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Aiden opens the door. Mr. C slaps Aiden’s shoulder and makes his way out of his office.
“Call me after the appointment, Dad,” Aiden says softly. And something in his voice isn’t right.
“I will.” Mr. C claps his shoulder again and gives it a squeeze, then he leaves.
I follow Aiden to his office.
His mood is unnerving. He looks angry enough to chew through glass. I bravely sit down in his office after shutting the door.
“Did you get pictures of the jewelry?” he asks, rubbing his eyes.
He looks exhausted. I guess he didn’t sleep at all last night.
“My Mom’s looking for pictures. She’s not exactly tech savvy, so getting copies of them will be… uh…” I’m about to crack a joke but he’s glaring, so I don’t. “fun.”
“Jude is in the apartment now, installing cameras. It’s down to four people. My ex. Bella. The plumber. And the security guard.”
My eyes bulge. “That security guard gives me the creeps.”
“Yeah, I know. We’re looking into it. He’s got access to spare keys for all the condos. He let the plumber in Friday while we were at work.”
“There’s probably a bigger chance of him taking my underwear than either of your exes.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah.”
I have a crazy-gross vision of Seth sniffing my panties. Ew. Yuck.
“Okay. I’ll get back to my desk, but can you tell me what hospital your sister is at and her name, so I can send a baby gift?”
He looks strangely at me.
“Is that over the line? Sorry. I love babies. And I wanted to just send something. As well as a little something special for Braeden. He’s absolutely adorable.”
Aiden is staring at me for a long time. “Adele Burke. B-u-r-k-e. Mercy. Room 555.”
“Thanks,” I get up and leave.
I feel his eyes burning into my back for almost the entire rest of the day.
I order a baby basket with a few gifts in it that say “I have the best big brother” as well as a boy’s sun hat that says “#1 big brother” on it. I pay extra for it to be sent same day. And then I take Ally to lunch and we argue over the bill.
I channel my Aunt Susan. I win, and it feels good!
My Mom calls me mid-way through the afternoon and tells me she has several pictures and is going to courier them to me. I tell her to either scan them at work or to take pictures of them with her cell phone and forward them to me ASAP because there’s a PI on it.
The whole idea of Grams’ jewelry being found? I don’t want to hope. If I can get even one piece of it back, I will be stoked.
My mind wanders to Cait, and I wonder what’s happening with her. If I were speaking to Steph, I’d find out if she’s been staying in my old room. The apartment has to be vacant by midnight toni
ght. I decide I can’t think about Caitlin right now. I have to do what I said I’d do. Tough love.
***
I say bye to Ally, telling her I’ve put the last two cupcakes in the freezer to save them for when I get back and she tells me she’ll make fresh ones any time I want.
It’s time to go, so I cart my luggage and my laptop bag to the elevator and head for the lobby. I’m looking forward to sitting through a car ride and flight with him.
Not.
