. She must have meant it, too, because she actually had tears in her eyes. “I feel so sorry for her . . .”
“I feel a lot sorrier for my mother,” Hannah said. “Anyway, enough about my parents. That’s one big soap opera. What about your folks?”
Rachel wiped her eyes with her napkin. “What about them?”
“I don’t know,” Hannah said. She’d thought she should change the subject so the conversation wasn’t only about her. “Are you all close?”
Rachel shrugged. “Yes and no. It’s your standard poor little rich girl story. When I was growing up, my dad was away a lot on business.
