“You have a visitor at the gate. She’s not on the approved list.”
I look at Dillon. “Were you expecting someone?”
He shakes his head.
“What is her name?”
“Lori Roberts.” Charlotte wets her lips. “She said she’s Saffron Roberts’ older sister.”
Bile churns in my gut. “What does she want?”
“She said she needs to speak to you urgently. She said Reeve told her to come to you if he wasn’t around.”
Dillon and I exchange looks.
“She gave the security guard this to give to you.” Charlotte holds out an envelope with my name scrawled on the front.
My pulse picks up, and my heart beats crazy fast. “That’s Reeve’s handwriting.” I take the envelope with trembling hands.
Dillon winds his arm around my back. “Open it.”
I remove the single folded page as nausea swims up my throat. My inclination is to say to hell with this. Reeve is dead, and I want nothing to do with the Roberts family, but I’m stronger than I used to be, and I don’t shy away from things as much anymore. So, I open the letter and read my dead husband’s words. Dillon reads over my shoulder.
My darling Vivien,
If you are reading this letter, it’s because something has happened to me and Lori needs your help. I know you’re confused. She will explain, and then she has a second letter for you. Lori is nothing like Saffron, and you need to hear what she has to say.
Please do this for me. You’re the only one I can count on.
All my love,
Reeve.
“Oh God.” I wobble a little as my knees buckle, but Dillon is there to keep me upright.
“You don’t have to do this,” he says.
“I do.” I look up at him. “I have a really bad feeling about this, but ignoring it won’t make it go away. I’ll just drive myself demented trying to figure out what’s going on.” I turn to Charlotte. “Please tell the guard to let her through and send Leon to the gate to collect her.”
She nods and leaves.
“What do you think this could be?” Dillon asks, steering me back to the couch.
“I’d rather not guess.”
Dillon holds me as we wait for Lori to arrive and explain what the hell is going on. I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes and breathing deeply, reminding myself I am strong. I’m glad Easton is at school so we can talk to her without disruption.
We move to our formal living room, and she arrives a few minutes later just as Charlotte brings in a tray with refreshments.
Dillon and I stand as Lori enters the room. She is not at all what I was expecting, and she looks nothing like Saffron with her short blonde hair, almond-shaped blue eyes, and pale skin. She is dressed in a navy pants suit with a cream blouse and flat pumps. The only thing they have in common is their short stature, but Lori is a lot thinner than Saffron, and she doesn’t have her curves.
“We’re half-sisters,” she says, and I blush, feeling rude. “We had the same mom but different dads.”
Remembering my manners, I step toward her, extending my hand. “Forgive me. I’m Vivien, and this is my husband, Dillon.”
She shakes both our hands, and her palm is a little clammy. “Thank you for seeing me. I know you must be confused.”
“Please take a seat,” Dillon says, gesturing to the couch opposite us.