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“Mmhmm,” she answered.

“Don’t harass Goldie, okay?” he instructed.

She laughed. “Who do you think I am?”

“Jackie’s sister,” Lexington retorted.

“Good point,” Theo acquiesced. “I’ll talk with you later.”

She hung up the phone and tossed it back into her purse. “Can I come in?”

I nodded and finally let go of the doorframe, pulling the door open for her as she stepped in. She sauntered in, obviously familiar with the space, and smiled when her eyes landed on River in the kitchen. She let out a soft whistle, and he whipped his gaze around, his smile reaching from ear to ear when his eyes landed on her. He waved with all his might and turned back to his food, too preoccupied for words.

Theo chuckled under her breath and wandered into the living room, tossing her purse on the coffee table and collapsing into one of the armchairs.

I stayed by the door, closing it softly and locking it with a quiet click. I didn’t know what to say to this woman who was more comfortable in Lexington’s home than I was. I shouldn’t have felt jealous—she was his sister-in-law, after all—but I couldn't help it. A petty part of me that didn’t even know this woman hated the fact that she knew Lexington’s home better than I did.

She smiled at me, her eyes soft, her expression kind. “I was wondering if we could talk?”

I raised a questioning brow. “Why?”

She smirked. “Why are you defensive?”

I shrugged. “Everyone wants to talk to me these days, ask me about what happened, make me answer questions I’m not ready to face. So I want to know why you think you should get the answers.”

I couldn’t help but be defensive. I didn’t know this woman, and still didn’t know why she was here.

Theo’s expression turned solemn, and she sat up in her chair. Gone was her relaxed posture, replaced by waves of sympathy. “I’m sorry; I forget you genuinely have no idea who I am.” She gestured to the couch next to her, and I begrudgingly rounded it and took a seat. “I’m not here to talk about what happened to you, Goldie. That’s a story for you to tell when you’re ready and only then.”

I relaxed slightly, but not entirely. I glanced back at the kitchen, where River was still happily sitting, then turned back to Theo. “Why are you here, then?”

She huffed a laugh. “Honestly? To figure out what’s going on here.”

I raised a brow in question.

She sighed. “Let me start from the beginning. I used to watch River while Lex was at work. I have a son about his age.”

“So you’re married to Oliver?” I interjected, and she nodded, her face brightening at the mere mention of her husband's name.

“For over ten years now,” she explained. “It’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’ve known Lex for so long, and he’s family. With River not coming over anymore and you being here, I don’t hear from him. I’m worried about him… not worried because of you,” she rushed to explain. “The same kind of worry I have for my kids when they go to school. I worry about Lex because he’s my family, and I haven’t had a moment to check in on him. So I figured since I had a free minute today, I would come see what was up.”

“Shouldn’t you go to the office? To talk to Lexington?” I asked, bewildered as to why she was here with me.

She shrugged. “Probably, but he would give me some bullshit answer. The same one he’s been giving all of us since he moved you in.”

I was taken aback. “He’s not being honest with you all about me?”

She shook her head. “He’s protecting you, Goldie. He’s keeping the details about this arrangement of yours to himself because he doesn’t want to share anything you’re not comfortable with. So… since he won’t give me a straight answer, I figured I would come here.”

I sighed and relaxed further into the couch. “I’m not sure what else I could tell you besides that I live here and watch River while Lexington goes to work.”

Theo looked around the room slowly, her eyes pausing on River for a moment before finding their way back to me. “Why are you here?”

“It’s safe,” I answered immediately.

“Physically, or emotionally?” she asked softly.

I shrugged a shoulder. “Both. It’s easy with him. I don’t have to live up to who I used to be.”