“I see,” she murmured, scrutinizing Ellie’s outfit before leaning closer to me. “And will she be wearing clothes of her own when you introduce us, or does she always borrow yours?”
Ellie’s face erupted into red-hot flames, and she tugged on the hem where my T-shirt hit her midthigh. “Um?—”
“It’s no bother,” my mother said, flicking a hand and studying Ellie more closely. The longer she looked, the more her practiced smile faltered. “But you’ll at least let me get a glimpse at the ring my son bought before you kick me out, won’t you?”
The tension in my jaw coiled tighter.
“Of course!” Ellie stuck out her right hand, before quickly correcting and holding out her left one. When all three of us looked at the bare ring finger, Ellie balked.
“Oh no,” she whispered, and I barely refrained from pinching the skin between my eyes.
Ellie had taken her ring off last night while throwing up, and I’d put it on the bathroom vanity… which was now empty.
“Oh, I remember where it is!” Ellie cried, rushing around me to the bathroom—and bumping straight into my bare chest before bouncing back with a squeak. “Sorry, sorry.”
I caught her elbow just as she saw the same empty counter I did.
Ellie muttered a quick plea under her breath before her gaze snagged on Whiskey.
“Um, I’m so sorry. I think I know what happened,” she rambled as she carefully pulled her elbow free. “The ring is real, but my cat is going through a bit of a sticky paws phase. Well, it’sbeen a pretty long phase. Like his whole life. But we’re working on it.”
Holding back a sigh, I stole a glance at my mother, who stared at Ellie in icy disbelief.
“…You lost my son’s ring?” she asked flatly.
Ellie’s lips trembled like she was about to break into tears, so I stepped in. “It’s insured. No harm done.”
They both ignored me.
“It’s okay. I know where it is,” Ellie promised as she scampered to the bed. “He has lots of tricks to hide things, but his most treasured finds always go to one spot.”
She flipped over the hellion’s red pillow on the bed—revealing a hoard of little trinkets.
Including a sparkling diamond.
“Aha!” Ellie held up the ring, smiling in triumph. “See? Here it is! Not lost.”
My mother hummed softly, barely glancing at the diamond. “For now. I’m surprised you ever took it off.”
Ellie’s shoulders deflated as she carefully slid the ring back onto her finger.
I needed to get my mother far away from this cabin.
“Why don’t I show you to your room now?” I asked her, though it wasn’t a question this time.
She waved me off again and turned to the door. “I can find my way just fine. I’ll see you out on the deck, Caden. Don’t make me wait much longer.”
The moment the door clicked shut behind her, I could breathe again. Even Whiskey relaxed onto his haunches.
Ellie glanced up at me, nervously twisting the ring around her finger. “Your mom showing up changes things, doesn’t it?”
It did, but I didn’t tell Ellie that. The last thing we needed was her getting even more flustered.
“No,” I said instead, reaching for a phone that wasn’t in my pocket. I needed to track Mac down immediately. He could run interference on whatever trouble my mother would brew up, while I focused on my grandfather. “Just stick to the plan.”
Ellie only nodded hesitantly and twisted the ring faster.
But even with this curveball, a tendril of satisfaction curled in my chest. Word had gotten to Grandfather, and he’d been curious enough to come scope out the situation himself.
