Summer's End (Wildflowers #5) - Jill Sanders Page 0,68

the morning,” the officer supplied.

“Thanks,” Aubrey said with a sigh.

This time when they stepped into the elevator, she rested her head on his shoulder.

“Food first then rest?” he asked.

“Yes.” She nodded and held in a yawn. “Why do you think she was watching the hospital?” she asked him when they were in a taxi. Now as the skies grew darker, the snow was starting to fall again.

“I’m not sure,” he said after he’d thought about it for a moment. “Maybe to see if the police were after her? I mean, it’s being kept out of the news.”

“Yeah, Dad’s lawyers are all over it. I doubt he’ll ever allow the full story to get out. Let alone any of the pictures taken of us last night. After all, he doesn’t want to look weak in the public eye.” She rolled her eyes.

“At some point,” he said when the taxi stopped, and he helped Aubrey out, “we’ll need to talk about your mom and everything.”

“Later.” She sighed and glanced around. “Where are we?”

“Hannah texted me a few great places to eat earlier. This was number one on her list.” He shrugged and glanced up at the Greek restaurant. “She says you like Greek food.”

“God”—Aubrey held her stomach—“I love it.” She rushed towards the door with him on her heels as more snow fell.

Chapter 21

By the following morning, Aubrey was ready to head home. She’d had enough of the city. Enough of the foul weather. She wanted, no needed, her friends and the warmth of Florida.

She’d gotten word from Dr. Williams that her father had already arrived safe and sound at home. So what was really keeping her there? Dr. Williams had informed her that he would be spending a few days checking in on her father personally and had even hired a full-time nurse to watch over him.

“He’s not back to his old self quite yet, but he’s getting there,” Dr. Williams told her over the phone.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing out over the wet city. The snow had melted again, leaving everything black and slick. She shivered at the thought of heading outside into the mess.

“He mentioned that the two of you had a misunderstanding,” Dr. Williams said.

“Mis…” She held in the chuckle and thought about what her father had basically confessed to them. Shaking her head, she replied. “He’s taking Bridgett’s side. He actually accused me of poisoning him.”

“Aubrey, you can’t take that to heart. He was still under the effects of the alprazolam. It wasn’t completely out of his system until late last night after you’d left.”

Her eyes narrowed as she stiffened. “He has never taken my side on anything, even before he was drugged,” she reminded the doctor.

He was silent for a moment, then added, “I remember when you first came to live with Harold. He was so excited to finally have a child. You would’ve thought that he’d won the lottery.”

“Did you know my mother?” she interrupted his memories.

“Well, not really. I’d met her on several occasions. I’m the one who did the paternity tests on you. Naturally, she demanded to be present during the entire process.”

“From what you noticed, was my mother doing drugs?” she asked, leaning her head against the cold window glass.

“No, no,” he answered. “I said so when I was summoned to court.”

She jolted upright. “You testified?”

“When your father sued for full custody, naturally, I was called in to weigh in on the test results and the health of your father. It wasn’t easy for a man in his late fifties to take on a child. He’d accused your mother and torn down her lifestyle. He even had a bunch of her past coworkers on the stand saying she had done drugs and left you alone at times.”

Her temper grew. Not once could she remember being left alone until Harold had gained full custody of her.

“And you saw her again in court?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said softly. “The day before…she died.”

“Did she appear suicidal then?” she asked.

“No,” he said firmly. “She was angry. Like you were yesterday evening when I walked into your father’s room. I’ve seen that look in your eyes often enough over the years to know it was anger, not sadness.”

Aubrey closed her eyes and tried to remember anything about that day she and her mother had returned home from court. But, as with most of her memories of Nora, they were faded or mixed together.

“Can you get your hands on my mother’s autopsy reports?” she asked, feeling her stomach