She handed her sister the envelope. “Can you make sure Will gets this today? It’s important.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Then why don’t you do it.”
Phoebe bit her lip. Only Marion knew what had happened with Will.
At her silence, Alex let out a resigned sigh and pocketed the envelope. “Let’s go have a chat.” She then addressed their mother. “I’m stepping out with Phoebe for a moment. Don’t touchanythinguntil I return,” she said with an arch look.
“Yes, darling,” their mother said with a distracted wave and returned to her conversation.
Alex came around the table and hooked her arm through Phoebe’s. It was the closest they had been in months. “Everything that woman touches instantly turns to clutter.”
Phoebe laughed. “And yet somehow she knows exactly where everything is.”
“Yes, butIdon’t,” Alex huffed as they turned down a quiet hallway. She then released Phoebe’s arm and faced her. “So then, what’s happened between you and Will?”
Phoebe narrowed her eyes. “Why do I have the feeling you already know?”
Alex deftly avoided answering the question. “I want to hear it from you.”
Phoebe automatically crossed her arms, feeling like the petulant younger sister once again. “He came to my aid while you were in New York. My student was missing and he offered to help…” Phoebe then gave a shortened version of the events of the last few weeks, leaving out the more salacious details for both their benefits.
A long silence ensued as Alex mulled over the information. “So,” she said abruptly. “Despite all that occurred between the two of you, when Will did propose you turned him down.”
Phoebe’s cheeks burned. Of course Will toldAlex.
“He never actually proposed,” she corrected, desperate to keep this petty jealousy at bay before it consumed her. “He just assumed I’d accept. That I’d begratefulhe was willing to lower himself,” she added, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Phoebe—”
“It’s over, Alex,” she insisted. “We both agreed.”
And you are certain there is nothing left between us?
She rolled her shoulders against the wave of doubt swelling inside her.
“All right. I won’t push you to talk about it.” Alex sighed. “But if you change your mind—”
“I won’t. As it turns out, I have something more pressing to deal with at the moment anyway. The school is closing. Mrs. Richardson heard from the landlord yesterday that he won’t renew our lease. So this was all for naught,” Phoebe added, gesturing to the bazaar.
Alex frowned in concern. “I’d hardly say that. If anything, you’ve proven to a group of people with too much money how valuable a school like this is,” she said. “We’ll think of something. Don’t worry.”
At Alex’s decided nod, Phoebe felt the smallest flicker of hope in her chest. But even under the best circumstances, reestablishing the school would take time. Which meant that once the bazaar ended, Phoebe would be left with nothing.
It was a sobering prospect.
“Come.” Alex took her arm. “You could use another glass of lemonade. And we should probably check on Freddie. I saw her cornering a large mustached man.”
“That’s the inspector I told you about,” Phoebe explained. “I think he can handle her.”
But Alex shook her head at the lighthearted quip. “She’s been spending time with the younger Mr. Ericson. Father is hoping it turns into something.”
“Really?” Phoebe was shocked. “I can’t see them together at all.”
Alex kept her gaze fixed ahead. “It would be good for the company.” She parroted the line Father always used to justify, well, everything.
And what about Freddie?
But Phoebe kept that thought to herself. For now.
