The Double Wedding Ring Read Online Free PDF

stare?”
    â€œNo. But I did mention that the chief of police’s girlfriend worked at the shop. Just to make it clear there was no point in trying to rob it,” she said. “And he had the funniest answer.”
    Carrie poured another coffee and plated another cupcake. She nodded to someone behind me, and I saw that it was Jesse. “On the house,” she said. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
    Jesse took a long drink from his coffee. “Thanks, Carrie,” he said. “Nell, you want to sit on the couch?” He posed it like a question, but he was already walking toward it.
    â€œIn a second,” I called after him. “What did Roger say, Carrie?”
    She leaned in and whispered, “He said, ‘I hope she likes heartache.’”

    Jesse and I settled into the big purple couch by the window. I was watching him, but he was staring past me at a mural I’d painted on the wall when Carrie first opened the place.
    â€œYou’re very talented,” he said. “You could be a painter, if that’s what you want to do.”
    I’d often wondered what career I’d pursue when I finished art school in the spring, and I was happy to talk about it with Jesse. But not now. Not when I could see he was using it to avoid discussing what was really on his mind.
    â€œHave you learned anything since this morning?” I asked.
    â€œNo. I talked to Anna. She was heartbroken. They were separated, but that didn’t necessarily mean . . .” He seemed to lose his train of thought. He kept staring at the mural, a depiction of a big city skyline being poured from a coffeepot.
    â€œIt didn’t mean . . .” I prompted after a few minutes.
    â€œLizzie used to say that when you really love someone, you always love them. No matter what comes between you. Even death.”
    â€œShe was right,” I said.
    Jesse kept staring at the mural.
    â€œDo you want something to eat?”
    â€œI have that.” He pointed toward his uneaten chocolate cupcake.
    â€œI meant food; a sandwich, a salad, something like that.”
    â€œI was thinking that maybe Roger came up to talk to me about Anna,” he said.
    â€œBut you said you hadn’t seen him in three years.”
    â€œI kept in touch with Anna. Kind of. She sent Christmas cards and presents for Allie. And we’d e-mail once in a while.”
    â€œDid she ever say anything about their marriage?”
    â€œNo. She’d just ask what Allie was up to; how my mom was doing; questions about you.” He smiled. “And she talked about the business she’d started. It was really haphazard. Maybe once every couple of months or so.”
    â€œSo why would Roger want to talk to you about her?”
    He shrugged. We were sitting next to each other, but there was a distance between us. I wanted to comfort him, to share his grief, but I could feel him closing me out.
    â€œYou haven’t been in touch in several years,” I said, “so maybe Roger wanted to talk to you about something from your days in New York. Maybe an old case or a friend you had in common. Has there been anyone from that time that you’ve talked to lately? Did you get an unexpected Christmas card, or maybe a phone call? Something you might not have placed any importance on?”
    Jesse sat there staring out the window. I waited in silence until it was clear he didn’t intend to answer me.
    â€œCarrie said Roger was here last night,” I told him, “looking out this window across the street at Someday Quilts.”
    Jesse looked at me. It was the first indication I had that he’d been listening. “Why?”
    â€œI don’t know. Carrie told him your girlfriend worked at the shop.”
    â€œThat was a mistake,” he said. Then he got up. “I should go.”
    â€œJesse, I want to help you.”
    â€œI know. I just don’t think you