I stalk out of the room and meet Carter at the door. “Hey. Sorry I was just, uh, cleaning up something in there. Let’s go downstairs.”
Once we’re in my office, Carter talks at me while I pretend to listen. Something about dinner and rescheduling it to later because of all the work at the school and how he tried to call, and maybe I reply, I don’t really remember, it’s all kind of a blur until he’s gone and I’m standing at the front door, leaning my head against the cool glass.
The floor creaks behind me. “We can’t be around each other anymore,” I say without turning around.
“I know.” Her voice is low.
I turn around.
She’s standing in the center of the waiting room, behind the sofa. “You’ll have to be at the next task though.”
“We can’t be around each other alone anymore,” I amend.
She smiles sadly. “Okay.”
I open the door, gripping the handle like it’s a lifeline.
She leaves without another word.
After I shut the door, I stand there for a minute.
I’m going to have to watch her with Graham again. It’s going to suck, but I have to push through it.
I have to keep my distance. I can’t get involved with a client. It’s ethically questionable at best, and an offense that could get me disbarred at worst. Once we start, I won’t be able to stop.
Chapter Seventeen
Vivien
* * *
“Can I borrow your rental?” My car will be ready tomorrow. I was hoping it would be today, but there was another delay, which means today I have to beg a ride from my sister.
Audrey looks up from the chair by the window, the sun glinting off the nail polish wand paused in the air. “Right now?”
“Did you have plans?”
“I was gonna run an errand.”
“What errand?”
“I need to grab something at the store, but I can take you wherever you need, and I’ll pick you up after. When do you need to leave?”
“Um, maybe whenever you are done with all that.” I wave a hand.
She has a variety of accoutrements set up on the side table with lotions and various vials and nail polishes. I swear she spends more time grooming and primping in one day than I spend in a full year.
Although I’m surprised she is doing this herself and not paying someone else to do it.
She expertly swipes more polish on her thumb. “Where’s Daphne?”
“She had to work out of town.” I sit in the chair across from her.
“Where are we going? To the theater?”
I cross my arms over my chest. I’ve been keeping any and all details that I can from Audrey. She knows we’re staying in Beverly’s home and that I’m managing the theater, but whenever she asks if I’m inheriting it, or if it’s mine, I evade.
I’m sure she’s assuming it’s already mine. I wonder what she’s been telling Mother.
