Next to the flowers was a picture of Michael’s deceased mother. She was beautiful, posed like an old-time actress in the photo, wearing a strapless sundress and sitting on picnic table with her legs crossed in her high heels. There were pictures of her throughout the house. Oddly, there were no pictures of him and Lizzy together in the house, though.
“You’re home late.” Michael, his rumpled suit, was sitting in a chair in the family room. He had a thick stack of papers in one hand and a glass of amber-colored liquid in the other. There was a yellow legal pad on the table beside him with notes or one of his lists written on it. Soft music played and the lamp beside him shined down only to give enough light for him to see whatever it was he was reading.
We exchanged glances. I hadn’t told him anything about Logan and I. I just knew he wouldn’t be happy about it and I couldn’t jeopardize my relationship with Clementine.
“What are those?” I asked for lack of anything else to say.
“Résumés for a new nanny.”
“Why? What happened to Sarah?” I asked, shocked at this news.
He swirled his drink in his hand. “She gave me her notice today. She’ll stay until I find a replacement, at least.”
The news made me wonder—first his secretary, now the nanny. Was there something I didn’t know?
“Maybe Lizzy will come home before then.” I didn’t know why I said it. I shouldn’t have. Logan had told me not to say anything. I knew Logan suspected foul play on Michael’s part, but he didn’t know Michael like I did. Still, even though I trusted him, something inside me told me to keep my mouth shut, so I did.
He sipped his drink and looked at me with suspicion. “Have you heard from Elizabeth?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just I’m sure she misses Clementine.”
Michael set the stack of résumés on the table beside him and stood with his glass in hand. He strode over to the bar and picked up the crystal decanter. “Can I pour you one?”
“No, thank you. It’s been a long day. I’m going to change and make something to eat and then go to bed.”
With his glass full, he turned around. “I picked you up that shaved garden salad you like and a lobster roll with fries. They’re in the fridge.”
“B&G’s,” I said with a smile.
He nodded. “I knew you’d be tired and that you probably wouldn’t have eaten.”
“Thanks, that was really nice of you,” I told him and headed upstairs.
Clementine was fast asleep and safe in her room. I stared at her for the longest time. She was an innocent caught up in a mess, but I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her, nor was I going to let anything impact her blissful state. She was too precious. I swiped at my tears and kissed her softly. “I love you so much,” I whispered.
In my room, I slipped out of my clothes and into a pair of comfortable sweatpants. When I slipped on the white, oversized button-down that smelled of Logan, I held it to my nose. His scent was fading but it was still there. I wanted to see him. To talk to him. To be with him.
I shook off the feeling.
Pulling my hair on top of my head, I made myself think of other things. I needed to head back to my place tomorrow to get some clean clothes. I needed to do inventory. I needed to review sales.
Socks on my feet, I went downstairs. The family room was empty. Maybe Michael went to bed. My stomach was growling and I headed for the kitchen. I poured a glass of orange juice and sucked it down before I poured another. Then I opened the containers. I didn’t even bother to sit down. Instead, I stood at the counter and nibbled on the lobster roll in between forkfuls of salad.
Ummm, Boston’s seafood was so delicious.
“Is it good?” Unexpectedly, Michael was behind me and even more unexpectedly, his chin was almost resting on my shoulder as he looked down at my food.
Every part of me tensed and I quickly turned around. “Yes, I was starving. Do you want some?”
Out of character, he moved closer, caging me in. With the smell of alcohol on his breath, he said, “Are you offering?”
My heart was thumping, and not in the way it did when Logan was near me. I wasn’t afraid of Michael. I knew I could take him down with a swift knee to the balls. I didn’t want to have to do that. In the confined space he’d cornered me in, I casually reached back and picked up one of the containers. “Yes, here you go. I’m stuffed.”
He stepped back and took the food.
We both knew that wasn’t what he meant, but at least he pretended it was.
“I’m exhausted. I think I’ll check on Clementine and go to bed.”
“If you don’t mind, I need to discuss something with you.”
Anxiety tightened in my chest, but somehow I managed a smile. “Sure, what is it?”
“There are a few things, actually. Mind if we go in the other room and sit down?”
Panicked, I blurted out, “Is this about Lizzy?”
His expression went blank for a moment. “No, not directly. Are you sure you haven’t seen her or heard from her?”
I straightened my shoulders, drew in a breath, and forced myself to give him a slight smile. “No, I haven’t.”