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Chloe suddenly asked, “Do you miss Daddy?” Glancing over the back of the couch, she gave Elizabeth a quick sideways look, then swept her gaze back to the television.
Momentarily taken off guard, Elizabeth recovered quickly and said, “Of course I do.”
Once again, Chloe turned and looked at her mother in that scrutinizing way she always used when she wanted to see if Elizabeth was lying.
“I do miss him,” Elizabeth said as if to defend herself, which was ridiculous. But it was true. She did miss Court. At least some parts of him. “I miss him as much as you do.” She slid the rinsed plate into the open dishwasher.
“Do you think he loved me?” Chloe asked.
“Oh, honey, of course he did. Absolutely.”
“I don’t think he did,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“Where’d you get that idea? You’re his little girl.” Drying her hands on a dishtowel, Elizabeth crossed to the couch and sat down next to her child. “He loved you more than anything. You know that.” Heart breaking for her daughter’s loss, she hugged Chloe close, but the girl was having none of it and wriggled free to stare at her mother.
“He loved me more than that other lady?” she asked, ignoring the television completely.
Elizabeth felt cold all over. “What lady?”
“The one he killed.”
She swept in a sharp breath. “Who’s been saying that?”
Chloe shrugged. “I dunno.”
“Tell me who’s been saying that,” Elizabeth insisted, seeing red that someone was heartless enough to say malicious things to her child.
Chloe shrank into herself. “Nobody,” she whispered.
“Your father loved you, Chloe. Don’t ever think he didn’t.”
“You don’t have to be so mad.”
“I’m not mad. I’m just—”
“Mad,” Chloe insisted.
Elizabeth let out a frustrated breath. “Okay, but I’m not mad at you.”
Chloe sent her a disbelieving look as Elizabeth’s cell rang loudly, vibrating against the counter.
Elizabeth pushed herself to her feet and walked rapidly to the kitchen, snagging the phone and catching sight of Deirdre’s number on the display. With a last look at Chloe, who’d turned back to the TV, she answered, “Hey, there.”
“Did you see Jade today?” Deirdre asked without preamble. “She said she was going by the office.”
Elizabeth’s attention was still on Chloe, but she nodded and said, “She did. I had a client though, so we only talked for a few minutes.”
“Bummer, ’cause she’s not available tonight, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“I got an idea. Bring Chloe over to our house. I have a babysitter. We’re all going out to the Barefoot Bar tonight for dinner.”
Elizabeth wrenched her attention to the conversation with Deirdre. “Sounds great, but I can’t. It’s a school night for Chloe and we’ve already eaten.”
“I’ve already eaten,” Chloe corrected, her bright gaze back on Elizabeth as she sensed with unerring accuracy that plans were afoot. “You haven’t.”
“Come on, Elizabeth,” Deirdre urged. “Get over here.”
