I hold up both hands. What can I say?
“Oh, and I have a spare ticket for a post-Christmas cruise, in the Caribbean, warm and far away from Brighton Court and your lawyer friend and family expectations, Dirk, if they’re the problem.” she says. “I won the silent auction item at the ball. I couldn’t bear the thought of setting up for Christmas and Phoebe cancelling on me at the very last minute, so I might go early and enjoy a fancy hotel to myself before I board the ship, if I have to. Though things seem to be thawing with Phoebe, thank goodness. I’m meeting her later today.
“Actually, Dirk, we probably won’t even be neighbors by then, so there’ll be no more embarrassing moments for you in the stairwell, trying to avoid me. My apartment’s for sale, as you no doubt know. I hope to buy it for myself, but I might not be successful. I might have to move out soon. So you could just come along on the cruise and have some fun. I promise I won’t make you join the deck exercises.” She’s sparkling again, as if she’s forgiven me, as if the future could only be rosy. Her optimism is infectious.
“Thanks for the invitation, Lucy,” I say. “I’ll think about it.” There’s no way I can go on a cruise with Lucy. I can’t trust myself to see her every day and every night, and not lead her on, much as I might enjoy it. I’m not interested in having affairs. Marriage? Is she serious?
“Good,” she says. “Do that. You think about it.” And she gives me the kind of smile that lifts my heart. I like making this woman happy; can’t actually remember whose idea it was that we stop seeing each other.
“We could make it a honeymoon cruise, Dirk. The captain can marry people. I’ll send you the link.”
She lets herself out of my apartment and runs back down the stairs, dust motes spiraling and a trace of tropical perfume in her wake – plumeria?
Chapter 36
Lucy
So much for Dirk. Lethim play hard to get. At least he knows where I stand. It’s his turn to make a move, and frankly, I have more things on my mind than romance right now, like my public reputation, like reconnecting with my daughter, and, especially, securing my apartment for good.
It’s Phoebe on my mind as I wait for her at Esther’s teahouse.
To protect myself, I hold zero hopes our meeting will go well. Life with Phoebe hasn’t been easy since she was in high school.
As exotic tea fragrances waft around us, Sabrina the waitress hovers again, ready for my order.
“I’m waiting for my daughter,” I say.
“Oh, how lovely!”
I know my smile is saccharine. It matches my hands, folded too neatly on top of the table. They hide my dread.
Of course I’m way too early. I didn’t want to be late.
I check Donna’s message for Freya’s assignment details – the addresses and times I’m expected to clean and cook for her clients.
The iced water stops in my throat, and I cough till my eyes are running.
