“True. And he’ll do a wonderful job for the people of his district. Assuming all goes well with the rest of the campaign.”
“It will.”
There was only one thing that could potentially derail his trajectory to victory.
A family scandal.
While the sins of a father—or in this case, a great-grandfather—shouldn’t be visited on subsequent generations nor used to besmirch another family member’s character, politics was an ugly, dirty business.
That’s why he had to convince Natalie to relinquish those journals.
And if she didn’t agree soon?
He’d have to build on yesterday’s kitchen fire and come up with a few more persuasive strategies to convince her that the home she loved might not be as safe as she’d always thought.
NINE
SHEHAD SEEDS TO PLANTwith two people today ... one of them Natalie. And the timing of her employer’s appearance was ideal.
Calling up a smile, Lydia paused in the hall as the older woman exited the study. “Good morning, Ms. Boyer.”
“Hello, Lydia. Sorry for the mess in the kitchen. Don’t worry about cleaning in there until Micah is finished. I expect he’ll be done by your next visit on Friday.”
“I can work around him. No worries.” She summoned up her most solicitous expression. “I heard about the fire from the sheriff. He called me to ask about a potholder.”
“I don’t suppose you knew anything about that?”
“No, ma’am, but I’m glad you heard the smoke alarm. The damage could have been a lot worse. You could even have been hurt.”
“Yes, I was most fortunate. I was also very lucky that Cara appeared when she did. I’m not certain I could have extinguished it without her help.”
The perfect opening.
“The sheriff told me she heard the alarm and rushed in to help. But I keep wondering what would have happenedif she hadn’t been close by—and what could happen once she’s gone and you’re here all by yourself. Especially after your dizzy spells.”
Natalie offered her a strained smile. “You sound like my cousin.”
Excellent. If Steven was concerned, perhaps he’d champion the idea she was about to propose.
“We all worry about people who matter to us.” She tightened her grip on the handle of the vacuum cleaner beside her, wadded the dust rag in her other hand into a ball, and took the plunge. “Have you ever considered having someone live here with you?”
“I have Micah.”
“I can see how that would be a comfort, but he isn’t always close by. I was thinking more like a live-in housekeeper.”
Natalie cocked her head. “No. I can’t say I’ve ever given such a notion any thought, but I do like that idea better than the one Steven proposed.”
Uh-oh.
That wasn’t promising.
Lydia tried to keep her features neutral. “What did he suggest?”
“He thinks I should move to St. Louis, closer to him. Buy a condo.”
A word she tried not to use in public echoed in her mind.
That wasn’t the sort of news she wanted to hear. It would wreak havoc with her plans.
