“You two have things to discuss.” She smiled at Fliss. “I thought you could do with privacy.”
“Don’t leave because of me.” Fliss sat slumped next to him. “I’m the one who should be leaving. I didn’t mean to intrude. Daniel doesn’t usually have overnight guests. I haven’t got used to the idea, so I didn’t think.” She stood up. “I’ll leave. I’ll call you tomorrow, Dan.”
His hand shot out and he tugged her back down. “You’re not leaving and you’re not intruding.” His voice was rough. “If you want to talk privately, I’m sure Molly can catch up on some work. I distracted her earlier.”
“No.” Fliss seemed to pull herself together. She shifted her gaze from her brother to Molly. “You’re a psychologist, aren’t you? Maybe you can find a way to fix my brain.” It was the pronounced shake in her voice that convinced Molly to stay.
“Does it need fixing?” She sat down opposite, so that she could see both of them.
“I need to cure myself of these thoughts I’m having.”
“What thoughts?”
Fliss chewed the corner of her fingernail. “Have you ever absolutely not wanted to feel anything, and then felt it really badly?”
Daniel handed her the hot chocolate. “Drink this instead of eating your nails. I’m assuming what you’re feeling has to do with Seth?”
“Seth?” Molly couldn’t work out why the name was familiar. And then she remembered. “That was the guy we met the other night?”
Fliss snatched in a breath. “You met him?”
“In the reception area at the vet clinic. It was obvious Daniel knew him. You had a relationship with him?”
“You could say that.” Fliss gave a choked laugh. “We were married.”
Molly hid her surprise. Not that she knew her well, but she never would have guessed Fliss had been married. Did that explain Daniel’s animosity toward the man? “I didn’t know that. I didn’t know you’d ever been married.”
“Not many people do. I was eighteen. It wasn’t my finest hour and it’s not something I generally bring up in conversation. I’ve moved on. I thought I was doing pretty well…” Her eyes filled and she turned to Daniel. “Do not tell Harry I’m upset. Promise me?”
“Sure, but—”
“No buts. I told her I’m fine. I want her to think that. That’s why I’m crying here on you, and not there with her.”
“She’s your twin. You don’t think she’d want to know?”
“She probably already does know, but that doesn’t mean I have to confirm it.” Fliss wiped her cheek on her sleeve. “I’m here because you know a lot about difficult relationships, and seeing as my relationship with Seth was difficult I need to know what to do. What I’d really love to do is not see him, but it seems that isn’t going to be an option. So the next best thing is to be in charge of the meeting. I don’t want to bump into him when I’m not prepared. But I don’t want him to know I’m prepared. I need to make it look casual. Like I’m totally fine.”
Daniel let out a long breath. “He saw me, Fliss. He’s going to know I’ve told you he’s here.”
“I know, which means I can’t pretend it’s a surprise.” Fliss put the hot chocolate down untouched and looked at Daniel in despair. “I don’t know what to say to him. My palms are sweaty, my heart is racing, I’m a mess. And I hate it. Men don’t make me feel this way. Not ever.”
One man clearly does, Molly thought, but she kept that thought to herself.
“You and he are history,” Daniel said. “Is it such a big deal?”
Fliss was silent. “It’s a big deal,” she muttered. “There’s stuff—”
Daniel frowned. “Stuff?”
She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“What stuff, Fliss?”
“Nothing, so you can drop the stern lawyer tone. But I need to know how to behave. What should I do and say? I don’t want to get this wrong.”
“Molly?” Daniel looked at her. “You’re the psychologist.”
Molly was wondering what Fliss was hiding from her brother.