“What’s that?”
“I don’t live there, so I’ll need some excuse for pawing through those old boxes.”
I sighed. “Use the reunion excuse.”
“If Talon and Marj buy it.”
“Then don’t worry about it. I’m sure my mom kept every photo ever taken of me. Only child thing and all. I have the school photos somewhere.”
“They could have gotten lost in the move.”
He had a point. The movers had lost Henry’s diapers, so old photos could definitely be goners.
My thoughts flew to my mother and father’s wedding photo—the photo I’d hid in a book at my mother’s request. “My mom is taking Henry to visit her sister in Florida for a few weeks. Once she’s gone, I’ll have free rein of the house and can root through boxes without inviting questions.”
“Sounds good.” Joe shoved his notepad back into his pocket. “Keep me posted.”
“How? How do we contact each other if we can’t use any phones?”
“I’ve taken care of that. I had some people moved around in the office building. Your office will be right next to mine.”
“Okay. That’s good. What about nonwork hours, though?”
“We could text in code.”
“Yeah, that’s not suspicious at all,” I said sarcastically.
“You got a better idea?”
Before I could answer, my cell phone buzzed.
Chapter Twenty
Marjorie
I’d become engrossed in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Good versus evil was a classic trope in literature, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen it more artfully crafted. I thought about so many people. Bryce’s father, for sure, and my half uncle, Larry Wade.
But I also saw my own father, Brad Steel, in the mix.
He hadn’t been an evil man, but he’d done evil things. He’d slept with Wendy Madigan, resulting in Ryan. I couldn’t bring myself to regret that he’d been unfaithful to my mother, because if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have Ryan as a brother. I adored all my brothers, but Ryan had always been special to me. He was so happy and joyful, a welcome respite when Joe and Talon had been brooding.
We were all a little evil in our own way.
But my father… I’d worshiped him. I’d mourned him when he “died” after I turned eighteen. I missed him still, even though I now knew he wasn’t perfect. I’d been his baby girl. In fact, that was what he’d called me.
Baby girl.
He hadn’t spoiled me. He’d tried a few times, but I hadn’t let him. I’d learned the ranching business and had worked as hard around here as my brothers. I could run this business. I just had no interest in doing so. Silent partnership was great for me.
He’d taught all of us the value of a dollar and of a hard day’s work. None of us took our money for granted. Oh, we treated ourselves for sure, but we were always grateful for our fortune.
Because of the Steel money, I could study cooking in Paris and not worry about funding.
Yes. I should do that.
But not until Jade had the baby. I couldn’t leave my best friend, especially not since her pregnancy had been so difficult. Luckily, her spotting had stopped. Still, we all were walking on pins and needles, even though we tried not to mention it.
I scoffed to myself. Once the baby was born, would I be able to leave then? My best friend’s baby. Plus, I’d already have a new nephew as well—Joe and Mel’s son, who was due soon.