I forced a smile, ignoring the fact that my lips trembled, and got to my feet. “My goodness, Henry James, we areimpatienttoday!”
I felt like a ghost as I went through the motions of the day, taking care of Henry, working at the bookstore, trying to make sure I avoided running into Chase or Merilee. And the next day wasn’t much better, but since it was my day off, Henry and I stayed inside, playing with his action figures and doing puzzles.
“This is boring,” he complained. “Can’t I go play with Addie?”
“Not today, baby,” I told him as I swept away the last of the puzzle pieces, making sure not to lose any so Henry’s favorite puppy cartoon character was complete the next time we put it together. “I wanted just the two of us to hang out today.”
He heaved a disappointed sigh, his bottom lip protruding in a little pout. “Yes, ma’am.” But a knock on the door brought a sudden smile to his face. “I’ll get it!”
“No!” I yelled, sprinting after him. “Henry, stop!”
He halted abruptly, giving me a confused look.
“It’s okay,” I assured him, giving him a shaky smile. “You’re not in trouble. I just don’t want you opening the door. It could be a stranger.”
His frown deepened. “But it’s my daddy!”
Now it was my turn to frown. I peered through the peep hole in the door, tears ridiculously springing to my eyes. I swung open the door and threw my arms around Whit’s neck.
“Hey, you,” he murmured, holding me close.
Henry tugged my shirt. “Me too!” he insisted, bouncing.
Whit pulled back and scooped him up, giving him a squeeze. “Hi, buddy. I missed you guys.” It was then I noticed Whit looked tired, his clothes uncharacteristically rumpled, his eyes slightly bloodshot as if from lack of sleep.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pulling him inside.
He kissed me tenderly but briefly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just had a long couple of days.”
“What were you working on?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Just liquidating some assets, tying up some loose ends. I’ll be finished sorting everything out soon. Then it’ll just be you, me, and Henry.”
Later that evening, after Henry had gone to bed, I told Whit about my dream. He just stared at me in silence, his expression impossible to read.
“Whit, I’m not crazy,” I insisted.
“I don’t think you’re crazy,” he assured me, drawing a hand down his face. “I’ll go talk to Chase, check out the carriage house.”
I watched from the same window as I had before as Whit crossed the courtyard. Chase opened the door, looking irritated and tired, but I didn’t see any evidence of the blood bath I’d dreamed about.
Although I couldn’t hear their conversation, there was a visible tension between them. Whit glanced back at me, and then motioned Chase inside, closing the door behind them. I chewed the side of my thumb, worried for Whit’s safety. After what I’d seen in my dream, there was no way I would ever be able to look at Chase and Merilee the same way, let alone trust them around anyone I cared about.
I don’t know how long I stood there before I saw Whit leave the carriage house and cross the courtyard.
“Well?” I asked when he opened the apartment door.
He shook his head. “I didn’t see any evidence of a murder, Zellie. Chase said he and Merilee did bring someone home the other night for a littleconsensualfun. But she left early the next morning. I didn’t see any blood anywhere.”
I shook my head. “But…”
Whit gently took hold of my arms. “Baby, I can’t do anything else. If I called the police, they would find the same thing I did.”
“You don’t believe me,” I whispered, deflated.
“Idobelieve you,” he insisted. “Chase said he and Merilee saw you in the window but didn’t see the need to mention anything about it to you. And there’s no denying the dream you had. I just don’t know if there’s a connection.”
I gave him a pointed look. “Then what about my dreams of Susanna Dawes? Are those just products of my imagination?”
