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“The house too much for you?” She’d suspected the place needed more work than one person could handle alone.
“Nope… selling my condo here in the city. I see no reason to keep it.”
She’d never seen his condo in Boston, but he’d mentioned he kept it even after moving in next door. “Guess that means we’re stuck with you next door, huh?”
“Get used to it. I’m not going anywhere.”
Taylor leaned in and kissed him. “I’ll find some way of dealing with you over there.”
Another beep disturbed the quiet around them. Curt peeked at his cell phone on the bench. “It’s not mine this time.”
The sick feeling in her stomach grew as she pulled out her phone. The message wasn’t from Mom, but her coworker Mary. “Sorry. I hate to cut lunch short, but I need to get back to the office. And depending on how this problem goes, it might be a long day.”
***
The new development in a case kept her mind busy and pushed everything else into the background, at least until she left the city and started home. Unfortunately, no distractions kept her occupied during her commute. Not even any traffic required her attention as she made the routine trip back. Most nights she considered having the road mostly to herself a perk of working late. Tonight she could’ve used the distraction her fellow drivers provided.
Mom’s home, and Reese is in bed sleeping. She pulled onto her street. If they were anywhere else, Mom would’ve called. When she walked in the door, Mom would probably be watching television or reading a book. Reese would be tucked in upstairs, Stripes mixed in with the various stuffed animals cluttering her bed.
Taylor passed Curt’s house. No lights showed, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t working. His office was located at the back of the house. Before leaving her after lunch, he mentioned writing tonight. With two more chapters to finish before he started his revisions, he hoped to get them in before his cousin’s wedding this weekend.
Light spilled out of all the windows downstairs, indicating Mom was up and about. And like whenever Taylor worked late, Mom had left the light at the front door on.
The scent of peanut butter and chocolate welcomed her inside. Judging by the aroma, Mom and Reese had spent some time baking after school. Whatever they’d made was probably for tomorrow’s end of school year party.
End of the school year already. Taylor shook her head in denial. How could Reese already be done with the first grade? Wasn’t it just the other day she’d been changing her diapers and helping her learn to walk? Now, she could ride a bike and read bedtime stories to herself. Before Taylor realized it, Reese would be asking to borrow the car for a date.
“Really late tonight.” Mom walked into the hall. She’d changed for bed, but the reading glasses perched on her nose said she hadn’t been asleep.
Taylor pulled out her hair elastic and undid the tight braid. “Tell me about it. We got some new leads at lunch, and they took longer than I hoped to look into.” Around three she’d sent Mom a text, letting her know she’d be on the later side tonight. She hadn’t thought she would be this late.
“We saved some dinner for you.”
“Any chance you saved whatever smells so good, too?” She found the idea of something sweet much more appealing.
“Reese put aside a few cookies. The rest are for tomorrow’s party at school.”
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sp; “Great. Are you heading up to bed?” She started down toward the kitchen, her nose following the scent of chocolate.
“Not just yet. I’ll sit with you while you eat.”
The hair on the back of her neck lifted. Occasionally, when she got home after Reese went to bed they’d sit and chat while she ate, but not usually this late.
“Is there something we need to talk about?”
Mom removed her glasses and left them on the table before putting a covered plate into the microwave.
“Mom?” She was keeping something from her.
Still silent, she brought over two glasses of iced tea. “Eliza came over today.”
Anger and annoyance joined the apprehension churning inside her. “When? Was Reese home?”
“This afternoon. Right before Reese got off the bus.” Mom sat down and fingered her eyeglasses.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
