Page 29 of When the Smoke Clears

She tucks a few strands behind her ear. “My daughter has my eyes. That’s it. Everything else she got from her father. When she started college, I took her to get her hair colored like mine.”

“But that’s not your natural color.”

She frowns. “Watch it, young man.”

I smirk after taking another bite of my sandwich.

“I’m a mousey brunette. This color suits me better. It’s what I looked like when I met Everleigh’s father.” Her pleasant smile slips for a second. Then she swallows hard and finds a new smile that’s less believable before clearing her throat. “It’s become part of my identity, so when I took my daughter to get hers colored to match, I felt like she was really mine.”

That’s ridiculous, but whatever.

“Her darker hair is nice,” I say.

“Yes. She’s a beautiful young woman. She has a real Ritu Arya look to her when her hair is black. My daughter is stunning. It’s a shame you can’t see that.”

I can see just fine. “Who’s Ritu Arya?”

“Umbrella Academy?” Her eyes widen, waiting for me to light up with recognition. I’ve got nothing.

“So how long are you here for?” I ask.

“Two more days. I’m going house hunting with Everleigh tomorrow.”

Excellent.

“If you need a list of homes for sale, just let me know. I have a friend who’s a Realtor,” I say because I’m a helpful guy who just wants what’s best for everyone.

“Will, has anyone ever painted you?”

“Painted me?” I mumble over a bite of sandwich.

“Yes. Or drawn you? I bet you’d look stunning as a graphite pencil sketch. How would you feel about my painting you this afternoon? I bet there’s an art supply store in this town. I could pick up a few things and be back in less than an hour.”

“Oh, no. Really.” I brush my hand down the front of my T-shirt. “I have nothing nice to wear. All of my clothes are old and wrinkled.”

“You’re cute, Will.” She bats her eyelashes at me. “I’m sure Everleigh told you I paint nudes. Who cares what your clothes look like?” She grabs her black leather tote off the table and hikes it onto her shoulder. “Be back soon.”

“Sir, can I help you?” The blond behind the desk jumps out of her chair as I blow past her.

“Everleigh?” I call, looking right and left into rooms as my boots stomp on the floor down the clinic’s hallway. “Dr. Reichart? Where are you?”

“Sir!” The blond catches up with me and grabs my arm. “You need to stop, or I’ll have to call security.”

“Where is she?”

“Dr. Reichart is unavailable. You need to make an appointment.” She tightens her grip on my arm while blowing her bangs away from her black-framed glasses.

I turn toward her, pulling out of her hold and narrowing my eyes. “Find her and tell her that her landlord is here.”

“Will?”

I pivot toward Everleigh’s voice. She has a VR headset resting on her forehead, nose wrinkled as she squints at me.

“Are you seriously playing games at work?”

She frowns, glancing behind her. I follow her gaze to a little boy, who has a VR headset on his head as well.

“Austin, I’ll be right back. Okay?” she says.