He kissed the crown of her head.“Remember, we are sharing His yoke.He’ll guide us through it and make this burden lighter.”
“What do we do now?”
“I don’t want you going home.Lily doesn’t count as an adequate defense.I’d take you with me to Graham’s, but I’m not sure what part he plays in this.I don’t see him as a villain, but there are too many unanswered questions in regard to his connections to your family.I don’t want to unknowingly place you in danger again.Could you stay with one of the Guardians?”
“Flossie doesn’t live too far from here.”
“Good.I’ll take you to her.Once there, I want you to stay with her until I join you.It may take some time to hunt down where Graham has gone to.”
“But what about your job?You said rehearsals would start again early.”
Ezekiel checked his watch.Noon.There simply wasn’t enough time to do it all.He had a choice to make—take Nora to Flossie’s and return to finish his job before tracking down Graham, or hand his duties over to Kenneth and pray he didn’t get fired for not coming back for the evening performance.Abandoning his job without warning hours before a performance could get him blacklisted from other stage manager opportunities.Paying for Ma’s stay at Longview would become impossible.But if he didn’t get answers from Graham and speak with Mr.Davis, Nora would be vulnerable to enemies mere doors away.
God, if I lose my job, I’m trusting You to provide.
“Kenneth has been assisting me for a few months and is capable.This is the opportunity he needs to prove himself to Crosley.Once I discover what I need, I’ll meet you at Flossie’s.We’ll talk with your father afterward and determine our next steps.Preferably ones that don’t include you disappearing from my life.”
Chapter Thirty
NORA VOICING HER FEAR ABOUThallucinating Winston—or rather Adler, if Ezekiel was right—had stolen some of its power over her.She still wasn’t certain about her sanity, considering the couple hadn’t acted like they’d seen Adler, but Ezekiel was right.She shouldn’t be alone until this was sorted.Thankfully, Flossie had been home and the other Guardians sent for.While Ezekiel sought answers, they formed a plan on how to confront Father about Mum and Katherine without sending him into a panic or hating Ezekiel for his part in all this.Once Ezekiel returned, they’d face Father together so Nora wouldn’t be forced to leave everyone she knew behind.
However, when six o’clock came and went without Ezekiel arriving, Nora had no other choice but to return home.Father would be frantic with worry if she lingered any longer.
At Nora’s stoop, she and the Guardians prayed for the confrontation to go well and answers to be found.However, when they entered, Father was not alone.
“There you are, Nora.”Father hugged her and whispered.“Where have you been?I sent a note to expect Mr.Göbel to join us for supper and to make something special.”
Panic and relief warred over the knowledge she and the Guardians could not confront Father with a guest present.She needed answers, but oh, how she feared what they would be.
“I’m sorry.I didn’t get your message, as I was with my friends allafternoon.”Nora peered over Father’s shoulder at the man who appeared more turkey than human.
Surely Father hadn’t brought home another suitor after their discussion yesterday, especially one so ...fowl-ish.The narrow-faced man had a beak nose, an abnormally large Adam’s apple, and legs impossibly scrawny compared to the wide girth they carried.Hopefully the man wasn’t a hunter, because if he wore the wrong clothes, Thanksgiving would be a very dangerous season for him indeed.
When Father pulled back, he addressed the Guardians.“Thank you for bringing Nora home.I apologize that we cannot invite you to stay.”
The Guardians looked at each other, then Theresa stepped forward.“But we made plans to stay the night with Nora.”
“Those plans will have to be rescheduled.Nora will be otherwise engaged this evening.”
A rock settled in Nora’s stomach.He’d really done it.He’d invited a man to woo her after agreeing he would meet with Ezekiel and allow her to have a say in her choice of suitors.
“Nora, what do you want us to do?”Bless Theresa’s boldness to directly ignore Father.
“It’s obvious we cannot proceed as planned.Come first thing in the morning.Father and I breakfast at eight.Tristan will sleep with me tonight.”
Clearly none of the Guardians liked that plan, but they had little other choice.What was one more night anyway?Father was home, and she’d sleep with her gun under her pillow as an extra precaution.Although, did she want to risk shooting the wrong person?Best to stick with her knitting needles instead.
Flossie gave Nora a sympathetic grimace.“We’ll see you in the morning, then.Have a good evening.”
More like a miserable one.As the Guardians left, Nora straightened her posture and fixed her placid countenance in place.She would make it through tonight without a hint of displeasure or madness sneaking through.
“Mr.Herman Göbel, may I present to you my daughter, Nora Davis.She’s quite the singer and adores opera.”
If Nora hadn’t locked her jaw to maintain her countenance, it would have dropped.Maybe Father had been listening to her, albeit partially.He completely ignored the part where Nora was already courting a man and should not be eating a meal with another.
Mr.Göbel leaned over her hand, likely to kiss it with his lips, but his big beak got in the way and pecked it instead.“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Davis.Your father has sung your praises for years at the office.”
“He is ever the doting father.I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived.I’m afraid I did not receive Father’s message about his plan to invite you to supper.If you will but give me half an hour, I’m certain I can fix us something simple but delicious.”
