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“It’s not okay,” Elizabeth said, but she heard the weakening in her own voice.
“How about you talk to Ravinia,” Kingston suggested. “I’ll stay outside.”
Ravinia shot him a look, and he held up his hands. “I’ve done the job you hired me for. To find Elizabeth Gaines.”
She looked from Chloe to Elizabeth. “I know about the bridge falling down. And I might be able to help explain why you knew about it. . . .”
Elizabeth held tight to Chloe, then slowly opened the door.
Chapter 28
Ravinia looked into Elizabeth’s heart. Yes, she was the right person, and yes, she was a good person. Also, she was scared as hell.
“You can come in,” Elizabeth said. “Only you. Before I let you into my house, though, you won’t mind proving to me that you don’t have a gun or a knife or any other kind of weapon. Right? And, just so we’re clear, until I’m certain you’re not here to sell me a bill of goods or something worse, I’ll keep my phone in my hand, nine-one-one keyed up and ready to go should I need to call for help.”
“Okay.” Ravinia was there to warn Elizabeth, to help her, not to harm her. It kind of pissed Ravinia off that Elizabeth couldn’t figure that out or sense it some way, but whatever it took to get through the door. Turning her pockets inside out, she cocked her head at an angle and silently asked Elizabeth if that was enough.
For her part, Elizabeth seemed somewhat mollified, if not convinced, and moved out of the way. She glanced back toward Rex for a moment, then closed the door and locked it once Ravinia was inside.
“Come see my room!” Chloe insisted.
“No, honey,” Elizabeth countered. “This lady is here on business.”
Lady . . . Ravinia felt her lips twitch. Never in her life had she considered herself a “lady,” though Aunt Catherine had certainly tried her hardest in that regard.
“Nooo,” Chloe wailed and grabbed Ravinia’s hand, pulling her down a short hall as Elizabeth muttered something like, “Give me strength,” under her breath.
Ravinia restrained herself from looking into the little girl’s heart; she didn’t want to scare Chloe, who was an ally. With Elizabeth half a step behind, Ravinia allowed herself to be dragged along. Chloe took her into a room decorated in bright tropical colors. Toys were overflowing from a basket, blocks and books were stacked in a corner, a few dolls were scattered across the floor, and stuffed animals spilled off the small bed. The white furniture all matched—a dresser, bookcase, and twin bed.
A perfect little girl’s room . . . glaringly different from the home in which Ravinia had been raised. She couldn’t remember a time she hadn’t shared a bedroom with at least one of her sisters on the upper floors of the lodge. There had been few toys, and the books they’d read had come from the Deception Bay library, courtesy of Aunt Catherine. Handmade curtains and a patchwork quilt that Ravinia’s aunt had pieced from calico and gingham scraps left over from the dresses she’d sewn adorned the windows and beds.
“Are you really Mommy’s cousin?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Do you like Busy Bees and Friends?” she asked as she showed off her most prized possessions, a doll that looked like a pirate and a once-white, stuffed, lop-eared bunny that was missing an eye.
“I don’t know them,” Ravinia said, aware that Elizabeth was watching carefully from the doorway.
“Her favorite television show,” Elizabeth explained. Then to her daughter, “Okay, back to bed.”
“No,” Chloe said.
But Elizabeth was firm. “It’s late. Ravinia came here to talk to me.”
“Will she be here when I wake up?” Chloe demanded, scowling over a yawn.
“We’ll see,” Elizabeth said, walking into the room. “Come on. Take Henry and Clover with you.”
Reluctantly Chloe climbed into the bed with her favorite toys. “That means no,” she revealed as she snuggled under the covers. “Just like when you tell me we’ll see about a dog.”
“If I’m not here, I’ll come back,” Ravinia told her and felt the weight of Elizabeth’s stare. If I’m allowed by your mother and if it’s still safe, she silently added.
“Promise?”
“Yes,” Ravinia said.
Though Chloe still seemed doubtful, she was just too tired to argue and allowed Elizabeth to tuck her in and leave a night-light on before ushering Ravinia out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
