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He did the same. “That’s better. Now, come on. I’ve already poured your coffee and set out your pill.”
“I need to get to the pharmacy,” she remembered.
“No, I already called to be sure the prescription is ready. Once we have breakfast, I’ll run over and pick it up.”
His consideration pulled her out of the last of her sulkiness.
A few minutes later, he set a plate with scrambled eggs and toast in front of her, then sat down with his own serving.
“I don’t love the idea of leaving you home alone today,” he said.
She let her eyes meet his. “I was thinking I should probably take Matt up on his offer.” She shook her head when he opened his mouth. “His wife has the summer off. I imagine I’ll be feeling better in another day or two, and I’m sure I’ll figure out how to get dressed once I quit hurting so much. In the meantime, you have more important things to do than babysit me.”
“What if I drop you off there just for the day?”
Beth hesitated. “Tony…are you sure?” She waited, knowing he understood she wasn’t asking only about today.
He reached across the table for her hand. “Positive.”
“Fine. Although…maybe I should go to Dad’s instead. He must need company by now.”
Tony didn’t look thrilled but finally said, “Up to you. I need to talk to him about the drawing, anyway.”
“Let’s do that, then.”
“Call and make sure he’ll be there.”
Beth wondered how much use her father would be in defending her against an attack. Sobering thought.
He answered right away, his grave voice betraying some alarm. “Emily just called, hysterical. She said you were attacked?”
“I was.” She looked at Tony, who nodded. “Detective Navarro thinks the guy who came after me might be the same man who killed Mom.” The formal reference to Tony barely out, guilt poked at her. Her father had met Tony, yes, but she’d lied to Dad about having any personal relationship with him. Of course, her reasons were different from his for not wanting to introduce her to his family.
At her father’s urging, she gave a synopsis, then said, “Actually, the detective—um, Tony—doesn’t want me home alone today. Can I come over?”
He agreed, and she promised to tell him more when she got there.
Setting down her phone, she sighed. “I suppose I ought to call Emily.”
“Why?” Tony sounded uncompromising.
“She’s my sister. She loves me.”
“Do it later.” He didn’t have to say When I don’t have to hear you. She read him loud and clear. “We can stop at the pharmacy on the way.”
She scooped a few magazines and a book into her tote bag to keep herself entertained, brushed her teeth and was ready to go.
The pharmacy had a drive-through window, so the stop didn’t take more than a minute or two.
A block from the house, Beth admitted, “I haven’t told Dad I’m dating you.”
He gave her a sidelong, extremely ironic look.
“It seemed…disloyal,” she said quietly.
“We can go on keeping it to ourselves,” he offered.
“From your family, maybe. But Matt knows.”
“You’re right. Since he felt compelled to call Emily, she probably knows, too.”
“And would have passed it on to Dad,” Beth said with a sigh. And anyone else she talked to.
Tony pulled into the driveway next to her father’s aging car. “Handle it however you want.”
She only nodded. Dad had the front door open before they reached the small porch.
Her father looked stricken. “Dear God.”
“It’s not that bad.” She let him hug her.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked, looking at Tony, too.
“Yes. Um… Tony was nice enough to spend the night. He made sure I ate.”
In the family room, she sank onto one end of the sofa. Tony set the tote by her feet. Her father studied Tony more keenly than she was used to seeing.
“You think this man will come after her again.”
“It’s a possibility,” Tony said. “Ah, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”
