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“I would look incredible with a braid if my hair were long enough,” Jason said haughtily. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,somepeople have real work to do.”
“How dare you. Heather’s doing real work,” Lauren said.
“Sorry, Heather.” Jason gave me a brief smile. “And I’m especially sorry that the blabbermouth over there is distracting you from your job.”
“What the hell?” Lauren complained, but her eyes shone in the same way Graham’s did when he was being mischievous. Interesting. I wondered if Graham knew just how much his little sister and his best friend enjoyed flirting with each other.
“I’m enjoying myself,” I protested, even if I was getting a pitiful amount of work done.
“Anyway,” Lauren continued, snuggling further into the couch while carefully balancing her wine, “Josie’s a total sociopath, in case you haven’t figured it out. She duped Graham at first, but he won’t let it happen again. The main thing we’re worried about is her fooling someone else, like a judge at a custody hearing.”
“It’s not going to get that far,” Jason retorted. “Give me a little credit.”
“I thought you were going to get back to work and stop eavesdropping,” Lauren snapped with a barely concealed grin. “What a gossip you are.”
I let their banter wash over me as I put away my pen and forms and cracked open my laptop, seeing if switching gears would help me focus any better. I had been infected by this “Josie curse,” whatever it might be, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like devoting my time and attention and focus and momentum to something that wasn’t right in front of me. We were all doing our part here, but somehow, I still felt out of place.
Or at least I suspectedsomethingwas out of place.
Mediation had taken place today. Graham had wanted to be present during the proceedings, but thankfully, Jason took him out of the equation. I’d agreed with the strategy, even if it made Graham feel caged and useless.
“Great news,” Jason said, staring at his phone. “Looks like the judge has declined to hear the case, according to my sources. Too much evidence in Graham’s favor and not enough cause in Josie’s.”
“Excuse me, we do not utter that bitch’s name in this house,” Lauren said before whooping wildly. “This calls for a celebration. Who wants champagne?”
“All of us should have it,” Jason said before I could get a word in. Lauren dashed off to the kitchen, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
“Does this mean we won?” I asked.
“More or less,” Jason confirmed. “At the very least, it’s not going to go to a courtroom. No long, drawn-out trial.”
“My fucking brother doesn’t keep champagne in his house,” Lauren announced, marching desolately back to the sitting room. “What an idiot. Doesn’t he have anything to celebrate?”
“Give him a break, Lauren,” I said before I could stop myself. Something didn’t sit right with me. It seemed like everything was too easy.
“You need a drink,” she assessed. “Jason?”
“Yes,” he said, glancing at me. “I think we all need one.”
Lauren exited the room again, and I turned to Jason. “Tell me, in your professional opinion, if this is over. It doesn’t make sense. Why would Josie pull out all the stops and let us know she was moving like this without any kind of plan for winning?”
Jason gave me a strange look. “I think she tried to win. That’s why she was here.”
I shook my head, refusing to back down. “No, that’s not what she wanted to do. I think she just wanted to remind us she was still here. That she hadn’t gone anywhere.”
“If that’s true, then maybe her ploy was to get under Graham’s skin.” Jason eyed me. “And yours, too.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “I’m here, aren’t I? Nothing’s changed, really.”
“For now,” Jason said, the skin between his eyebrows creasing in a way I didn’t like.
“What about Collins?” I asked. “Is she safe right now?”
“No one has come in or out,” he said, gesturing at his laptop. “I’m working on things, and I’m also keeping an eye out on the cameras Graham has installed around the property.”
“I have to go check.”
I dashed up the stairs, not sure what I would find, and I was even less sure what I would do once I found it. But Collins was there, sweetly slumbering in her bed. I crossed the expanse of her room quietly, walking toe to heel while avoiding her toys and belongings.
