Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [105]
Liz put up a hand in defense. "No. We can't start over, because you're still involved in searching for your past, and I can't be part of that. I'm afraid of where that search will take you and what our relationship will be when you're done."
"We'll always be sisters." 264 "You say that now, but your feelings might change."
"They won't. I know they won't."
Liz shrugged. "All right, I'll believe you for the moment, but I'm still moving out. I don't want to live here with some madman running around after you, and I also need to take a step forward for myself. This seems like a good time to do that."
"Where are you going? To Dad's?"
"That would be easy. But no. Mary down at the cafe told me that her sister is in Europe for two weeks. I'm going to stay at her place while I look for something more permanent." Liz paused. "I don't think you should stay here alone. Maybe you should move in with Alex."
Julia shook her head. "I can't do that. Alex is leaving."
Liz's eyes widened in surprise. "Where's he going?"
"Back to work," she said simply, not having the energy to get into a lengthier discussion.
"Just like that he takes off? Nice guy. So what will you do now? I thought you needed his help to figure out your secret past."
"I'll do it on my own. I can handle it." She wasn't nearly as confident as her words.
"Maybe I should stay here after all," Liz said halfheartedly. "I don't want you to be alone."
Julia hesitated. She didn't want to be alone, either, but she also didn't want Liz in danger. And she knew that Liz needed to make this move for herself. "FB be fine. I'll probably find somewhere else to stay, a friend's house or something. Don't worry about me."
"I can't help it." Liz gave her a disgusted smile. "You're my sister." She walked over to Julia and put her arms around her, giving her a quick hug. "Be careful, okay?"
"I will. I promise."
As Liz left, Julia sat down on her bed and gazed around the room, which was in the same state she'd left it in yesterday. She might as well start cleaning, throwing away the broken pieces of her life. It would give her something to do while she considered her next move. And tomorrow she would go back to St. Helena and talk to Charles Manning. He was her only link to the past. Maybe Alex was right. Maybe his father would tell her more if she were on her own. She just hoped she was ready to hear it.
It was almost midnight when the knock came at her door. Julia started at the sound. She set down the broom she'd been sweeping with in the kitchen and moved cautiously to the front door. She didn't live in a security building, so anyone could come right up to her door. But she did have the dead bolt on as well as a chain. She peered through the peephole and was shocked to see Alex on the other side. She'd thought he'd be on a plane to some other continent by now.
"You came back," she said as she opened the door. Alex still wore the blue jeans and black polo shirt he'd had on earlier, but there was no sign of the overnight bag he'd been packing when she'd left his apartment. "What are you doing here?"
"Hell if I know," he said cryptically, as he walked into her apartment. "I see you've cleaned up."
"As much as I could. Some of the furniture I'll have to replace."
"Where's your sister?"
"She moved out earlier. She's going to get her/;.-., own place."
His eyes narrowed. "That was sudden."
"Not really. We haven't been living together all that well the past few months. She only intended to stay here temporarily after my mom died and my dad sold the house. One day just ran into the next." She 266 stopped abruptly. "You didn't come here to talk about