She shook her head. “Farrah promised to check in with me at eleven. I waited a few minutes and then I called, but there’s no answer.”
“She’s eighteen, right? Just graduated from high school?”
“That’s right.”
“And she’s usually very responsible? I mean, she works in your office too, right?”
“Yes, but this is different. When she showed up tonight, she had her boyfriend with her. Or ex-boyfriend. I’m not sure which. I let her know I wasn’t happy about the situation, but what could I do? That’s why I was late leaving the house.”
“She probably forgot and fell asleep,” Gabe said.
The band was breaking into another slow song, “When a Man Loves aWoman.” It was one her parents had danced to back during the rosy-hued years when they’d dragged her along to parties at the Cloister. She could remember being deeply embarrassed at the way they’d clung to each other on the dance floor.
“Come on,” Gabe said, taking her hand. “The band will be packing it in pretty soon. Let’s dance, and then you can try calling the babysitter later.”
He held her even closer than before as they danced. “I was dead serious about that offer I made you earlier,” Gabe said, taking her hand and kissing the back, and then the palm. “I can tell you’re struggling with the solo practice, single parenting, finances, all of it. I’ve thought a lot about this, Brooke. Come back to Savannah. You can practice law with me again, or not. Let me take care of you and Henry.”
She was so taken aback by the proposal, she stumbled briefly, but he helped her regain her footing. “I… don’t know what to say,” she said, feeling herself blush.
Gabe smiled. “I’m rushing you, right? Damn it! My timing is usually better than this. Look, we can talk about this later. Just chalk it up to the music and the wine.” He nuzzled her neck again. “And that perfume of yours, which is driving me out of my mind.”
***
The party was breaking up. Goodbyes were said, hugs and contact information exchanged. The moon was three-quarters full as they stood outside, with a salt-scented breeze gently ruffling the palm fronds near the entrance, waiting for the valet to bring their cars around.
“Gorgeous night tonight,” Gabe said, his arm around her shoulders. “What do you say we take a walk on the beach when we get back to my place?”
“That sounds nice,” Brooke said, trying not to sound distracted. It was after midnight, and she still hadn’t heard from Farrah.
The Porsche sped around the corner from the parking deck and stopped abruptly inches from where they stood. The booming thump of head-banging rock music assaulted them when the valet driver hopped out of the car.
Gabe snatched the parking stub from the driver’s hand. “Where the hell doyou think you are, you dumb fuck? This isn’t the Indie 500. That’s a $175,000 car you just mishandled.”
“Sorry, sir,” the driver said. “I’m not used to all that horsepower.”
Gabe whipped his cell phone from the inner pocket of his dinner jacket and quickly snapped a photo of the driver, who wore a brass nameplate pinned to his uniform shirt.
“Lopez, right?” Gabe said. “I’ll email this to your supervisor in the morning.”
Before the kid could reply, another valet pulled up, at a more sedate speed, in Brooke’s Volvo.
Gabe held the door while she slid behind the driver’s seat, his rage seemingly forgotten. “You remember the way to my house, right? Turn left at the first roundabout, then a quick right and two more lefts.”
She waited until she was out of sight of the clubhouse before calling Farrah again. She called two more times, each time waiting until the girl’s voice recording played.
Hey, this is Farrah. Leave me a message, and I’ll hit you back later.
Brooke pounded the steering wheel in frustration. This wasn’t like Farrah. Something had to be wrong. Instead of taking a left at the first roundabout, she made a right. When she’d reached the causeway that would take her back south to St. Ann’s, she winced and tapped Gabe’s number on her cell phone. He’d be pissed, she knew, but if he was sincere in his concern for her as a mother, he’d have to understand. Henry came first.
He answered on the first ring. “Are you lost? I knew I should have had you follow me home.”
“Actually, I’m not coming to your place. I’m so sorry, Gabe, but Farrah hasn’t answered any of my calls, and I’m already sick with worry. I’m heading back to St. Ann’s. I’m hoping you’ll give me a rain check.”
There was a deafening silence from the other end of the call. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Not at all. This isn’t like Farrah. I’m terrified something could have happened. You understand, don’t you?”
“Not really.” His voice was cold. “You said yourself the girl is very responsible. It seems to me that this is you looking for an excuse to pull another disappearing act.”
