“Are you all right with us taking you home?” Eb asked.
“Yes. I just hope I’m not coming down with something because I really don’t feel well.”
“You’re hot.” Eb winced at the word choice. “You are, but I mean you’re hot to touch, so you must have a fever.”
The most Sandra could muster at the compliment was a wan smile. “I shouldn’t be around Rue. I hope I don’t give you guys whatever I’ve got.”
“She’s already been exposed, and I have sanitary wipes in the car.” Eb had finally removed his hand from her waist, leaving it cold and causing her body to shiver. He picked up her suitcase while offering Sandra his other arm. “Where do you live?”
She groaned. “Walt had my things moved to a condo he’s purchased while we were gone. I don’t want to make you sick. I should call an Uber.”
“No, you won’t call an Uber.” He nudged her with his elbow again, and she slid her arm through his. They’d stepped out into the clear but cool day, soon to be evening. “I’m guessing from your expression the new place is in his complex. Which one?”
“I’m really sorry.” Sandra’s voice was hurting badly now, her tonsils feeling like large rocks in her throat. “He bought the one across the hall fromyours.”
“Oh, yay. You live by us now?” Rue asked, skipping as she walked, her father’s hand the only thing keeping her close.
“Thanks to your Grampy, yes.”
“I love Grampy!”
“And you never thought to mention you were moving next door during our evening chats?” Eb asked Sandra, sounding amused.
She could only shake her head. The increasing fuzziness and the pain in her throat made talking difficult. Please don’t let it be Covid again. The variant she’d had early in the year had given her brain fog for weeks.
“I noticed the movers, but when I asked the name of the new owner, they were close-mouthed. Makes sense if it’s Walt’s condo.”
“Sandra? Is it really you?” a familiar man’s voice, one from her nightmares, said from the side.
They turned toward it, and a wave of dizziness hit her. Domenico Merlo. How could he be there? And with a pretty blonde woman, obviously pregnant, holding his hand—and two little kids next to her. Memories rushed over Sandra like an incoming attack, threatening to knock her from her feet. The remembered pain had her hand going to her abdomen. Eb must have sensed her distress, because he put his hand around her waist again.
“Hello, Dom.” Sandra raised her hand but didn’t offer it to him to shake. It was hard to keep the bitterness from her voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I was here for a conference and brought my family along. Is this your husband?”
“Yes,” Sandra said automatically. Kudos to Eb for not even twitching at her declaration.
“He’s my daddy.” Rue patted his hand, her little voice proud.
A crease appeared between Dom’s brows, and his sharp gaze snapped to Sandra.
“Well,” she said, “We’re on a tight schedule. I hope you have a pleasant flight home.”
She turned, grateful both Eb and Rue said nothing further as they headed toward the parking garage. He deserved an explanation for Sandra’s claim that he was her husband, but she didn’t have it in her.
“Wait,” Merry called, hurrying to catch up to them when they’d nearly reached his car. “Grace wants to know if Rue can ride with us.”
“Oh, Daddy, please?”
“Yes, you may.”
Without another word, the little girl ran to Merry. She took her hand and hurried toward the family SUV a few vehicles up where Carlisle was helping the other children inside.
When they reached his car, Sandra said, “I really feel terrible.”
“Then let’s get you home so you can rest.”
It wasn’t until they stood outside her new condo that she realized she didn’t have a key yet.
