Page 79 of The Perfect Secret

“Sure.” She pulled out a tall-backed black leather chair and sat at the table across from her friend.

“That was a great presentation today. You nailed it.”

Hannah’s chest filled with pride. “Thanks. I appreciate you saying so.”

He squared her papers, picked them up, and walked to the conference room door. “You okay, though?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You don’t seem yourself.”

“Just stuff going on at home. I’m fine.”

Stan turned and put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m available if you want to talk.”

Hannah blinked. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

As Stan walked away, he called over his shoulder, “Whoever he is, he’s not worth it.”

Sighing, Hannah headed to her office. The problem was, he was.

Dan closed the door to his office and sat at his computer. His hand hovered over the touchpad. He rubbed his forearm as he contemplated what he was about to do. His stomach roiled.

He closed his eyes and images of Tess laughing played in his mind. He hadn’t heard her laugh since had broken up with Hannah.

Tapping the touchpad, he opened his internet browser:

Nar

He stopped. He was fine.Sure you are, as long as you keep away from everything and everyone you enjoy.

He let out a breath and typed:

cot

It shouldn’t be this difficult. He didn’t need it.Except Tess says you do and she might be right.

He slammed the keys with his fingers:

ics anonymous

Information popped up on his screen. He jumped as if it was going to explode out of the screen and rain burning sparks around him. He pushed his chair back and looked at his door. Still closed. Scooting forward, he searched for meetings in his area. There were three locations close to him—one near his home and two near work. He didn’t want anyone to see him, but based on the times of the meetings, one of the churches near his office was the most convenient. He checked his calendar and made a small notation. He’d see what happened between now and then.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Two weeks later, Dan finally found the time to go to the church. Okay, found the time might not be the right terminology. More like got up the nerve. Still, he walked past the church three times before he stopped across the street and thrust his hands in his pockets.

The church itself was pretty with grey stone and beige arches. Big brown plank doors with iron trim work and handles faced him. A plastic sign on the right listed mass times and clergy names. A chalkboard in front announced the location of the NA meeting.

He’d cleared his schedule. He’d found this church. He couldn’t enter, though. At least, not today.

Tess talked to him now, albeit without excitement. She hadn’t yet gone back to saying, “I love you,” but she said “goodnight” and “hello” and “goodbye.” When he asked questions, she answered with minimal eye rolls, quite a feat for a teenager. It was progress.But she sounds more like a roommate than a daughter.

If Hannah were here, she’d know how to fix it. She possessed an innate ability with Tess. He shook his head. He shouldn’t think about her.

He paced the sidewalk across from the church. This was stupid.

“Are you going in?”