Despite her reservations, which had to do with her knowledge of Christian’s recent activities, Colette was eager to visit the older woman. She’d liked Elizabeth immensely and felt she’d developed a sense of Christian as a motherless boy, then a disillusioned teenager and an angry young adult. Christian was confident enough to stand up to his father and fight for his own choices in life. Colette appreciated the courage that must have taken and it made her wonder why he was risking everything now, why he was violating the principles he believed in for foolish gain. Colette could hardly imagine what his great-aunt would think when Christian was arrested. He would be sooner or later, and it would devastate her.
As Colette climbed the stairs to her apartment, she found herself smiling, anticipating an evening with the woman she’d come to admire on so brief an introduction. At this point, Elizabeth and Alix were the only people who knew about the baby. The other day, she’d felt movement for the first time and was looking forward to sharing this news with Elizabeth.
Yesterday, Steve had phoned and left a message on her cell. Coward that she was, Colette hadn’t returned his call. She would, though, and now, thanks to Elizabeth, she had a legitimate excuse to turn him down. She hoped he’d figure out that she was no longer interested in seeing him. If she needed to spell it out, she would, but she’d rather avoid a confrontation. It wasn’t as if they’d been dating seriously.
As she entered her apartment, Colette turned on the local news, a habit she’d gotten into. The television was company in the evenings. Putting aside the mail as the news reader described a four-car pileup, she rummaged through the refrigerator, seeking inspiration for dinner. While she decided, she opened a container of yogurt and ate that, half listening to the news story. No fatalities in that highway accident, she was glad to hear.
When her phone rang, she assumed it was Steve again. But caller ID didn’t indicate a number and after hesitating only a moment, she reached for the receiver. “Hello,” she said, half expecting some form of sales pitch.
“It’s Christian.”
The immediate joy, mingled with dread, utterly confused her. He’d promised not to have any contact with her and so far—other than his note about Steve—he’d kept his word. He hadn’t called or come to the shop in more than a month.
She’d been relieved.
She’d been disappointed.
She didn’t know what she felt for him anymore. She didn’t want him in her life, and at the same time she dreamed about him nearly every night.
“Hello.” She tried to sound disinterested and wondered if she’d succeeded. She’d rather Christian didn’t suspect she was so thrilled to hear his voice. Yet that was the feeling that quickly overwhelmed every other reaction.
“Your card came….”
“I wanted you to know,” he said with reluctance. “But that wasn’t part of our agreement, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t.” If he was guilty of breaking his word, she was equally guilty for being so pleased to hear from him. She’d never admit that, though. “How did you learn about Steve?” she asked. “Did you have him investigated?” The real question was: Why would he?
“No,” he replied tersely. “I know someone who used to be a friend of his.”
“Oh.” Colette wasn’t convinced she should believe him.
“Are you still seeing Grisham?” Christian demanded.
It was none of his business, and yet he might have saved her untold heartache. “No.” She didn’t offer any more explanation than that.
“Good.”
The silence between them made her nervous. Finally, Christian asked, “How are you, Colette?”
“I’m very well.” She wondered if he’d called to find out about her and Steve. No, more likely something had happened. “Have you…are you—you know?” She couldn’t say it. She was afraid he was about to be arrested and had turned to her for some kind of help or perhaps comfort.
“You don’t need to worry,” he said. “I’m not in jail yet.”
She was annoyed that he could joke about it, although he’d provided the information she’d been trying to find out. “Is there a reason for your call?” she asked curtly. Keeping an emotional distance was the only way she had of protecting herself.
“As a matter of fact, there is. I understand you recently met my aunt Elizabeth.”
Colette was instantly defensive, not wanting him to know she’d sought out the other woman. She probably should’ve realized that Elizabeth would talk to Christian about her visit.
“I delivered one of the weekly floral arrangements you ordered for her,” Colette told him. She wasn’t going to admit anything beyond that.
“I see.”
Her shoulders were so tense, they ached.
“My aunt Elizabeth is pretty special, isn’t she?”
“I really liked her.” There was no point in denying it.
“So my suspicions were right.”
“I beg your pardon?” Colette said. “What suspicions?”
“You received a dinner invitation from her, didn’t you?”
“How did you know?” Had Elizabeth told him about that, too?
“Because I also got one.”
It had never occurred to Colette that Elizabeth had invited anyone else, least of all Christian.
“I should’ve guessed,” he murmured.
“Guessed?” she repeated irritably. “Guessed what?”
“I hope you realize that my sweet, old-fashioned aunt is playing matchmaker,” he explained. “I received an invitation from her and she says she won’t take no for an answer.”