“You’re my second sister,” Avery said. She eased back and grinned. “Can’t get rid of Olivia as much as I used to want to.”
Ella laughed.
“I’m glad things seem more normal between you and Tyler. Usually when you two are together, you’re bickering like … siblings.”
More like sexually attracted adults, but no way was Ella going there. She had no doubt that Tyler had made his promise to check on her just to get Avery off both of their backs. No doubt, come tomorrow, she’d be back to her normal life, and Tyler would have forgotten all about a promise to his sister.
* * *
The next day, after an uneasy night’s sleep, a combination of jumpiness after her experience on the island and discomfort from the bump on her head, she woke up still tired. She showered, careful not to jostle her head too much since the bruising and swelling were still evident to the touch. But as she’d learned, the best way to deal with life was to push through it. So after Avery checked in as promised and Ella wished her a safe trip to L.A., she called her boss, grateful she had a home phone because she’d lost her cell in the mugging.
Angie answered on the first ring. “Darling, I’ve been so worried about you!” she said, because Ella had called her from St. Lucia, downplaying her situation but letting her know about the mugging and room break-in.
Although Angie had an affectation in her speech, so the word sounded more like dahling, the older woman had always been warm and caring toward Ella, and she heard the concern in her voice now.
“I’m home and I’m safe,” Ella said. “I know you told me to take some time off, but I’m ready to work.” To get back to normal. “Are you in the office today? I’d love to see the shots we took on the island.”
“I have a meeting in the Keys today, so I won’t be in. But you can meet me first thing tomorrow, and I’ll bring the pictures in. In the meantime, I insist you see a doctor here. Make sure you’re really all right.”
“It’s just a concussion,” Ella promised her. “But since you won’t be in today, I promise to rest.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, knowing she’d use her day off to run errands. “How’s that?”
“Sounds like it’s as good as I’m going to get, so I’ll take it. So … do you have the amulet?”
“Yes. I told you, I kept it in the hotel safe with the other pieces, so it wasn’t in the room when it was broken into. Don’t worry. I’ll bring everything with me tomorrow.”
“No!” Angie said, her tone sharp. “I mean, don’t worry about it for now,” she said, her voice back to normal. “Keep it somewhere safe. When we need everything for another shoot, you can give it back to me then.”
Ella shrugged. “Okay, I’ll do that. Have fun in the Keys.”
“Yes, wish me luck,” she said cryptically.
Ella had no idea what she was referring to. “Good luck,” she said, rolling her eyes, knowing her boss could be eccentric as well as temperamental.
“See you tomorrow, dear.”
“Bye.” Ella disconnected the call, then spent he next hour or more canceling credit cards and calling the bank. She locked the amulet in the safe in the closet in Avery’s old room.
Then she headed out, starting at the bank for a new debit card, then to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new license, and a trip to purchase a new cell phone. More than once, she had an uneasy feeling she couldn’t shake. She’d think she heard someone, look over her shoulder, but no one was there. Or look in her rearview mirror and think she was being followed. After St. Lucia, she felt paranoid and ridiculous, and she tried to push her unease out of her mind.
With the dreaded chores from the mugging complete, she made her way to the Dollar Store, where she bought colorful beads and necklaces for the kids at the hospital to replace what had been stolen when she was attacked. She caught sight of a dark-haired man staring at her at the store. She glanced at him and he waved and walked away. Crazy. She was losing her mind.
She refocused on the children, who would be excited to get presents, and it wouldn’t matter to them whether or not they came from the Caribbean. She also bought some cupcakes, because who didn’t like a special treat? And she needed one herself after the crazy couple of days she’d had. She had a special affinity for these kids, not because she’d ever been sick like them but because she’d spent time in the hospital. Despite her dislike of everything having to do with hospitals, first because of her mother and then thanks to her bone marrow donation, she never wanted another child to feel the fear that she had.
Her father had spent his time at his wife’s bedside, praying for her to get better. She’d been alone during and after the donation, more so when she’d gone home afterwards and Janice had remained hospitalized. Ella had been left in her stepbrother’s care, and while Drew had never abused her, he hadn’t paid attention to her either. He’d resented having to look after her when he could be with his friends or at the hospital with his mom. Ella might as well have been alone.
While some of the kids Ella visited today had parents who were there for them twenty-four seven, others were alone while their mom or dad worked during the day. Ella liked to fill in those gaps, and she spent the better part of the afternoon watching TV and telling stories about the Caribbean island and the hurricane she really hadn’t experienced and making up tales about the amulet necklace the clerk had told her about, which the kids were fascinated by.
Finally, exhausted and head pounding from overdoing it too soon, she stopped at the supermarket so she could add to the items Avery had purchased for her, including buying sushi for dinner.
She returned to her apartment to find Tyler waiting outside her door, foot tapping, eyeing her with a combination of concern and annoyance.
* * *
Tyler had been standing in the hallway for a good half hour waiting for Ella outside her apartment. Her cell had been stolen with her purse, and he couldn’t call her to ask where the hell she was. Hadn’t he told her he’d be checking in after work?
Finally, the elevator doors opened and she walked out, wearing a lavender tank top and a soft white skirt floating around her thighs, casual as you please, grocery bags in hand. He was worked up, torn between worry an
d frustration.