I pick up the blouse, and my heart sinks. The blouse slips out of my grip and falls onto my slippered feet. My eyes fall on the skirt, and I grimace. I tug it off the bed, letting it fall in a clump over the shoes. I toss the bag onto the floor and spring myself onto the bed. With my body sinking into the mattress, I stare up at the vaulted ceiling.
“I’m not going,” I declare into the void.
My eyes close, and a happy smile counteracts the dread my mother causes to my nervous system.
There’s a knock at my door. “Miss Ashworth? Did you call for me?”
I sit up and smile at her. “No, I was talking to myself.”
“Oh, dear.” Sadness fills her eyes as she takes in the crumpled mess on the floor. “Your outfit.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “I’m not going out today.”
“Are you sure?” she asks with concern. “Because your mother said…”
“I know what she said.” I massage a hand against the base of my neck. “Can you ask Murphy to call Tonya? My body feels like a bag of knots.”
Claudia smiles sweetly. “Of course, Miss Ashworth. I’ll see to it now.”
I thank her, and she disappears into the hallway.
I flop back down on the bed and exhale calmly. Yep, a self-care day is very much in order.
Tonya is a godsend. Whenever Murphy calls, her arrival is always prompt. Okay, maybe I’m her best tipping customer, but still.
Last night, Dax’s health seemed to have declined. His reddened eyes, the cigarettes, and his anxiety-riddled words. And now he’s with his brother.
As Tonya works her magic on my muscles, the image of Dax collapsing drifts from my mind. He left to get his brother off his back. I have to trust he’ll be back soon, and won’t need to leave again.
“Relax,” Tonya whispers.
“I’m sorry.” I sigh into the headrest. “I’m just worried about someone. And there’s the added headache of my mother’s return.”
“I’d heard she was back in town.”
“She’s making sure everyone in town sees her face.”
“Is she running you ragged?”
“It’s more like she’s ruining my personal life.”
“Well, I’ll try my best to work out these knots and clear these negative thoughts.”
I exhale hard. “Thank you. And sorry about dismissing you so early last time.”
“It’s no problem. I was afraid you wouldn’t call me again.”
“Never. I need you more than ever.”
Poor Tonya. Her hands are probably cramped after working on my stress-filled back.
She’s such a gem. Before she left, she lit candles in my bathroom and put new-age music through the sound system. Claudia ran my bath just how I like it, and the two left me to soak, wearing a face mask.
With washed hair and a fresh face, I throw on a silk robe and toss my hair in a towel. I’ll have Claudia blow-dry it later, but right now I want to crash on my bed. Even after the relaxation therapy, I’m still exhausted. I just wish all the family problems and society commitments would disappear. The only thing I want to concentrate on is my relationship with Dax. Now we feel so far apart, when all I want is to be close to him.
I turn off the music, blow out the candles, and move toward the door. When I clutch the door handle, footsteps move down the hall. The floor quakes as if heavy boots have passed by. None of the staff, my family, or Christie’s family moves around the manor like that.
Deep inside, something sends out a warning signal.
