Holly grinned. “It’s nice to know you have such good taste in women.” She looked between him and Joy.
Joy flushed. She prided herself on being professional. Could Holly tell they’d had sex?
“What’s the deal with this?” Holly waved toward Sophia and Ethan on the couch. “Why would she do this? She’s self-involved and Ethan isgiving, so she’s obviously going to take advantage of him. I have to stop this somehow.”
Malcolm floated in front of them both and took their hands. At his touch, Joy felt like she was on fire. Watching Sophia and Ethan had her body remembering Malcolm’s as they made love outside. This wasn’t good. She needed to concentrate on this final visit.
Malcolm spun them around and they were lookingat Ethan again, sitting at his desk. A full Scotch bottle was set on one side with an empty glass next to it, but it remained unopened.
Ethan wore a collared shirt, no tie and typed on his computer. His hair was as neat as it could be, considering its curly texture, and the light streaming in from the windows made it clear it was still during the day. A young man came in to announce Ethan hada visitor.
Holly floated toward Ethan. “This is the man I know. Have we gone back in time?”
Malcolm shook his head. “No, just a couple months forward.”
Holly didn’t seem to like that very much. Joy had a feeling the woman was anxious to find out more about Ethan’s future. Little did she know there was plenty that would happen right now.
Ethan pushed his computer aside and rose as Sophia walkedin, dressed in a pair of casual slacks and a sweater, but no coat, which made it clear it was probably fall.
“Sophia. This is a pleasant surprise.” Despite his words, Ethan didn’t return the hug she gave him. “What’s the occasion? No, let me guess. You’re checking on the foundation we set up in Thea’s name.”
Sophia shook her head and took a seat on the very couch she’d lain on with Ethan, andpatted the spot next to her. “I need to talk to you.”
Ethan didn’t move to the couch. Instead, he leaned up against his desk opposite her, much like Cameron often did. Joy smiled at the thought. They may have been opposites, but there were some similarities.
Holly snorted. “If she’s going to ask him for a favor, good luck. I’ve seen that look on him before. He’s not happy to see her. Whateverhappened when he woke up to find her sprawled all over him certainly didn’t make him sympathetic toward her.”
Joy studied Ethan. “What look?”
Holly pointed to his right eyebrow. On the very edge toward his hairline there was a small tic.
“You must know him well. I would have never noticed that.”
Holly grinned smugly. “Well, he was at our place more than his own when Cam was alive, especiallyafter Brody met Sarah. I know almost as much about him as I do Cam. We were all inseparable.”
“Then you avoiding him must be very difficult for him. Sounds like he was most comfortable around you all.”
Holly looked back toward Ethan and frowned. “You’re right. I did think about asking him to help me set up the Christmas tree this year, but that was always something Cam and I did together. Ijust couldn’t.”
Joy placed her hand on Holly’s shoulder. “I know it’s hard, but you need to be open to change. That is the only way you will be able to move on and embrace your future.”
“I know, but it’s hard. I really don’t want to move on, yet you’ve shown me I have to for Cameron’s sake.”
Malcolm interceded. “For your sake, not Cameron’s. It’s the only way you’ll be reunited in the afterlife.”
“What? Cam didn’t say that.” At Holly’s exclamation, Joy scowled at him. What was he trying to do?
Malcolm pointed at Holly. “That’s because he’s not allowed to, but I’ll tell you, from everything I’ve observed so far, if you can’t learn to live for you instead of your dead husband, there won’t be a Cameron waiting for you.”
Joy grabbed Malcolm’s hand and pulled him out into the hall. “Whatare you doing?” Her words, meant to be a whisper came out in a hiss.
“I’m doing what needs to be done.”
“You can’t lie to her like that.”
His face grew hard. “What makes you think I’m lying? Did you ever wonder why Cameron is sending spirit guides to Holly every year? If he was confident they would be together in the afterlife, why push her out of her grief? Could it really be just his ownguilt, or is he being driven by a need to have forever with her?”
She didn’t have an answer and her intuition told her he was on to something. “If that’s the case, I’m not sure shocking her with that particular knowledge is the right strategy.”
