Page 4 of What Started In Deception

Lydia nodded as she made her way to the windows, shutting out the warm June breeze as she closed and locked them. “I need to head to the florist. Then I have a date with my best girl at four thirty.”

Camille beamed as she leaned against the doorframe. “How is Everly?”

“Really good. Today was her last day of preschool for the year.”

“How is she old enough to be finished with her first year of preschool?”

Lydia grinned. “I know, right? She did really well. Mac and Will are thrilled. Her speech is right on par with her peers, and her fine motor skills have come a long way with her occupational therapy.”

“That’s great, Lydia.”

She grinned again as she nodded, stopping to scoop up an eraser that hadn’t made it into one of the kids’ baskets. “Ev’s physical therapist wants her in the pool this summer, which she wants absolutely nothing to do with. But Everly doesn’t understand my power of persuasion—that I’m more stubborn than she is. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to love the water by the time I leave Massachusetts in August.”

Camille laughed. “My money’s on you.”

“As it should be,” she said with a waggle of her brow.

Camille chuckled again. “Are you coming to book club on Wednesday night?”

Lydia headed back to her desk, tidying her already tidy space. “Definitely.”

“Some of the ladies are canceling. Our first free day without the kids, so I can’t necessarily blame them.”

“I can’t either, but I’ll be there for sure.”

“With your raspberry crumble bars?”

Lydia smiled as she shouldered her bag, purse, and the strap of her lunchbox. For as long as she could remember, everyone had always loved her mom’s secret recipe. “You know I keep the ingredients on hand.”

“Which we all appreciate.”

Lydia shook her head as she chuckled. “I really need to get out of here. Everly waits for no one.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Our last day.”

Lydia sighed reverently at their accomplishment. “One hundred and eighty days. Somehow, we made it.”

Camille nodded. “Somehow, we did.”

Lydia walked to the door and shut off her lights. “See you tomorrow.”

Camille waved. “Bye.”

Ty drove down Main Street in Oliver Heights’ upscale downtown area, searching for a parking spot close to the florist, knowing that his target wouldn’t be far behind. If she was anything, it was predictable, which he didn’t mind at all.

Flipping on his blinker, he maneuvered his government-issued Ford Ranger into a parallel parking space, shutting off the engine as he glanced in the rearview mirror, searching for the white Telluride that would head in his direction at any moment.

He looked toward the center console when his phone alerted him to a text and picked it up.

How’s it going?

His thumbs flew over the screen. Today’s the day. Time to make contact. I’ll let you know how it goes.

He glanced in the rearview mirror again and got out, dressed casually in dark-wash jeans and a plain white T-shirt, as he quickly made his way into the high-end flower shop when he spotted the familiar Kia pulling into a spot three cars back.

The pixie-faced blonde behind the counter glanced up and smiled as she helped a customer. “Good afternoon. I’ll be with you shortly.”

Ty nodded, not hating that the woman was busy. It would make the next few minutes easier for him. “Take your time. I’ll look around.”