Stepping out of the main elevators, not the one that went to Lily’s penthouse, Saul and a familiar blonde woman emerged. They walked out and then stopped and talked. It was obvious they were close. They stood close. Too close. They bent their heads toward the other when they spoke as if what they had to say was private.
The blonde was as stunning as I remembered her. She was wearing white shorts and a peach halter top. Her platinum blonde hair hung over one shoulder. They didn’t notice me or the other guests that passed by them to get on the elevators. Whatever they were speaking of had their complete attention.
When Saul stepped closer to her, I knew this was all I could take. Backing up, I turned my car around and headed back to Gran’s. The scene in my head would haunt me. I could try and explain it away, but I didn’t have an excuse that seemed plausible. Saul had been standing so close to her and they had been talking like people with a connection. They knew each other, and it was obvious.
The lump in my throat grew the entire drive home. Pulling into Gran’s driveway, I thought of the last time I saw the blonde woman. It had been the only time. The sweet little girl Gran had left her scarves to and babysat. Isla Evans was a married woman with a child. There was no reason she should be at a luxury condo complex, talking to a younger man with such familiarity.
Stepping out of the car, I thought of the list. I thought of Keerly. I believed Gran had sent me there for one simple purpose: to give Keerly something to enjoy. But had Gran sent me anywhere for a simple reason?
“Was that your way of warning me, Gran?” I asked her aloud.
Had Gran known this and wanted to make sure I did too? I had thought Gran put me in Saul’s path on purpose. But what if she hadn’t? What if Saul was just going to be there and she wanted to be sure I knew he wasn’t for me?
The house was quiet when I went inside and there was still no message on my phone from Saul. I closed the door and locked it behind me. Looking out into the night, I wondered if he would come and if he did what I would say.
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but I had to know. I would have to ask Saul. It was only fair.
Taking off my clothes, I stepped into the shower and wished it could wash away the hurt and disappointment. Gran had sent me to that house for a reason, but what was the reason? Why didn’t she just leave me a list of things she wanted me to know? For example, who Isla Evans was.
The text on my phone went off as I stepped out of the shower. I dried off and picked it up to see it was from Saul. I didn’t open it, but went into the bedroom to get dressed. As I pulled on the soft cotton tank top I liked to sleep in, the phone began to ring.
Seeing Saul’s name, I was torn but on the third ring, I answered.
“Hello,” I said.
“I’m at the door,” he replied.
I stood there in my bedroom, trying to decide what to do.
“I’m sorry I didn’t text you back.”
His voice sounded tired. What had happened today? Would he even tell me?
“I’m going to bed,” I replied.
He sighed wearily. “Please, Henley,” he begged.
Closing my eyes tightly, I made the decision. I couldn’t accuse him of something when I didn’t know the details. It wasn’t as if he had been kissing her. They had just been talking, closely, and what appeared intimately.
I walked out of my bedroom and down the hall until I saw him standing on the other side of the door. His eyes locked with mine and I stood there, wondering what if he had been with Isla … he hadn’t made me any promises. He had never said we were in a relationship. We were together every day. We had sex. But did that make us exclusive.
No. But Isla was a married woman with a child. That made it adultery. If he was doing anything with her that was. I had to know before I pushed him away. Seeing him standing out there, I couldn’t turn away from him. We might not be in an official relationship, but my heart didn’t seem to care about the details.
I ended the call and went to open the door. Saul stepped inside and closed it behind himself. Never once breaking eye contact with me.
“You locked it,” he said.
“You told me to,” I reminded him.
A tiny smirk played on his lips. “Yeah, I did.”