A Love for All Seasons by Bettye Griffin Page B

Plains.
    Alicia massaged her kneecaps. Maybe it was just as well that her conversation with her mother had been interrupted. She probably intended to say more of the same. She’d tried for years to convince Caroline that she had no problems with her father, then or now. Fletcher Timberlake had a soft spot for his youngest child. So what? Nobody said that parents had to be perfect, did they? They were supposed to love their children and care for them…and he had. Martha’s appearance at that precise moment had probably cut short another round of exasperating attempts at persuasion. Caroline just couldn’t seem to accept the truth. Alicia regretted that her mother would probably go to her grave believing she’d been wronged by her father. She wished she could make Caroline understand that she felt no such thing.
    A ringing cell phone interrupted her thoughts. She reached lazily for the silver gizmo that had become her social lifeline since spending so much time away from home. “Hello?”
    â€œAlicia, how are you?”
    Her breath caught in her throat. She knew it was Jack simply from the lyrical way he pronounced her name. Finally, after two days, he’d gotten around to calling her.
    She decided to play it cool. “Hello, Dev,” she said cheerfully. “So you remembered my number, huh?”
    â€œIt’s tattooed on my brain.”
    â€œI figured you just called Pete and got it from him and Rhonda.”
    â€œNah, that would have been too easy. I figured I’d check on you and see how you coped with your hangover.”
    â€œWho said I had a hangover?”
    â€œThe way you slurred your words Friday night,” he said promptly.
    She laughed. “All right, I confess. My head did feel abnormally large and heavy when I woke up yesterday morning, but I’m feeling much better now.”
    She paused as the conductor announced the next stop. “Larchmont!”
    â€œYou must have given me your cell number,” he said curiously. “You sound like you’re out and about.”
    â€œMy cell is the only phone I have. I don’t even have a home phone anymore. I access the Internet through a cable line. Actually, I’m on a train on my way back home. I spent the weekend with my mother.”
    â€œHow’s she doing?”
    â€œI’m happy to say she’s gained some strength. I was able to get her out of the house for a few hours this afternoon.”
    â€œI’m sure having such a devoted daughter has helped her spirit.” He paused. “Alicia, I was hoping you and I would be able to have dinner together this week. Maybe Saturday?”
    â€œI’d love to, Dev, but I’m not sure how I can pull it off.” She gave herself an imaginary pat on the back for the breezy way that came out, then went on to explain. “I’m up with my mom in Fairfield County on the weekends and at least twice during the week.”
    â€œYou have to eat wherever you are, wouldn’t you agree?”
    â€œWell, yes….”
    â€œAnd it’ll be easier for me if you’re in Connecticut than it would if you were in New York. I live in Stamford, remember?”
    â€œOh, that’s right.”
    â€œI’d prefer to pick you up, but I’ll understand if you want to keep the house quiet for your mother’s sake.”
    â€œYes, why don’t we meet?” she quickly agreed.
    â€œI’ll be in touch during the week.”
    â€œOkay, Dev. Thanks for calling.”
    â€œYou bet.”
    Alicia clicked the End button with a smile. Her mother had been right. The call she’d been hoping for had come in after all. And now she had Saturday night with Jack to look forward to. He’d even been considerate enough to offer to meet her, something she planned to take him up on. She didn’t want Daphne sizing up Jack and asking him questions; nor did she feel Jack needed to see where her mother lived. She