Conflict of Interest (The McClouds of Mississippi 2)

He just hadn’t realized the time was quite so close.

“Look,” he said, shaking his head in self-disgust, “I know you don’t understand the history between Dylan Smith and me. And I know you like the guy, for some reason I can’t imagine. What I’m trying to say is, I’m not really angry with you for inviting Smith in, even though he should have known better than to accept.”

“How very gracious of you.” The ice dripping from her words made his skin chill.

He had definitely blown his chance for another night of passion.

“Gideon?” Caitlin stood in the kitchen doorway, looking uncertainly from him to Adrienne. “Nathan and I are tired, and we’d like to get home. I’ve got Isabelle’s things packed and she’s waiting in the living room to say goodbye.”

“You’re leaving now?”

She nodded. “I’m sure you’ll be glad to get back to your usual routines without worrying about keeping an eye on Isabelle.”

Since that was exactly the way he should feel, he couldn’t imagine why he suddenly felt his scowl deepening. “I’ll come see her off. Adrienne?”

“Yes, I’d like to say goodbye to her.”

Isabelle waited in the living room with Nathan. Her big red suitcase and purple backpack sat by the door, and she held her white owl in one hand. Her expression was grave when she looked at Gideon, and he suspected she was still annoyed with him for being mean, in her opinion, to her friend Dylan.

He swallowed a sigh and knelt in front of her. “I’m sorry I came home grouchy.”

She looked at him through her lashes. “You made Dylan leave.”

“Isabelle, you know Dylan and I aren’t friends. It has nothing to do with you or the way you feel about either of us.”

“You’re making Adrienne leave, too. She said she’s going away tomorrow.”

He shook his head. “Adrienne knows she’s welcome to stay here as long as she likes. But she was only here for a visit—like you were. And now she needs to go home—like you do.”

“Then you’ll be here all by yourself. Won’t you be lonely?”

Gideon was relieved when Nathan answered for him. “Gideon likes living by himself, poppet. It’s easier for him to write his books that way.”

“Sometimes he forgets to eat. Adrienne makes him stop working so he won’t get too hungry.”

It occurred to Gideon only then that his little sister was actually worried about him, even if she was still rather irritated with him. “I won’t forget to eat,” he promised. “When I get hungry, I’ll eat. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

“But what if you get lonely?”

“Then I’ll pick up the phone and give you a call,” he answered with a smile. “Maybe you can go have ice cream with me sometime. Okay?”

She thought about that a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

And then she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for letting me stay with you, Gideon.”

She still had a unique way of saying his name, he thought with an odd lump in his throat. He was going to miss hearing it.

He stood to one side and watched as Isabelle and Adrienne said their goodbyes with hugs and kisses.

“When will I see you again?” Isabelle asked.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back,” Adrienne answered evasively. “But I won’t forget you, sweetie. And I’ll always treasure the picture you drew for me.”

Nathan swung Isabelle into his arms. “I’ll call you,” he said to Gideon. “And thanks for helping out with Isabelle.”

Gideon nodded. “I enjoyed it,” he said, and realized that it was the truth, for the most part.

Nathan’s family departed in a final rush of words and noise that made the silence all the more noticeable when the door closed behind them. Pushing his hands into his pockets, Gideon looked at Adrienne, thinking of the other goodbye that faced them.