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No, he needed an excuse.
He would go to Rose's. His great-aunt lived right across the road from Olivia's apartment. He'd stop in for a visit and then, while he was in the neighborhood, he really ought to speak to Olivia and make sure she didn't feel obligated to come to work. And if that led to talk of the ghost, he could say that he had spoken in haste, momentarily feeling overwhelmed by work, and he did have time to pursue it, if she was so inclined.
That's when he drove onto Rowan and saw Ricky's motorcycle parked in front of Olivia's building.
He almost turned around right then. Circled the block and headed home. But two of the elders had waved to him on Main Street. How would he explain that if they mentioned it to Olivia?
So he parked and walked to Rose's door. He'd just rung the bell when a laugh floated out from her open front window. Olivia's laugh.
Gabriel glanced at his car.
Yes, excellent plan. Run quickly, and perhaps they'll only see your taillights as you speed away.
The door opened.
"Ricky," Gabriel said.
"Hey." Ricky stepped back. "Good timing. Your aunt was just making tea."
"I didn't realize you and Olivia were here. I should have called. Tell Rose I'll speak to her tomorrow."
"She's right here. Come on in. Liv will want to say hi."
No, Gabriel was quite certain Olivia did not want to say hello. Not to him. Which Ricky would know, having been party to their last conversation. He was trying to broker peace, as he always did. Trying to do the right thing, as he always did.
I thought of letting you fall off that balcony.
I thought of letting you die.
Gabriel's gut clenched, and he was about to make his apologies when Olivia swung in with her usual grin, her green eyes dancing. Then she saw who was at the door.
That light snuffed out. A moment's pause before she fixed on a smile that made his gut clench all the more. The gracious debutante smile she used for strangers.
"Hello," she said. Not "Hey." Not "Hi." Not some teasing comment about him appearing just in time for cookies.
"I was just--" Gabriel began.
"I should take o
ff," Ricky said. "I can still make it back to the city before dark, and Dad was hoping to talk to me tonight."
"And I have"--Olivia visibly struggled--"laundry."
"I think it can wait," Ricky said. "As bad as it smells, another day can't possibly make it any worse."
"Ha-ha. Yes, I'm making a crappy excuse." She turned to Gabriel. "You want to talk to Rose, so I'll clear out."
"No, I--"
"It's fine. We were just chatting. I'll see you at work tomorrow?"
"That won't be necessary."
He meant it in the most thoughtful and considerate way, but his voice was not accustomed to displaying either tone. Olivia tensed, and Ricky's jaw set in a look that warned Gabriel he was one step from seeing a far less pleasant side of the young biker.
Gabriel hurried on, "You've had a long trip, and you weren't due back in the office until Monday, so you should take the extra day and rest."
Do laundry. That's what he would have added a few weeks ago, with a quirk of his lips, and she'd have laughed. Now he could no more manage it than she could manage her usual grin.
