She presses her lips together and glances in the mirror. Satisfied, she shoves everything back into her handbag.
“Thank you for the treat,” she says, rising to her feet.
I follow her example and accompany her to the exit.
A few minutes later, I wave her goodbye while she backs away and steers her car out of my driveway.
For a few moments, I look up and down the street, taking in the trees, manicured landscapes, wrought iron gates, and homes peeking through.
Her car reaches the end of the street and takes a turn when my phone starts ringing. Puzzled, I glance at the screen. It’s a New York number I don’t recognize.
Evelyne comes to mind, but I dismiss that thought fast. There’s no way she has my number. Adele is the only one who knows it, and she wouldn’t give it to anyone without my permission.
I keep staring at my phone, pondering whether to pick up the call or not. I finally make up my mind and decide against it.
A second call follows shortly.
Something prompts me to slide my finger over the screen.
“Yes?” I ask hesitantly.
A pause comes first, and I instantly know everything I need to know.
I’m tempted to hang up. Instead, I look at the screen again.
I hear a long sigh and then his voice.
“You know who this is,” he says, and my insides collapse.
My hands tremble.
“How did you get this number?”
His laughter echoes in my ear.
“Is that even a question?”
“Yes, it fucking is. This is not a public number. Nobody in my family has it.”
“Let’s say I have my sources,” he says in a raspy voice.
My finger flies across the screen that very instant as I hang up on him. I expect him to call again.
He doesn’t.
Shaken, I call Harper and instruct her to get me a new phone number. She takes all the information without asking questions.
Quivering, I walk inside.
Not far from the pool, Jaden sits at the patio table. His eyes are trained on me as I walk toward him.
“What happened?” he asks, playing with his lighter.
“Nothing,” I say curtly.
“Sit with me,” he says as I veer toward the house, trying to avoid him.
I glance at him. He motions me to the chair across from him.