In Search Of Her Own. Carole Page Gift

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       Chapter Three

      Phillip Anders suggested they discuss Victoria’s case over dinner on Tuesday evening He met her at seven at the Dingho Chinese Restaurant just north of the university It was a quaint place with intimate tables and soft lights, accented by jade carvings, porcelain vases and wall scrolls depicting squat Buddhas and towering pagodas.

      As Phillip settled back in his wicker chair opposite Victoria, the delicate china on the linen tablecloth gave his brawny good looks a rough-hewn texture. He looked out of place, this tall, square-jawed man with hands too large for the tiny teacups.

      Victoria smiled impulsively. “I’m surprised you picked this place, Mr. Anders. You look more like a steak-and-potatoes man to me.”

      He grinned. “I am But I thought this atmosphere would suit you.”

      “I’ll consider that a compliment,” she replied.

      “It is.”

      Their gaze held for a moment She felt a velvety warmth steal over her and she quickly dropped her gaze to her menu. Wait a second, she reminded herself. This is a business meeting. Not a date

      “I suggest their Peking duck or steaks Manchurian,” said Phillip with a smile.

      She looked at him in surprise. “You’ve been here before?”

      “With clients a few times.”

      “Then I’ll defer to your judgment.”

      “Peking duck,” Phillip told the round-faced Oriental waiter. “With egg flower soup and sauteed snowpea pods.”

      “It sounds like a culinary delight,” said Victoria.

      Phillip leaned across the table confidentially “What I like best are all the little take-home cartons to warm up the next day. It beats my usual frozen dinner fare.”

      “I know what you mean. I hate cooking just for myself.”

      Phillip’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “I hate eating my own cooking No matter what I fix, it ends up tasting like overcooked cardboard.”

      “Perhaps you should invest in a cookbook.”

      “I have dozens around the house My wife, Pauline, was a gourmet cook. She collected recipes like some women accumulate jewelry There was nothing she couldn’t make.”

      “She must have been a very remarkable woman “

      Phillip’s burnt-sienna eyes took on a distant sheen. “She was the best.” He looked up and blinked as the waiter brought their soup.

      “Very hot,” warned the man.

      As Phillip picked up his china spoon, Victona bowed her head and silently offered a quick prayer of thanks for her food She looked up, embarrassed to see Phillip watching her.

      “My wife and I used to do that,” he said. “She never let a meal pass without saying grace.”

      “It’s still a bit new to me,” Victoria murmured self-consciously.

      They ate in silence for several minutes Then Phillip cleared his throat and said, “You telephoned me about locating a child for you, Miss Carlin. Would you like to tell me about your son?”

      She dabbed a corner of her lips with the linen napkin. “Please call me Victoria.”

      “If you’ll call me Phillip.”

      “Of course…Phillip.” She touched the back of her neck nervously Her face felt uncomfortably warm “I must tell you, Phillip, I’ve never talked about my son to anyone. It’s very difficult for me. Now that both my parents are gone, no one even knows I have a child…except you.”

      “I can understand your reluctance to share something so personal “

      “It’s just not the sort of thing I want people to know about.”

      “But surely there’s not the stigma there once was. “

      “Perhaps СКАЧАТЬ