Hunter didn’t see Britt’s car, only a sedan. “She’s not here.”
“I picked her up at K&Bs,” Daniel said, turning off the engine. “I guess I better explain some things before we go inside. If Amy will let me inside, that is. My relationship with Britt’s mom is... complicated. No, that’s not true. We don’t have a relationship because I ruined my marriage years ago. Amy hates me, and Britt never told her I was back in town. Amy found out about it tonight at the party, and she wasn’t too happy about that, obviously. Things could get uncomfortable, so if you want to wait here—”
“If there’s even a chance Britt is here, I want to talk to her,” Hunter said, opening the car door. “I need to know that she’s okay.”
Daniel nodded, and they exited the car. He rang the doorbell five times before it finally opened, and the woman Hunter had seen earlier arguing with Britt and Daniel stood in the doorway, glaring at them.
“I should have known you wouldn’t leave us alone,” she sneered. Then she looked at Hunter, surprise crossing her features. “Who are— Wait... You’re the guy from the drawing.”
“What drawing?” Hunter asked.
“Forget it.” She scowled at Daniel again. “Where’s Britt?”
“I was hoping she was here,” Daniel said.
Amy’s anger turned to alarm. “I thought she was with you.”
“I thought she got a ride home. We couldn’t find her at the Picketts’—”
“Then where is she?” She clutched her chest. “Where is my daughter?”
***
Britt stared at the cup of peppermint tea Maude placed in front of her. At least she’d stopped sobbing, although her breath was still shuddering. She hadn’t wanted to lose control, but she couldn’t help it.
Maude sat down, her long, gray hair in a side braid draped against her granny nightgown. “Oh, honey. I take it the party didn’t go well?”
Sniffing, Britt nodded, still staring at the tea.
Maude handed her a tissue from the dispenser on the kitchen counter. “Do you want to talk about it—” She sat up. “What is that horrid smell?”
“Valerian,” X said as he walked into the kitchen carrying a small oil diffuser. “With a touch of Bergamot. It helps with anxiety and sadness.”
“It smells like a cow pasture.” She waved X away.
He looked a little insulted, but he left with his diffuser.
Britt agreed with Maude, but she didn’t care about the smell or anything else. Another tear dripped on the table. She quickly wiped it away.
Maude took her hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not—”
“Don’t,” she said, holding up her hand. “Don’t try to make me feel better. I was so stupid, Maude. He made a fool out of me.”
“Who?”
“Hunter.”
Her brow shot straight up. “Our Hunter?”
“He’s not mine.” She hung her head, several curls brushing against her cheeks. She’d only now noticed that her carefully created updo was wilting.
“I refuse to believe he would hurt you,” Maude said.
Britt faced her. “He’s not who he claimed to be.” She told Maude about Hunter being at the party, who his parents were, and that he was with another woman.
