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“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Consider me suspicious?”
“Mathias,” I said, “you’ve been suspicious since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
He laughed then. He thought I was joking. I feigned laughter as well. Yeah, best to let him think I was being funny. That would work in my favor.
“I’ve got to go,” I said. “If Larry comes back, tell him I was here.”
“Will do.”
I left the apartment. Lucky I had a phone in my truck. I’d call Daphne and tell her I’d be spending the night in the city. I had something important to do come morning.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Daphne
“Miss Daphne,” Belinda said. “Phone for you. It’s Mr. Brad.”
“Please excuse me,” I said to Patty, Ennis, Mom, and Mazie. I rose and walked to the family room to take the call.
“Hello, Brad.”
“Hi, baby.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine, but I have to stay in the city tonight.”
My heart dropped. “Why?”
“An early morning meeting, but I’ll be home after that.”
“All right. Patty and Ennis are staying another day. Can you please be home for dinner tomorrow?”
“I will be. I promise.”
I smiled. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll miss you tonight. I don’t sleep very well when your arms aren’t around me.”
“I don’t sleep well without you in my arms either,” he said. “Only one night, baby. I promise.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too, Daphne. Kiss little Joe for me.”
“I will. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I returned to the table. “He’s staying in the city tonight,” I said.
“Oh?” Mazie lifted her eyebrows.
“Yeah. Says he has an early meeting.” I sighed. “But he promises he’ll be home for dinner tomorrow night, so you guys need to come back.”
Patty nodded. “Sure. Is that okay with you, Ennis?”
“Yeah, of course, love. This beef is fantastic. Even better than at your wedding.”
“It’s filet,” I said, “and Belinda broils it to perfection.”
“It’s truly amazing,” my mother agreed. “I wish we could get this kind of beef in Denver.”
“I’ll send a cooler full home with you,” I said. “And we’ll send you as much as you want after that.”
“My daughter, the beef queen!” My mother laughed.
“Mistress of Steel Acres!” Patty raised her wineglass. “Did you ever think, Daph, when we met last fall that you’d be here, with a gorgeous little boy, less than a year later?”
“God, no,” I said, “but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Except having Brad around more. I’d definitely change that.
“You’re so lucky,” Patty gushed.
I smiled and opened my mouth to speak, when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Belinda called.
A few minutes passed as we all continued eating.
“Telegram for you, Miss Daphne.” Belinda strode in and handed me a yellow envelope.
“A telegram?” Mazie shook her head. “Do people still send telegrams?”
“My parents got one when I was a kid,” Mom said. “That’s the last I remember.”
I held the yellow envelope from Western Union. “It’s already open.”
“I thought they stopped sending these a few years ago,” Belinda said.
“Who delivered it?” I asked.
“Just a kid. I didn’t recognize him.”
“Was he wearing anything that said Western Union on it?” Mazie asked.
“No. He looked about sixteen or so.”
I pulled out a folded piece of paper. It was plain white and didn’t say Western Union anywhere on it. A message was typed.
“It should be yellow,” Mom said, “to match the envelope.”
“You’re right, Lucy,” Mazie agreed. “I don’t think that’s a telegram at all. It’s a message using an old Western Union envelope.”
I unfolded the paper. It was typewritten.
Keep that baby close. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.
My neck went cold.
“Daphne, you’re white as a sheet,” Mom said. “What is it?”
My hands trembled.
“Daphne?” my mother said again.
“What is it, dear?” Mazie this time.
Finally, Patty grabbed the paper from my hand. She glanced at it, and her mouth dropped open. “Who sent this?” she finally said.
I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know the answer anyway.
“What’s it say?” Ennis asked.
Patty handed it to him. His mouth dropped as well.
“What?” Mazie asked. “What is it?”
Ennis handed the paper to her.
“Oh my God. Belinda!” Mazie called.
“Yes, Miss Mazie?”
“Who brought this?”
“I told you. A kid. A boy, teenaged.”
“You need to do better than that. This is a threat. A threat against my grandson!”
Belinda went pale. “What?”
Mazie thrust the paper at her. “See? Call the police, Belinda.”
“Yes, right away.” Belinda left the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned. “They’re on their way.”
I couldn’t move. I simply froze.
Then I began reciting words to myself.
Remember, Daphne. Remember. Don’t lose time. This is too important. Don’t lose it. Don’t lose it. Remember Jonah. Remember little dove. He needs you. Don’t lose it. Don’t lose it.
Somehow, I kept it together. Kept it together for my son.
Brad wasn’t here for us. He was away on business. Needed to call him. But… Had he told me where he’d be? How could I get in touch with him?
Yes! His car phone. I knew that number. Frantically I dialed.
And of course he didn’t answer.
