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He smiled at me, at my mom, and then—with a quick nod to his partner—headed towards Francis’s body.
I stood motionless. The address Fluffy had given me rattled around in my head.
“Ronnie?”
Throat still thick, I turned to Mom. “Hey, Mom. Thanks for looking after Fluffy.”
Her answering smile was wan. “I’m sure you are going to explain all this?” She waved her arm at the living room.
A tight band wrapped around my chest at the sight of the two cops standing next to Fluffy’s dog. Letting out a wobbly breath, I took her fingers in mine. “I am. But not now. Now, you need to go check in, and I need to…”
Process. I needed to process what had happened.
Bending down, I scooped up Groot and hugged him to my breast. “I’m glad you’re both here, even after what Dad did—”
“He did what any worried father would do.”
I wasn’t convinced, and by the look on her face, neither was Mom.
“But I have to be alone for a while.” I pressed my palm to Mom’s cheek. “Go check into the hotel Lila told you to. Decompress. Eat something. Lila will call you soon.” I smiled. “I promise.”
“Are you…” She studied me. “Are you happy? Are you and Lucas really in love?”
I smiled again. And then kissed her cheek. “I really am. And we really are. Very much so. So now, you need to be happy for me. For us, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay. I think I can do that. And so will your father. I’ll make sure of that.”
A great big ball of warmth rolled through my heart and I kissed her cheek again. “Love you, Mom.”
And with that, I hugged Groot closer to me and walked away. Heading for the garage.
I climbed into Lucas’s Dodge—the car we used for normal, everyday driving—opened the garage door and reversed out. Groot sat on the passenger seat, tail wagging, head out the window. It took us almost thirty minutes to arrive at the address Lucas had given me.
Sitting in the pickup, engine running, I regarded the cottage surrounded by wisteria and silky oak trees sitting way back from the street. Whose place was this? Someone I hadn’t met from Lucas’s life? God, could I cope with more skeletons from his past?
Switching off the engine, I petted Groot. “Let’s go.”
A few steps in and I realized where I was. Lila Winchester’s home. Photos of her and various animals adorned the walls. As did a few photos of her with…whoa, was that the Prime Minister of Great Britain? And the previous president? What the hell?
Putting Groot down, I shook my head. “Once again, you surprise me, Dr. Winchester.”
Not knowing what else to do with myself, I found the bathroom, washed all of Francis’s blood from Groot in the tub, and then had a shower. After that, I checked my phone for any messages or missed calls from Lucas or Lila. Nothing.
“Okay. Cup of tea and Netflix it is.”
I didn’t let myself think of Mom and Dad. I didn’t let myself think of Francis. I couldn’t let myself think of Fluffy.
I’d have a cup of tea and then let my brain turn to it all.
Tea made, I crossed to the cozy, paisley-filled living room and sank into one of the soft, old-fashioned armchairs.
“Processing time,” I murmured at Groot, who was making himself at home on the sofa. I placed my tea on the coffee table, folded my fingers over my stomach and closed my eyes.
Processing time.
I promptly fell asleep. I would make a woeful action movie heroine.
A warm sensation dragged me from the dreamless shadows of sleep who knows how long later. Warm, gentle pressure on the side of my neck, the curve of my shoulder. Warm pressure on my hip, my rib cage, my breast…
