LITMIR.BIZ

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was seated. A couple of maps were spread out on the table, a scattering of brochures nearby. Jacey sat opposite Savannah while Declan took the head seat.

      “We’ll fly to San Francisco Monday. We’re staying right in the heart of the city. I’ll take you both with me to check in with the store and get our hiking gear. Want to do anything special after that?” he asked Jacey.

      When she merely shrugged, he turned to Savannah.

      “There’s so much to San Francisco. I think Jacey would enjoy the wharf, especially Pier 39. Then there’s the crookedest street in the world, everyone should see that. We can walk down or drive, it’s like a corkscrew. Chinatown’s fun. And we have to ride the cable cars.”

      She tried to put as much enthusiasm into the suggestions as she could. She watched Jacey as she spoke, wondering if anything would spark her interest.

      “There’s also some fabulous shopping around Union Square,” she added.

      “New York has fabulous shopping,” Jacey spoke up.

      Savannah nodded. “If you know where to shop.”

      “You don’t like my clothes?” Jacey immediately took up the challenge.

      “Not at all,” Savannah said.

      Declan frowned at her.

      “What? I’m supposed to pretend I do when I don’t? One thing I insist upon is absolute honesty with children,” Savannah said. Time this teen learned not everyone would kowtow to her behavior.

      “If you’re so honest why not say you’re interested in my dad and that’s why you’re going?”

      Savannah burst out laughing. “Oh, no, you have that wrong. I’m the reluctant one on this trip”

      Jacey looked at Declan, her expression puzzled. “Why?”

      “Various reasons. Anyway, I’ll be glad to show you some of the attractions in San Francisco while your father’s working. You can pick or I will,” Savannah said.

      “Whatever,” Jacey mumbled, staring at the map.

      “So we buy lots of stuff at your San Francisco store,” Savannah said, changing the subject and looking at Declan. “I have my own boots. I don’t need new ones. But a few new tops and cargo pants wouldn’t hurt.”

      “I don’t have anything like that. I don’t want to go hiking,” Jacey said.

      “We’ll have a couple of days in San Francisco, and we’re ending the trip at a resort in the mountains. You’ll need clothes for that, too,” Declan said.

      Jacey looked bored, her gaze on the map in front of her.

      Savannah nodded at the maps. “Show us where we’ll be hiking.”

      Declan rose and leaned over the map of California, showing where San Francisco was and Yosemite National Park. He drew a marker along the Pacific Crest Trail showing where it became the John Muir Trail in Yosemite.

      “It’s a high elevation,” Savannah murmured, following as he pointed it out.

      “Some of it’s above ten thousand feet. And we’ll have higher peaks surrounding us.”

      “Where are we staying?” Jacey asked, leaning forward to look.

      “Camping out on the trail. We’ll backpack our stuff—clothes, tent, sleeping bags, food, everything. This is true wilderness. But the resort is here,” Declan said, pointing to a spot on the map not too far from Yosemite National Park.

      Jacey pulled out her cell phone to check it. “Mom should be calling me,” she said.

      “Maybe your mother has already started her summer,” Declan said.

      “What does that mean?” she asked suspiciously.

      “She obviously had plans this summer that didn’t include you. Why else would you be here for three months?”

      “She likes to have me there.”

      “I know she does. But she’s an adult and would like some time to herself,” Declan said.

      “She can’t do much. She has to work all the time. We don’t have money for extras,” Jacey said.

      “I have to work,” he said easily.

      “Most people on the planet have to work,” Savannah added. Wow, Margo had done a number on this child. Money wasn’t that important in the greater scheme of things. Family, friends, experiences, all went together to make a rich, fulfilling life. Money helped, but there was more to life than money.

      “You’re rich, you could do more for us,” Jacey said to her father, ignoring Savannah.

      “What more do you want, Jacey?” he asked, looking directly at her.

      “We’re always pinching pennies,” she grumbled.

      “I send your mother a lot of money each month. It’s supposed to all go for you. What’re you lacking that my generous child support doesn’t provide?” he asked.

      “I didn’t go skiing with my friends in February. Mom said we didn’t have enough money and you wouldn’t give her any more.”

      “You’re old enough to understand a few things,” Declan said. “First we’ll discuss the money I send.” He told her how much money he sent each month. Judging from the way Jacey’s eyes widened, she’d had no idea. “Granted, some of it goes to supplement the rent and food and basic expenses like that. But if your mother managed the money well, there’d be plenty for extras like a ski trip in February. And, by the way, this is the first time I’ve heard about that.”

      “It’s expensive to live in New York,” Jacey said.

      “Your mother’s not managing the money I’m sending. Next time something like that comes up, call me directly. I’ll consider paying for the trip.”

      “Mom needs money this summer,” she said.

      “Now isn’t that interesting? I continue to pay the same amount every month, no reduction for the time you stay with me.”

      Declan glanced at Savannah who was watching the interchange closely. He disliked airing dirty laundry in front of strangers, not that she was a stranger precisely, but he didn’t know her now. She’d changed over the years. He hadn’t a clue what she was thinking. Probably that all his problems served him right. He’d made a major mistake and could never forget that.

      “So we leave in two days,” she said, trying to change the subject.

      He nodded, suddenly wondering if his idea had been such a good one after all. Jacey was behaving worse than he’d expected. He hoped their time together would prove beneficial.

      What really startled him was the anticipation he felt at the thought of spending the next three weeks with Savannah Williams. She’d done nothing even to hint she wanted to resume a friendship, much less anything more. And he couldn’t blame her. Looking back, he’d shattered something precious.

      No one could go back to the past. Knowing what he now knew, he’d have held on to Savannah for all he was worth.

      What would it be like to take this trip with her? What if they could have taken it alone? Spend days hiking spectacular country and then nights with nothing but the starry sky overhead and endless miles of empty land surrounding them? He knew the reality of their trip would be different, but, for a moment, he almost pretended.

      CHAPTER THREE

      TIME flew by and before she knew it Savannah was boarding a plane for the flight to San Francisco Monday morning. All weekend she’d dithered, talking things through with Stephanie because she couldn’t reach her sister. In the end, she decided to go. It might be a mistake, but she’d made plenty of those in her life. What was one more?

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