***
“Line one’s for you,” Elinor called out. It was only the fourth time she’d spoken directly to Edward all day. He’d counted.
He ducked his head out to acknowledge her, but Elinor was already back to staring at the computer screen. Her skills at avoiding him were a notch above professional level. Something was going on with her, and while it was perfectly logical for her to panic and backpedal after kissing him, Edward had a feeling there was more to it than that. She seemed sad. Something had changed between yesterday and today. Something had changed her mind about them. The urge to fix it was so strong that it took all his mental energy and concentration not to go out there and prove every hunch that Rosa had about him right.
Instead, he went back to his desk and took the call on line one. The customer had stocks they wanted to move from a personal account into an investment account, and he spent some time working out the tax implications. When it came to moving money, there were always tax implications.
By the time he got off the phone, it was a little after five. He could hear Elinor and Rosa talking, so he knew Elinor hadn’t left yet. Quickly gathering up his things and turning off his computer, he listened to their goodbye chatter and walked out at exactly the moment Elinor was getting up to leave.
Once they were outside together, he pointed to his car. “Can we talk on the way home?”
She looked like she wanted to turn him down, but she reluctantly moved to the passenger side and let him open the door for her. The clock in his head began counting down the five minutes he had until they arrived home and she’d escape the car and his questions like her life depended on it.
“Elinor, what’s the matter?” he asked as soon as they both were in.
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
The fact that she wouldn’t acknowledge it only confirmed his suspicions. “Please, just tell me. I can take it, whatever it is.”
“That’s not it. I’m not worried about offending you. I’m worried about… influencing you.”
That was an interesting word, one she didn’t elaborate on. She picked up her purse from between her feet and started juggling things around until she found a pack of gum. She automatically handed him a piece. They always shared gum.
“I’m worried about Marianne,” she said suddenly.
“What’s wrong with Marianne?”
“Will left town, and he hasn’t called her. Well, actually, he did finally, at lunchtime today, but only to tell her he’s fine, but he’s busy helping his mom repaint the interior of their house, and that’s why he hasn’t been able to talk. Now Marianne is over the moon happy again. That little scrap of explanation was all she needed, but I can’t help being worried. You know, because I’m me.”
“You’re worried about the way her happiness depends on his attention?”
Elinor turned to look at him. “Yes. Exactly.”
It was a good thing they were sitting at a red light, because the way she looked at him right then, like he understood her in ways no one else did, made him forget he was driving. And then she blinked like she was coming to her senses and turned away toward the passenger side window. What was holding her back? Mistrust? Frustration? Fear? All of those were justified, and all of them were his fault.
“Are you going to the block party tonight?” Elinor asked.
“Are you not going to show up if I say yes?”
She sighed. “Greta wouldn’t let me out of it even if I tried. She’s never been to a luau. Will Lucy be back?”
Goosebumps erupted along Edward’s arms. Of course. It all made sense. He’d never mentioned Lucy being out of town, and yet Elinor knew. “Back from what?”
There was a moment of panic that crossed Elinor’s face before she hid it. “From wherever she went. Marianne said she wasn’t at work.”
He didn’t buy that explanation for a second, but for some reason, Elinor was protecting her information. He could only imagine what Lucy must have said to scare Elinor away from him. Influencing…. He’d be thinking about that word for quite a while.
