“Thank you, but I’m fine. Give me about fifteen minutes. I’ll get them fed, and then I’ll walk over to the guesthouse.”
“You’re a gem, Marjorie.”
“Call me Marj. Everyone does. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Thank you. Bye.”
My heart sped as I got dinner on the table. Once everyone was seated, I excused myself.
“You’re not eating?” Jade asked.
“Not hungry right now. I’ll eat later.” I sped out the front door so no one would ask questions about why I was going to the guesthouse. I quickly walked around the sprawling ranch house to the pathway in back.
Bryce wasn’t home. If he had been, Evelyn wouldn’t need me. So why was my heart pounding? Evelyn would only be gone an hour or so. Still, setting foot in what was now Bryce’s home gave me the chills—in both a good and a bad way.
I’d been in this house early this morning.
I’d read that horrible note here. In this house.
And now I was going back.
For Evelyn. For Henry. After all, a baby needed diapers.
Not for Bryce.
Not for Bryce at all. He wasn’t even there.
I knocked softly on the front door.
“Hi, Marj,” Evelyn said when she opened the door. “I can’t thank you en
ough for this. Henry adores you, and since you’re so close now—”
“It’s no problem,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m happy to help with Henry anytime.” I meant it. Bryce’s son was such a sweetie.
“I can’t believe the diapers disappeared.” She sighed. “This move happened so quickly, and the movers took care of everything. At least I thought they had.”
“Where’s Henry?”
“In the kitchen in his high chair. He just finished his supper. Let’s hope he doesn’t start fussing again. I won’t be long.” She dodged past me and out the door.
I hurried into the kitchen. Henry wasn’t fussing, but he didn’t smile at me either. Usually the kid was all happiness.
“Hey, sweetie. Let’s get that face cleaned up, and then we’ll find something fun to do. Would you like that?” I helped myself to a clean cloth out of a kitchen drawer, wet it with warm water, and cleaned Henry’s adorable lips and cheeks. “That’s better, huh?” I lifted him out of his chair and walked toward the bedrooms.
My skin tingled when I walked past the room where Bryce and I had made love. I peeked inside. That hadn’t become the nursery, thank God. In fact, it appeared just as it had, nothing new. Evelyn had taken a different room.
The nursery was the next room, all white walls with no nursery décor. Only a crib, changing table, a rocking chair, a bookshelf, and a big toy box. I eyed the bookshelf. “How about Goodnight, Moon? That’s always a good one.” I grabbed the book and sat down in the rocker, settling Henry into my lap.
So much for not fussing. Henry couldn’t get comfortable. I tried several different positions, but nothing worked. Finally I gave up on the book. I opened Henry’s small mouth and took a look. Indeed, a lateral incisor was erupting into Henry’s sore gums. Poor little guy. Something cold would help. With Henry still on my hip, I rooted through the toy box until I found some plastic teething keys. We walked to the kitchen, where I washed them with soapy water and then opened the freezer.
“Oh, Evelyn, bless you!” Another teething ring sat on the top shelf of the freezer. I replaced it with the keys and held the already cold ring against Henry’s gums. He resisted at first, but once the ring warmed a little, he sucked at it gladly.
“How about that story now?” I said, walking out of the kitchen.
And right into Bryce.
Chapter Seven