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“Sure.”
“What about your work, Ennis?” Daphne asked.
“I’m between jobs right now. Not an issue.”
I’d chosen to leave college, and I’d begun working at a marketing firm when I returned to London after Patty left. After the dream, I felt I urgently needed to come to the States, so I asked for time off. They said no, so I quit.
“If you’re going to be around for a while,” Daphne said, “you should stay here instead of the hotel. We have plenty of room. Right, Brad?”
Brad’s facial muscles tensed, but only for a split second. “Yeah, sure. Love to have you.”
Why would that bother him? He just asked for my help hiring a winemaker.
“All right,” I said. “I appreciate it. I’ll pack up in the morning and head back over here.”
Brad and I took our drinks into his office, where he showed me his file full of winemaker résumés.
After about an hour, Daphne entered.
“Hey,” she said. “You want me to have Cliff go to town and bring your stuff from the hotel? It’s late. You may as well spend the night here.”
“Cliff isn’t supposed to leave you unguarded,” Brad said.
She let out a soft scoff. “This place is like a vault. No one can get in.”
“Your safety isn’t up for debate.” Brad rose. “I have to take care of a few things. You two stay in here as long as you’d like.”
I waved to Brad. “I’ll be fine,” I said to Daphne. “If it gets too late, I’ll just crash here and pick up my stuff tomorrow.”
“Okay. Whatever you want.” Daphne nodded to the folder. “Any good prospects?”
“A few. It’s nice to have a project.”
“Ennis…”
“Yeah?”
“What happened in London? With your job, I mean.”
I paused a moment. Then, “Nothing. I quit.”
“Why?”
“Simple. I asked for some time off to come here, and they said no.”
“Why’d they say no?”
“Because I haven’t worked there very long. They asked if it was an emergency, and I said no. I should have lied. Anyway, they said I couldn’t have the time off, so I quit.”
“Was that wise?”
“I didn’t come here for judgment, love. I told you how freaky the dream was. I had to come.”
She nodded. “I miss her too.”
I hold up a hand. “Daph, this isn’t about missing her. It’s about finding the truth.”
“If anyone can find the truth, Brad can.”
