Rebecca's Little Secret Read Free

but he felt sure Chelsea realized it. And the reason for his distraction. He’d tried to explain the surprise of seeing Rebecca there in his own office after having looked for her five years ago. But he hadn’t succeeded.
    He needed time to absorb Rebecca’s return to his life. And he needed the answers to a lot of questions. Like why had her parents kicked her out of their house. Her father had been difficult, but he hadn’t threatened to disown her before. But when Jeff had called the house, her father had told him she didn’t live there anymore. Then he’d hung up.
    Jeff had called back the next day when he knew her mother would be the only one at home. She had said the same thing, only in a nicer tone of voice. But she’d added that she couldn’t say anything else.
    He’d flown up the next weekend and visited theirold haunts. He’d already discovered that Rebecca was no longer attending classes at university. He checked with Information, too, but she wasn’t listed. He even went so far as to check with the police.
    He’d come back to Dallas distraught. His uncle had just lost his wife to cancer, after their trip to Arkansas. That was the reason Jeff hadn’t managed to call Rebecca right away. He’d done what he could for his aunt and uncle. After all, they had taken him in and raised him.
    So he and his uncle mourned together. After a year or so, his uncle began to push him to date. Jeff did so, because he understood his uncle’s reasoning. He met several nice women, but still, he kept Rebecca in his heart. Gradually his memories dulled.
    After a while, he began to think about his future. After his uncle’s death, he realized how important family was. When he met Chelsea, he didn’t “fall in love” with her, as he had with Rebecca, but she was a nice woman and they became friends.
    When she pushed for something more than friendship, he agreed and proposed marriage. Now he wondered why he’d done such a thing.
    When he got to work Monday morning, he questioned Harriet about Rebecca.
    “I only know she’s Vivian’s daughter’s sister. And she’s living with them. She’s a lovely girl.”
    “Yes, she is. When does she come in to work?”
    “At one, after her classes.”
    “Fine, I want to talk to her when she comes in.”
    “Yes, sir.” Harriet didn’t make any comment, butJeff avoided her knowing gaze and escaped to his office. He didn’t need anyone to remind him about Chelsea.
    He settled into his office, trying to concentrate on business while he waited to see Rebecca again.
     
    A FTER R EBECCA’S LAST CLASS , she darted into the ladies’ room and combed her hair and powdered her nose. It was going to be hard enough to face Jeff without knowing her nose was shining. When she’d done all she could to improve her appearance, she reluctantly gathered her books and walked the two blocks to her job.
    As she entered the office, she immediately said to Harriet, “I need to speak to Jeff as soon as I can.”
    “Really? Well, he wants to talk to you, too. Just a minute.” She picked up the phone and said, “Jeff, Rebecca is here and would like to meet with you as soon as possible.”
    After she hung up the phone, she said, “Go right in, Rebecca.”
    Rebecca had expected questions from Harriet, and she hadn’t been sure how she would answer them. But there were no questions. Oh, well, she would face questions when she talked to Jeff.
    He stood and came across the room to greet her. “Come in, Becca.” He reached for her, as if he were about to hug her again.
    Rebecca drew back. She couldn’t bear such close contact with what she had to tell him. “I—I need to talk to you.”
    Jeff frowned. “Of course, I want to talk to you, too.”
    Without waiting to be asked, Rebecca sat down in one of the big leather chairs in front of his desk. She didn’t think her legs would continue to hold her up.
    To her surprise, Jeff sat down in the other chair, close to her. “Aren’t—aren’t