Chapter 69
The railroad museum had its grand opening. Cherry wore a pin-striped denim dress that mimicked engineer’s overalls and a pair
of very expensive red boots. (Knee-high, no laces, low heel.)
“You look too cute by half,” Meg Jones chided. “I should send you home.”
“It’s a family event,” Cherry said. “We told people to bring their kids.”
“You’re here to represent a Fortune 500 company. I’m grooming you as my replacement.”
“Be glad I didn’t wear the matching hat.”
Meg Jones tolerated a little sass. Especially when Cherry knocked it out of the park the way she had with this railroad museum.
Everything looked so good. The exhibits were fun and interesting, and portrayed the company as an American icon. Western Alliance
had gotten so much good press from it already, and there were more photographers here today.
There was a real steam engine parked outside, and custom-printed balloons and picnic food.
Cherry liked planning events for kids. Tom would have loved working on this party.
There was a short ceremony to officially reopen the museum. Cherry introduced Meg, and then Meg introduced the CEO.
Cherry was in the middle of her speech when she spotted Russ Sutton in the crowd. He smiled at her—with his lips pressed together,
like he was sorry about something.
Cherry didn’t miss a beat. She finished introducing Meg, then stepped away from the podium. Russ was still watching her. He was with his son—Liam. (She recognized him from the pictures.) Russ smiled at Cherry again. She waved.
There was a lot for her to do after that. She wasn’t avoiding Russ—but she couldn’t go talk to him. This was her big day.
When she finally had a moment, she tracked him down. His kid was playing a game with rings and railroad spikes.
“Sorry,” Cherry said to Russ. “I was . . .”
“You’re at work,” he said. “I’m sorry. I should have told you I’d be here. The mayor sent me.”
“You’re welcome, of course.” Cherry brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “It’s good to see you.”
Russ winced. Just a little. After a second, he reached for Cherry’s left hand. She let him take it.
He looked down at her wedding ring, nodded, then squeezed her fingers once before letting go.
“You were right,” Cherry said quietly. “I wasn’t divorced.”
Russ nodded again. His tongue was in his cheek.
“I was going to call,” she said.
He shrugged. “Why?”
“To tell you that I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who fucked it up.” He glanced around to see if any kids had heard him. “I fucked it up.”
“I didn’t give you much of a chance,” she said.
Russ sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
Then he made a determined face. He looked in Cherry’s eyes. “If we hadn’t gone to that stupid movie . . . If I hadn’t seen
that goddamn trailer . . . It got to me, I’m sorry. It shook me up. I wish I could go back.”
Cherry didn’t know what to say.
Could he be right? She had been crazy about him . . .
If Russ had been more gracious, more certain of her—if he hadn’t lost his nerve—would that have been enough? Would she have finally let Tom go?
Cherry felt a wave of relief. A riptide. That she hadn’t stepped completely out of her old life into a new one.
Even if that new life might have been lovely.
Russ’s son pulled on his arm. “Dad, I’m done. Can we eat now?”
“This is my son, Liam,” Russ said. “Liam, this is my friend, Cherry. She’s a robber baron and a good dancer.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Cherry said.
Liam nodded, immediately cutting his eyes away. “Dad, can we eat?”
“Yeah.” Russ looked at Cherry and raised his eyebrows, like, What’re you gonna do?
Cherry smiled. “There are hot dogs on the porch. And hand-scooped ice cream.”
“It was good to see you,” he said.
“It was good to see you, too.”
Russ half turned. Then turned back. He looked earnest. “I will always be happy to see you, Cherry.”
It might have been lovely.