Chapter 55

Denise noticed the change in Lance’s posture, observed the sorrow in his expression. She shook her head before approaching the counter. She didn’t know what had happened to him, but Emily said she had seen him outside the convenience store with a pretty blond lady a few days earlier. Something must have gone wrong. She had no idea what, but his appearance spoke volumes. Denise was curious, but she would never violate his privacy with nosy questions.

“I sold another sculpture, Lance,” Denise said. He said nothing, simply accepted the cash. “Hey, how about a chocolate almond cookie? Betsy just brought ‘em in; they’re fresh. These things sell out in one day, you know; they’re so delicious.”

He shook his head.

“It’s on the house.”

“No thanks.” Lance tucked the money in his backpack and turned to leave. “You don’t have any of those prepaid cell phones, do you?”

“No, we don’t carry those. You might try at the hardware store.”

Denise watched him go, her warm brown eyes sympathetic. He looked like his heart was broken, she thought as she bit into one of Betsy’s cookies, barely tasting it as she watched his truck pull from the parking lot.

The clerk in the hardware store looked up from a magazine she had been reading and nodded at Lance as he entered. He saw what he was looking for on the end of the aisle close to the front of the store. Taking it off the display, he stared with unseeing eyes at the prepaid phone in his hand as his thoughts waged an internal debate.

I could call and tell her I have a phone, just in case she ever wants to contact me. Just in case things don’t work out for her in Denver. The clerk at the register glanced over at him and then returned to her magazine.

I could tell her I bought it because she told me I ought to have one. Just keep things light until I test the waters. But maybe she won’t want to hear from me. Maybe she’s trying to forget me. He wrestled with his impulses.

What if she’s happy to be home with her husband? What if my call just messes things up for her? Finally, he put the phone back on the rack and left the store empty-handed.