Открыть фик целиком в отдельном окне
"Interesting," said Lindsay, sipping her tea, "and was there anyone around when Steve died?"
Harry frowned to remember: "No, not as far as I know. There's been some Indian kid who said she knew he'd die but I think she had a shock as well. Besides you know how bad they know English, perhaps she forgot everything she knew when she saw him. Steve must've been her friend. Police didn't follow the case further but I've got a feeling," he bent over to Lindsay to stress his words, "that it's not over. There's a curse over this town, that's clear but no one wants to admit it."
Lindsay nodded. The talk was interested indeed. She only had to play a disinterested one. Somehow it walked with men like Harry. He wasn't the talkative kind like the most old ladies Lindsay has met during the investigations. "A curse? Really?"
The main course was brought.
"And what did you do before you got the maternity leave?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Biologist," she answered, being partly truthful only not to forget what she has told him.
"Hmm, nowadays the most women think they should work. And what about their men and children?"
"Well, it's the different kind of life, I guess, not every woman wants to spend the life looking after pots and kids."
"Like you?"
She met his gaze: "Yes, like me."
He looked at her hands: "You're not married, are you?"
Lindsay shook her head: "No, should I be?"
"I didn't say this. But what about the baby? How do you think it'll like to be brought up without a father?"
She raised her brow: it was an unusual question for a man like Harry.
"Well, the fact I'm not married doesn't mean she'll stay without a father. That means she won't have to see how her parents quarrel all the time."
"It's surprising a girl like you would stay unmarried," he changed the subject.
"Like I've already said, some women have other priorities."
Their glances met and both burst into laughter.
"We're sitting here like two philosophers while we know each other only for an hour," Lindsay smiled.
Harry nodded: "Yeah, I guess I had no right to teach you morals."
"It's all right. Somehow everyone I know seems to think I need guidance and advice. I've got used to being "a little helpless girl" so don't mind."
The end of the dinner they talked about unimportant stuff like weather and clothes. Then Harry apologized, saying that he had to go.
"You know, I work as a truck driver and it's my time to go. Otherwise I'll be late."
"Ok, thanks for the nice company. It was good talking to you," Lindsay answered.
"No, it was you who was a great company," he said, "I hope we'll meet again!"
"Same with me," Lindsay hoped that perhaps some other time he'd tell her more about the "curse" if she didn't find out something for herself.
So Harry left and she stayed at the table, thinking of where she could go on a snowy Friday night, lost in a small town where she didn't know a person.
"Would you like more coffee?" a voice asked, materializing from somewhere behind her.
Lindsay looked at the man who as Harry said, was the unfortunate father of Andy.
"Yes, thank you. Do you think there's a place to go here? I'm all alone in this town and there's no one I know."
The man looked at her suspiciously, searching for some hint that she was trying to cheat him. But the beautiful face was serene and the deep gray eyes watched him attentively and friendly.
"I don't know, what you think about me, but I just ask for more coffee. It's not that I want to stay here for the night or rob you. So please don't look at me as if I were a criminal," her voice was surprisingly soft and her eyes sympathetic.
"All right," he softened, "would you like a piece of cake?"
"Sure, why not?" she smiled. "I adore bakery but I'm quite hopeless at baking."
"Of course, of course," he went away from the table leaving Lindsay looking after him.
Tony came back with more coffee.
"Here you are," he said and Lindsay was sure she melted his heart a bit. She smiled again.
"Thank you so much, we're both really grateful for the coffee."
"Both?" he asked, puzzled.
"'Course, my baby, and me" she patted her belly.
He smiled back then, but then his face clouded. "Oh well, I also used to have a baby. Andy was such a dear boy! I wonder why he had to die, you know. The doctors said it was a sudden heart attack - a deadly one. But I don't know, Andy was still so young! Only a little boy, not even eighteen!" He sighed deeply.
"Was he your only child?" Lindsay asked.
"No, no, got another two guys and two girls, all of them married. Andy was our baby, Meg's and mine. Even got grandchildren, twins. But nothing can substitute Andy."
"He isn't a thing to be substituted, Tony, you have to understand that. And if you admit that and grieve a bit, you'll feel better."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I am, I really am."
Something in her voice made him look at her closer.
"What's wrong with you? Have you also lost a child?"
"No, not a child," she swallowed, "it was a friend. A very dear friend. You know, I often wonder who things would be if he stayed alive. I wish I could hold him back then."
Tony's look was sympathetic. "Same with me. I wish I knew why Andy really died and why I couldn't warn him." He made an emphasis on the word "really".
In this moment, the front door was thrust open and a copper haired girl burst in, snow melting on her hair and the woolen parka.
"Hi, Uncle Tony, I thought on such an evening there'd be someone around here and so I came to give a hand."
He smiled warmly at her: "Thanks, Silvia, that's really nice of you. However, there's no one here so you could go home."
"No, thanks," her bright green eyes watched Lindsay with curiosity, forehead creased. Lindsay could see she tried to remember where she saw her.
"Hi, I'm Lindsay Donner and I'm new here," she stretched out her hand, "I came here to have a bit of rest from work."
"Silvia Marlow," the girl answered, "great to meet you." Then her attention was turned to Tony: "Uncle Tony, do I really have to go?"
"You don't have any plans for a Friday evening?"
"No," Silvia shook her head, "we used to go with Andy but now when he's gone…"
"You knew Andy?" Lindsay felt it was time to interfere.
"Yeah, who else knew him better?" the girl sighed. "He was my best friend. Well, Uncle Tony, I guess I'll go now. Have a nice evening."
A gust of cold wind and she was gone.
"Such a nice girl," Lindsay mentioned to Tony.
Страница 3 - 3 из 8
Начало | Пред. | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | След. | Конец
