“Because he needed to know—” Mom stopped midsentence, narrowing her eyes. “Heather! This is foul play.”
I held up my hands in defense. “I had to try.”
I climbed down from the chair, suddenly feeling jittery and so pumped up with energy that I could run a marathon. I felt as if the walls of the house were closing in on me.
“I’m going for a swim in the pool,” I announced. Swimming was even better than running when it came to calming myself down. The community had built a residential pool two decades ago. It had been the highlight back then.
“Oh, now you’re going to leave me? Just when I’m about to start cooking lunch?”
“Would you rather I stay and help you?”
Mom waved her hand dismissively and teased me. “Go, go. You’re not needed here. Are you going to stay at the pool the entire time?”
“Probably. Why?”
“So I know where to find you if I do need you. Your dad and I will take Avery and Jill to the fair as soon as she wakes up, so we might not be home when you come back.”
Jill was Avery’s best friend in Phoenix.
“Okay.” I took another muffin from the plate Mom had carefully arranged.
“Hey!” Mom admonished.
“What? I deserve this for having to live knowing that you’ve been having conversations behind my back.”
Mom laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Are you sure you can’t tell me anything?” I asked, gripping the muffin so tightly that the base disintegrated between my fingers.
“No.”
“Not even a hint?”
Mom shook her head. I stole yet another muffin. “You know what? I don’t think I’ll need lunch after all.”
“That is not a healthy meal, young lady.”
“Oh, I know. But it’s food for the soul, you know? Especially when you discover that your own blood is up to no good.”
Mom didn’t have any comeback. After finding a bikini in my room, I darted out of the house.
The heat in Arizona was so different compared to New York. I’d gotten so used to the humidity permeating the air in the summer months, it was shocking how dry it was out here. It was almost as if I could feel the dust particles from the scorched earth whirling in the air.
I walked lazily toward the pool, soaking in the sun. Why had Ryker called Mom? She’d called him charming, so it had to be good, right?
My heart felt lighter with every step. I hadn’t even realized it had felt heavy as a stone until now.
***
Ryker
I flew into Phoenix early the next morning, then took a cab to Heather’s parents’ hometown. The driver had no problems finding the address Mrs. Prescott had given me. I got out of the car in front of a white house with a bright green roof and a generous front porch. The door opened just as I reached the landing.
Mrs. Prescott came out, smiling at me.
“I see you found the house easily,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am. Nice to see you again.” We shook hands just as a man I assumed was Mr. Prescott joined us.