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“I have something to do.”
I sat up, drawing the sheet around me. “What? Where…?”
“I told you I’d fix things.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means what it means.”
The room was dark, and it was hard to see more than his eyes, glittering silver in the dim light.
“Ronan…”
He bent and kissed me hard. Then he left.
I stayed up for a long time, watching the minutes become hours. Only because I was still somehow exhausted, did I fall asleep. When I woke up at eight the next morning, Ronan wasn’t there.
He went to his place to rest or shower. That’s all.
Feeling like I’d been turned inside out and back again, I slowly got dressed in sweatpants and an old T-shirt—clothes I didn’t mind getting dirty. My mother’s revelation slammed into me several times as I went about my morning routine. Each time, my stomach churned, and I wanted to be sick all over again. I realized this was my life now. I’d carry this knowledge with me forever—the dirtiest of secrets no one could ever know. Not Amber, not Violet… God, Violet.
What could I say to her? How?
I understood now why Bibi, Bertie, and the rest of the family wanted to keep this from me. You can’t un-know something once it’s known. The shame would haunt me forever, and I’d spend the rest of my life looking in the faces of men on the street and wonder, Is that him?
I gave myself a shake and went to the kitchen, ready to do what I always did—focus on work to keep me sane.
Bibi was stirring a pot of grits. Eggs and bacon were on the stove, fresh coffee in the pot.
Thank God for Bibi.
I put my arms around her from behind. “I love you.”
“Oh, baby girl, I love you to pieces. And my old heart is bursting with joy to see you up.”
“I’m going to the shop.”
“Thatta girl. Eat first, please. You need to get your strength back.”
We filled our plates but despite my hunger, I picked at my food. “Have you seen Ronan this morning?”
“Not this morning.” She sipped her coffee. “Are you worried?”
“No, but something he said last night…” I waved a hand. “Nothing. I’ll call him after breakfast.”
We ate and I did the dishes. The last few nights had to have taken their toll on Bibi. She went to her room to take a nap, and I called Ronan’s number as I headed to the garage.
No answer.
I texted. Where are you?
I drove the Buick to Rare Earth. Still no reply. The message was marked unread.
I went to the back entrance and stopped. It was an entirely new door—heavy and industrial—with a new deadbolt lock.
“Ronan…” I murmured with a small smile, then realized I couldn’t unlock it. On a hunch, I checked my key ring, and there it was: a brand-new key I didn’t recognize. I tried it in the door, and the deadbolt clicked.
That man…
