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I gesture with one hand for her to sit while my free hand takes hers, squeezing it gently to reassure her silently.
“I’m okay, Addy. It’s just… well,”—I let out my breath—“I don’t know where to start.”
She leans forward, still holding my hand. “You’re freaking me out. You’re freaking everyone out. Christopher called me, Andrew, and he even called Dadlooking for you last night. Whatever it is can’t be all that bad.”
Our server comes over with a beaming smile. “Hi, my name is Trish, and I’ll be your server. Can I start you with an ice-cold refreshment?”
“Green tea for me, please,” I say, knowing I’m still pumped from my espresso this morning.
“Iced tea, please,” Adalyn says with a shy smile.
She’s the baby of the family and has always been such a sweet kid. Well, she’s an adult, but she’ll always be my baby sister to me. Ah, to be twenty-two and carefree again.
“I’ll give you two a minute to look over your menus while I grab your drinks,” Trish says, breaking my train of thought.
Before Adalyn can ask what’s going on again, I open my menu and hold it right in front of my face. I look it over, not ready to talk about everything yet. As my eyes wander over all the choices, I read them to myself under my breath.
“Club sandwich, ham and cheese, cob salad, chef salad, Greek salad, strawberry salad, yum.”
I can feel Adalyn’s eyes boring into methroughthe menu. I peek over the top to find her eyes staring at me, completely unamused.
Sheesh, here goes.
“Look…” Trish is back just in time, placing our drinks on the table.Phew.
“Thanks,” we say in unison.
“Are you ladies ready to order?” she asks.
“We’ll both have the strawberry salad with grilled chicken. Dressing on the side,” Adalyn answers for us both as she takes my menu, closes it, and hands them to the server.
As the server walks away, Adalyn leans forward. “Spill it, Andrea. What’s going on?”
I scan the room, taking a deep breath and leaning in to ensure no one else hears.
“I think Christopher may have had Jonathan Swank killed.”
She doesn’t react. She just stares at me for a beat before letting out a bark of laughter. My eyes dart around, feeling like everyone is looking at us.
“Shhhh, please don’t draw attention. I am serious, Adalyn. I overheard him on the phone. He was so angry. He said he wanted ‘him’ gone.” I even do the air quotes for “him.”
We study each other for a moment. “C’mon, Andrea, you can’t really think strait-laced Christopher, US Senator, hired someone to kill Jonathan… or anyone. It’sChristopher,” she replies.
“I know, Addy. I know. But Ialsoknow what I heard.”
I understand why she feels that way. We’ve known Christopher all our lives. I’ve spent my entire adulthood with him.
“It can’t be a coincidence what I heard”—I lower my voice even more—“and then Jonathan’s body turns up.Murdered.”
My eyes widen as I stare at her, silently begging her with my piercing gaze to believe me. Or maybe I want her to make me believe what she thinks instead. Something, anything; I just want the truth. I don’t want to think the man I’m about to marry is a murderer or capable of ordering someone’s murder.
I also can’t stick my head in the sand and pretend like I didn’t hear what IknowI heard.
“I’m sure there is areasonableexplanation, Andrea. You’re probably just stressed with wedding planning and worrying about the pressure of his new position. Let’s talk about the wedding. That’ll lift your spirits.”
She smiles her brightest smile, tapping the top of both of my hands with hers.
I inhale deeply through my nose, blowing it out. Unsure if I should continue to press the issue, or just give in, and let her change the subject. I know my sister loves me, and giving a voice to this unthinkable possibility has me questioning my own sanity.
