“I get the picture.” Daniel paced again, and one of Harriet’s kittens that had wandered away from the sofa sprinted to safety. “I don’t know what else to say to her.”
“You always know what to say. People pay tons of money precisely because you know what to say and how to get them the best outcome.”
“This isn’t a court of law.”
“But you’re fighting for the best outcome. The difference is that this time it’s for yourself.”
“I’m finding it a little hard to stay objective.”
“Yeah, I’m getting that,” Fliss said, eyeing him, “and so is our rug. If you wear it out, you’re going to have to buy us a new one.”
“Enough!” Harriet vanished to the kitchen and emerged with cookies and cans of soda. “If we’re going to make a plan, we need sustenance.”
Fliss took a cookie and bit into it savagely.
Harriet glanced at her twin. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry. This isn’t even your problem.”
“I’m not angry.” Fliss let out her breath in a little huff. “All right, maybe I’m a little angry.”
Daniel stopped pacing. “Why?”
Fliss glared at him. “Because you’re my brother and I don’t like seeing you hurt! And don’t say it’s not our problem because it is our problem. We’re a family.”
Harriet’s eyes misted. “Fliss—”
“What? Don’t read anything into it. I still think you’re annoying,” she addressed Daniel, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t want things to work out for you.”
The phone rang and Harriet answered it, her expression turning from serene to anxious. “He did?” She paused, listening. “Where did you last see him?… Yes, you’re right, that is close to the road… You tried looking?… I’ll come now.” She ended the call and reached for her keys. “I have to go out. I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going? Who was it?”
“It was the family who have Brutus.” Harriet glanced nervously at Daniel, clearly reluctant to give more bad news. “They let him off the lead in the park and he didn’t come back. They don’t know where he is.”
* * *
Molly rapped on Gabe and Mark’s door.
When Mark opened the door, she walked into the apartment without waiting to be invited. “It’s over.”
“What’s over?” Mark looked alarmed. “Everything looked fine last time I looked. You were swamped with supportive comments on your site. People are impressed at how you picked yourself up again when your life crashed. They’re saying you’re an inspiration. An—”
r /> “Not my career. My relationship. I ended it.”
Mark closed the door. “In that case we need to talk. Where’s Valentine?”
“I left him in the apartment. He was getting upset seeing me upset. And I stepped on his paw. Twice. And talking would be great, but do not give me champagne. Bad things happen when I drink champagne.” She saw Mark’s drawings scattered across the table. “Did Gabe go to work today?”
“Yes. Emergency client meeting.”
“And I kept you both up most of the night. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. That’s what friends are for.”
“Don’t make me cry. I’ve had no sleep, so it’s not going to take much.”
“I’m not going to make you cry.” He pushed her gently onto the sofa. “We didn’t leave you until three in the morning. I assumed Daniel would stay.”
“He would have stayed. But I told him to go.”