A chill ran up her back, freezing her in place.Ourrelationship; was he talking about her? And what about his father? She stilled an urge to run in and ask. Caleb did it for her.
“Dad? What are you talking about?”
There was silence before Phoenix spoke. “He asked me to do a favor for him.”
“Geez, what kind of favor?”
“He wanted me to look her up. She was part of an old court case.”
“That makes no sense,” Caleb said.
“Well, we can’t ask him now, can we?” Phoenix retorted. “You might say it was his final wish to me before he died. He said to tell no one.”
Orchid felt sick, light-headed.Court casetook her back to being twelve. Nothing made sense. She could make out the back of Phoenix outlined against the flickering TV screen. He always was too good to be true.
“Hey, I wanted to say goodbye and thank you,” she called, and then opened the front door. Fresh air would help her think.
Phoenix got to his feet and rushed after her. “You’re leaving already?”
“I want to get back to the city before dark, but you stay.”
Hearing the conversation, Stew came down the stairs. Harry emerged from the kitchen. “Just a few more hours until fireworks,” the younger brother cajoled.
“I’m not a fan of fireworks.” Her brow bunched, and she stepped outside.
“Actually, heading out before traffic is a good idea,” said Phoenix. He waved to his brother and cousins, grabbed his keys, and followed Orchid out onto the porch.
“Stay. Hang out with your fam.” Her voice caught on the last word. After all her success, the one thing she didn’t have was family. And now the trust Phoenix had earned was evaporating. She jogged down the steps.
“Orchid, I’ll drive you,” he said. “There’s no public transportation around here and you’ll wait forever for an Uber. If you can even get one.”
He followed her to the curb where she was tapping on her phone.
“Shit. No car service.”
He pressed the fob to unlock the door, then held it open for her.
She tilted her face up from her phone and stared at him, tension throbbing through her head, judging him, questioning his intention.
“C’mon. Let me drive you. You can text Joan from the car.”
He looked at her with care.
“Joan,” she nodded, remembering. “Fine,” she finally conceded.
She slid into the seat, her mind swirling with confusion. They sped along the quiet streets towards the highway,I’m a favor? A last wish?
Like a volcano under pressure, she exploded. “Your dad had you look me up? What does that even mean?”
“Oh, God,” he said. “I’m so sorry you heard that. You were never meant to know. He didn’t want me to tell anyone.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” she said, wishing she were miles away from him.
“He said that being a judge weighed on him. He asked me for a good Samaritan deed. Your case was special to him. he wanted me to do a kindness for you.”
“Was the kindness to mess with my brain?”
“I didn’t mess with you.”
