didn’t check my watch, but it was shortly before I left for the day. I leave at four p.m.”
“Okay. That’s helpful. You say he was dressed normally. Can you elaborate?”
“How can I elaborate? If he’d been wearing bright purple, I’d have noticed. I didn’t notice his clothes.”
“And you really can’t remember the length of his hair?”
“Nondescript. I would have remembered if he’d had really long hair, you know?”
“How tall was he?”
“Tall. Taller than me.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of. I’m sorry I’m not more help.”
“That’s okay,” I said sweetly. Best not to burn this bridge. “If I have more questions, I’ll call you.”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Thanks for your help.”
“You’re welcome.”
Yeah, I was definitely bringing Joe and Talon in on this. I began to text them when the phone buzzed again.
“Hello?”
“Marjorie, hello. Evelyn Simpson.”
My heart dropped. Why was Bryce’s mother calling me? “Hi, Evelyn.”
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but Bryce went out, and can you believe this? We’re out of diapers. I need to run into town and get some. I was sure I had another whole box, but they seem to have gotten lost in the move. Anyway, could you possibly come over and keep an eye on Henry while I’m gone? He’s been fussy all day, and I don’t want to drag him into town. He’s cutting another tooth, poor thing.”
Bryce had gone out. It was dinnertime, after all. Who had he gone out with?
None of my business.
None of my fucking business.
“I’m happy to, but I’m just putting dinner on the table for Talon, Jade, and the boys.”
“Oh, goodness. I don’t want to interrupt your dinner.”
“No worries about that. I’m not hungry anyway.” That was the God’s honest truth. After Bryce’s note, I might never eat again.
“You’re welcome to anything here. The place is stocked.” She chuckled, which sounded a bit forced. “With everything except diapers, that is.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine. Give me about fifteen minutes. I’ll get them fed, and then I’ll walk over to the guesthouse.”
“You’re a gem, Marjorie.”
“Call me Marj. Everyone does. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Thank you. Bye.”
My heart sped as I got dinner on the table. Once everyone was seated, I excused myself.
“You’re not eating?” Jade asked.
“Not hungry right now. I’ll eat later.” I sped out the front door so no one would ask questions about why I was going to the guesthouse. I quickly walked around the sprawling ranch house to the pathway in back.
Bryce wasn’t home. If he had been, Evelyn wouldn’t need me. So why was my heart pounding? Evelyn would only be gone an hour or so. Still, setting foot in what was now Bryce’s home gave me the chills—in both a good and a bad way.
I’d been in this house early this morning.
I’d read that horrible note here. In this house.
And now I was going back.
For Evelyn. For Henry. After all, a baby needed diapers.
Not for Bryce.
Not for Bryce at all. He wasn’t even there.
I knocked softly on the front door.
“Hi, Marj,” Evelyn said when she opened the door. “I can’t thank you enough for this. Henry adores you, and since you’re so close now—”
“It’s no problem,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m happy to help with Henry anytime.” I meant it. Bryce’s son was such a sweetie.
“I can’t believe the diapers disappeared.” She sighed. “This move happened so quickly, and the movers took care of everything. At least I thought they had.”
“Where’s Henry?”
“In the kitchen in his high chair. He just finished his supper. Let’s hope he doesn’t start fussing again. I won’t be long.” She dodged past me and out the door.
I hurried into the kitchen. Henry wasn’t fussing, but he didn’t smile at me either. Usually the kid was all happiness.
“Hey, sweetie. Let’s get that face cleaned up, and then we’ll find something fun to do. Would you like that?” I helped myself to a clean cloth out of a kitchen drawer, wet it with warm water, and cleaned Henry’s adorable lips and cheeks. “That’s better, huh?” I lifted him out of his chair and walked toward the bedrooms.
My skin tingled when I walked past the room where Bryce and I had made love. I peeked inside. That hadn’t become the nursery, thank God. In fact, it appeared just as it had, nothing new. Evelyn had taken a different room.
The nursery was the next room, all white walls with no nursery décor. Only a crib, changing table, a rocking chair, a bookshelf, and a big toy box. I eyed the bookshelf. “How about