More Than a Mission - Caridad Pineiro [83]
The assignment with Rhia seemed the right thing to do. Not that he normally cared, but Silvershire was in an uproar and finding Donovan would help calm things down. On a personal level, Lazlo had been right that finding and dealing with Donovan would give him great satisfaction.
And possibly bring some closure for Lizzy to know that her sister’s killer had been apprehended.
The lead agent on the detail watching Lizzy called to confirm that all four men were returning to the hotel. Now it was up to him to remove the surveillance equipment only…
Lizzy was likely preparing for Dani’s memorial service. He didn’t want to intrude in that fashion at such a difficult time.
Removing the cameras could wait another day…or two.
Lizzy smoothed her fingers over the photo she had chosen for the service later that day. It was the one of Dani and her taken in Rome two years earlier. Both of them were smiling brilliantly, the happiness apparent to anyone who viewed the picture.
It was the way she wanted to remember Dani. Full of life. Full of love for her and for Mitch.
Inside the restaurant, Nat, Kate and Samantha were setting up chairs for those coming to the memorial service. On the mantel above the fireplace was an enlargement of the Rome photo.
Out back, she’d had her staff set up tables and chairs for a cold buffet she planned on serving her guests. A simple meal, mostly prepared by Nat. She couldn’t face going into the kitchen or out into the gardens.
Guilt swamped her that she was alive when Dani was dead.
And in the back of her mind, she kept on hoping it was all a mistake. That Dani would walk through her door at any moment, because inside her, Dani’s presence niggled at her, begging to be acknowledged.
A knock came at the door and her heart sped up. She’d seen the agents leaving earlier. Could that mean Dani’s killer had been caught? Could it be Aidan coming by with news?
She hurried to the door, but it was only a boy from a few houses down with an armful of flowers for her. “Mum says you might want some for the service.”
“Thank you, Billy. Thank your mother, as well.” she said to the ten-year-old as she took the flowers from him and cradled them to her chest.
Billy seemed satisfied with her response since he gave her a spontaneous hug and dashed off.
She buried her nose in the large bouquet of flowers and inhaled deeply. Their fragrance was heavenly. Billy’s mum always had the nicest garden in town and was quite particular about her blooms. That she would cut so many flowers from it for Dani…
Her throat tightened and she decided to walk the bouquet over to the restaurant, complete the preparations for the memorial.
Inside the restaurant, Samantha and Kate had finished setting up the chairs and were now placing the hostess’s podium at the front of the room for those who wanted to speak. Elizabeth hadn’t wanted anything too formal or religious. Dani had sworn off religion after their parents had died.
As she walked through the door with the flowers, her friends rushed over to take them from her.
“These are lovely,” Kate said and smelled them.
“Mrs. Sanders?” Samantha asked.
“Yes and yes. Can I help with anything?”
Kate placed her hands on her hips and looked around. “We’re pretty much done. Maybe Nat needs some help in the kitchen?”
“Subtle, Kate. Really subtle,” Samantha chided and elbowed Kate in the side.
“I’m not…” Elizabeth was going to say she wasn’t ready, but stopped short. When had she ever not wanted to cook? In the months after her parents had died, cooking for her and Dani had helped numb the pain. Later, working at the health food restaurant had done more than just provide money for the assorted things she and Dani needed. The joy of creating something tasty had driven away her sadness. Brought happiness back into her life.
Meeting her friends’ gazes, she nodded and said, “I’ll go see if Nat needs my help.”
She was in the kitchen, cooking. Flitting from the prep table to the stove