“She’s gained weight, too.” Elizabeth raised a brow at Samuel. “All tuna all the timenow?”
Alexander’s majordomo stared down at his shoes, but the corners of his lips turned upwards. “Perhaps.”
After a quick kiss, Alexander strode to his office, and Elizabeth stood in the entry hall, River in her arms, unsure what todo.
“Would you like to see the library, Miss Elizabeth?” Samuelasked.
“There’s a library?” At her surprised tone, River meowed and then wriggled out of her arms. “Sure,” she said, though really, she just wanted somewhere she could feel comfortableagain.
Samuel held her gaze for a long moment, understanding in his brown eyes. “I’ll give you the nickeltour.”
Curled on the love seat in the upstairs study with a small plate of Donatella’s chocolate chip cookies and a pot of tea, Elizabeth calledKelsey.
“How’s thehead?”
Elizabeth brushed her fingers over the still healing wound. “Better. The swelling’s gone. Though my bruises are all a disgusting shade of yellownow.”
“And Maine?” Kelsey’s tone turnedteasing.
“I didn’t want to come back. Next summer, you won’t have to twist my arm to join you. Assuming I have a job. Or any way to supportmyself.”
Her friend’s sigh carried over the line. “Do you really think you’re going to have to worry about that? Lizzie, you’re dating the richest guy in Boston. No, scratch that. The richest guy in Boston isin lovewithyou.”
Elizabeth wished she could explain how Kelsey’s assertion both thrilled her and terrified her at the same time. Instead, she stared out the window at the snow-covered streets and tried not topanic.
“Earth to Lizzie. Come in,please.”
With a soft shake of her head, Elizabeth returned her attention to her friend. “Sorry. I just…this is all so much. When we came ho—back here, Samuel carried our bags upstairs, Donatella had a plate of cookies waiting, and I’m sitting in a room where the furniture probably costs as much as a smallcar.”
“So?” Kelsey huffed. “Look, when David was alive, we sort of lived the dream, you know? Townhouse in the South End, trips overseas every year, vacations in Maine or Vermont. We weren’t rich, but we didn’t worry a lot about money. He was a damn good real estateagent.”
“I remember.” Kelsey wasn’t usually this talkative about her latehusband.
Sadness tinged Kelsey’s words as she continued. “Now, I live in a tiny apartment that overlooks an alley. I’m happy—more or less. Happier than I’ve been since I l-lost him. And you know what else Iam?”
“No.”
“The same person I was when we had money. And the same person I was when he and I got married and had to live in his parents’ basement for two years because we couldn’t afford anything else.” Kelsey sniffled once, but her voice didn’t crack again. “Living in that big, fancy house with the fancy staff and the fancy address and the fancy furniture? It doesn’t change who youare.”
“But…how do I make sure I don’t end up like I did before?” Elizabeth’s voice dropped to a whisper. “WithDarren.”
“By keeping us in your life. Toni and I picked up the pieces when you left him, hon. We know the signs. Hell, we knew them back then, too, but you never opened up to us. And since we were both across the country, there wasn’t a whole lot we could do.” After a long, slow exhale, Kelsey lowered her voice. “You didn’t walk us out the other night. Alexanderdid.”
“Oh God. What did he say?” Her cheeks flamed, and she dropped her head into her hands, momentarily forgetting about thestitches.
“He gave us his mobile number. Told us to call him anytime, yell at him, berate him, do anything we needed to do if we ever suspected he wasn’t taking care of you or respecting you. He said he knew a little about Darren, and that he might need help not making an ass—or arse—out of himself from time-to-time because he comes on pretty strong. Then told us we were always welcome and invited us for Christmas. Toni sort of gaped the whole ride back to Brookline. Kind of impressive, really. She’sneverspeechless.”
Hope warmed deep inside. “You’re not worried I’m going to…change? Being withhim?”
Kelsey chuckled. “Your parties are going to be a lot cooler now. Honestly, I could probably stare at Samuel all day and die a happy woman. But no, Lizzie. You’re not going to change. You’ve got us. More importantly, you know who you arenow.”
Alexander slumped back in his chair. Three hours of phone calls, emails, and video conferences. Samuel had brought him coffee—twice—and now, his hands shook from all the caffeine. As he was about to get up, Nicholas ranghim.
“About bloody time,” Alexander snapped. “Foyle’s been trying to reach you all day. Where have youbeen?”
“Trying to wade through the end of year reports. Foyle knows where my office is. He could have knocked. Penny’s out sick, and I didn’t request a temp. Figured it’d be better to keep my head down and finalize all of this shite.” Nicholas sounded tired, but more than that, a deep sadness lingered in hisvoice.
Alexander rubbed the back of his neck and tried to put himself in his brother’s shoes. “Can Ihelp?”
