False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [107]
Zoe stepped into the tub and pulled the shower curtain, the pulsating water hitting her back, feeling both soothing and therapeutic. She poured conditioning shampoo onto her head and worked up a luxurious lather, the massaging motion of the warm water making her long for the sleep she never got.
She rinsed and dried off, then slipped into her terry bathrobe and saw Pierce’s matching robe still hanging on the back of the door. Her thoughts immediately raced in reverse to those special days when they took off work together and stayed in bed—talking, reading, listening to music, watching movies, making love … no commitments at the eatery and no interruptions. Weren’t those times alone with him pure bliss?
She stood in front of the mirror and dried her hair, then put on waterproof mascara, anticipating the emotional impact of Remy’s funeral. She put on her black dress and fastened her favorite strand of pearls around her neck. Why did she look so pale? She brushed a little blush on her cheeks and put on lipstick. Better. At least she looked alive.
Robotically she went into the kitchen and made a single cup of fresh-brewed coffee, then sat at the breakfast bar, staring at the collage of photographs held to the refrigerator with heart magnets. Would these end up in the bottom of the shoebox with the photos of her parents and her brother, Michael?
She took a sip of coffee. How was she going to get through this day without letting on that her heart was broken? Guilt taunted her with biting sarcasm. How hard could it be for someone as practiced as she—the queen of pretense, the lady of lies?
She glanced at her cell phone and noticed she had a message. Had Pierce called her while she was in the shower? She keyed in the numbers to retrieve the message.
“Zoe, this is Adele Woodmore. It’s eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. I called several times Sunday and Monday and can’t seem to reach you. I decided to leave a message this time. My attorney has drawn up the papers, hon. You indicated that you’d prefer to come back to Alexandria to sign them so let me know when. I have them here at the house. I’ve been praying for y’all. I do hope things are working out the way you hoped. Let me hear from you soon.”
Zoe blinked the stinging from her eyes. How could she renege on this agreement after she had made such an issue of it? But if she signed the papers and Zoe B’s profit took a nosedive because of her personal life, Adele wasn’t going to get her thousand dollars a month. Should she take tomorrow and drive to Alexandria and just tell Adele the disappointing truth? How could she? How could she not?
Zoe stood and dumped her coffee in the sink. She didn’t have to decide today. Today was reserved for Remy.
Vanessa waited in her hospital room with Ethan for someone to bring her discharge papers. Outside her window, the morning haze looked ghostly as it hovered above the damp ground and caught the rays of sun.
“I’m glad you got a good night’s sleep,” Ethan said.
“I really did. But I’m so anxious to get home to Carter. I miss him so much.”
“He misses you, too, honey. I’m just glad it’s over.”
“So am I.”
Ethan pulled a chair up next to her bed and sat. “I called Southern Pride and told them about the door in the closet, the hidden staircase, and the tunnels, and they’re going to come out next week and take a look. They’ll probably make some adjustments to the new blueprints.”
“Did you have a chance to call Haven House and talk to Noah?”
“I did. Noah said he would love to talk with us anytime. I told him I would call him there as soon as you’re up to it. Apparently, Sheriff Prejean asked him not to leave town for a few days.”
“Was he planning to?”
Ethan shrugged. “I didn’t get that impression. But the guy doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“I wonder what his story is. I’ve always wondered why someone would choose to stay homeless when there are so many agencies willing to help them.”
“Honey, you can’t ask him