He runs his hands up and down my arms. “The Davenports wouldn’t hurt Eli. I think they’re doing this to get Eli.”
My eyes widen. “You think they killed Tammy to get Eli?”
He shrugs. “Nothing is definite, but until we know, I’m going to make sure you and Eli are safe.”
I feel like the world is spinning around me, but I nod as if it all makes sense. “Okay, I’ll stick around here.” I search his eyes. “I’m so sorry that I got you mixed up in this, Miller.”
He pulls me to his chest. “I’m not. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He looks at the clock on the wall. “The housekeeper is going to be here soon. I’m going to have her move all your thingsto my room.”
I rear back and look up at him. “You have a housekeeper?” and just as quickly, I nod my head. “Of course you do. Let me clean. I can cook. I have to earn our keep somehow.”
He smiles. “It’s fine. I promise. Brianna has worked for me for ten years, and she enjoys this job.”
I back away, still trying to process. “Uh, okay, well, I’m going to go up and start unpacking all of my and Eli’s things. I think they brought everything.”
He nods. “I told them to bring everything except for your furniture. It’s in storage. I didn’t want to touch anything at Tammy’s until you went through it, so I paid the lease up for the next six months to give you time.”
My head drops. “Storage fees, lease, I already owe you so much.” I suck in a breath. “And I called the funeral home. They said the bill had been paid.”
He puts his hands in his pockets. “I’m just trying to make this easier for you, Linds.”
My eyes widen. “That’s what Tammy called me.”
He puts a hand to his chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I can?—”
I stop him. “No, it’s okay. I like it. I like you calling me that.”
He nods and puts an arm around my shoulders. “Why don’t you go up and lie down? Take a bath, maybe read.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. Really. I’m going to go put things away.”
“Do you want me to help?”
“No!” I say, and then softer, “No, I’m fine. I’m sure you have work to do. I got it.”
I turn on my heel and walk out of the kitchen. It takes everything inside me not to ask him to come with me.
CHAPTER 18
MILLER
She’s been upstairs all day.
Brianna has come and gone, and I asked her not to worry about upstairs today. I wanted to give Lindsey time to herself. Her life has been a roller coaster lately, and I’m sure she needs time to process it. I checked on her a few times, and as the day wore on, she seemed more and more like herself.
My phone rings, and I see it’s Mike. He’s texted me throughout the day just to give me some updates, and the smartass started sending me quirky updates about a day in the life of a seven-year-old. I’m sure he meant it to be a pain in my ass, but I actually liked knowing what Eli was doing. “What’s up? Everything okay?” I ask.
“Eli wants to stop and get ice cream and go to the library. Is that okay?”
I’m jogging up the stairs and stop at my bedroom. Lindsey is unpacking a box, and I hold the phone up. “Mike wants to know if he can take Eli to the library and get some ice cream.”
She laughs, and I love the sound. “Yes, if Mike is okay with it.”
I give my approval to Mike, and when I hang up, that’s when I look at what she’s unpacking. “Uh, what is that?”
Lindsey’s face turns red. “Uh, uh…” Her head falls back. “This is so embarrassing. I guess Bree packed this box for me, and she even left me a note.” She holds a piece of paper up. “Don’t worry, girl, I packed this. Nothing wrong with a woman getting a little self care. Bree.”
She puts the letter on the nightstand. “I guess she knew when I discovered these I would be embarrassed, and she thought that it would help knowing Ozzy or Guy didn’t pack these up.”
