“It’s the perfect analogy for you, then.”
“I take it you enjoy watching my every move?”
I rolled my eyes. “Where’s Mary?” I asked, popping the rest of my toast into my mouth and brushing the crumbs off my hands.
He shrugged. “Not sure, I guess Karson gave her the day off.”
I pulled the dustpan and broom out of the cupboard and began sweeping up the plate fragments. “Where is Karson?”
Ethan collected a few of the larger pieces in his hand. “I have no idea. He left before the sun was up this morning.”
We tipped the debris in the bin. I’d need to vacuum to get the rest.
“I’m right here.” Karson walked in holding a bunch of yellow roses in his hand. His eyes fell to the few remaining shards on the floor. Hopefully, he’d think I dropped it. He titled his head to the side as he handed me the flowers, a question in his eyes. He knew I didn’t drop it.
“They’re beautiful, thank you.” I smiled, taking them—the thorns had been removed, of course—breathing in their sweet scent. “What are they for?” Even though he never met my mother, and I’d never told him yellow roses were her favorite, he had probably read my thoughts. It felt like he was paying respect to my mother.
“Do I need a reason?”
“No.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Thank you.”
He smiled and grabbed a vase from a cupboard.
“Can we put them on the kitchen table?” I asked as I filled the vase with water.
“You can put them wherever you like, Amelia, this is your home too.”
Ethan threw the pancake in the bin and rinsed off the pan.
Monique waltzed in and slid her ass onto the bench. “Someone’s after brownie points. What did you do?”
I chuckled.
“Can I not demonstrate my affections with a few of her favorite flowers?”
“No, Karson. Come on, spill it. You have either done something, or are about to do something and you know Amy won’t like it.”
He shook his head and held his hands up like he was surrendering. “Do not let her poison your mind, Amelia. She is prone to thinking the worst of everyone.”
I chuckled. “Did you give Mary the day off?”
He frowned. “Is she not here?”
“No.”
He pulled out his phone and rang her. He shook his head when she didn’t answer. “She probably just slipped out to grab something.”
He tried again. She was fine, of course she was fine. Spritely Mary would probably outlive me.Especially with the company I chose to keep, I thought wryly.
“She could be driving,” Monique said, slipping off the bench. “I wouldn’t worry.”
The feeling of dread I felt earlier increased, squirming in my stomach. It was illogical and irrational; Mary was fine, of course she was. And yet the feeling persisted.
“We should check on her.” I headed toward the door, willing his keys into my hand and snapping my fingers around them. “I’ll go,” I called over my shoulder, but Karson was beside me.
He held out his hand for the keys. “We will go together.”
Rain fell hard and the wind buffeted against my body, sending a chill over my skin. Karson opened the car door and I jumped in. He pulled out before I even had time to slip my seatbelt on. He drove faster than usual, his hands tense on the wheel.
