Dark Choices - I. T. Lucas Page 0,3

around to it.

With the prospects of going home seemingly less dreary, Edna stacked the files on her desk into a neat pile, wiped the surface clean, and headed out of her office.

A couple of doors down the hallway, Bridget stepped out of hers as well. “Are you going home?” she asked.

“I’m going to grab a sandwich at the café first.”

“Good. I’ll join you.” The doctor fell in step with her. “My fridge is empty. I didn’t have time to do grocery shopping, and Turner is out of town, so the café it is.”

Edna nodded. “Same here.”

Except, in her case, there was no significant other who was mostly there and only temporarily absent. Even if she accepted Rufsur, her guy would be mostly absent and only temporarily present.

Perhaps a friend with benefits was a better way to describe him than a significant other? It didn’t imply commitment, so it was less troublesome to accept.

Rufsur wanted more than that, but his idea of their having a child together was absurd. Even if conception was possible for her, which it might be with Merlin’s help, how could she be a mother? There were no babysitters or other caretakers in the village, and she couldn’t afford to become a full-time mother like Eva had done.

Not true, a small voice in the back of her head whispered. Eva trained a replacement, and she still supervises the operations of her detective agency. You can do the same. The clan has several young lawyers that you can train, and when the baby comes, you can still direct their work.

What about the council? she asked the annoying voice.

The council meets only rarely, and you’d have no problem finding a babysitter when it’s not a daily thing. You could even bring the baby to council meetings.

“Edna?” Bridget asked. “Is everything alright?”

She shook her head to stop the voice in her head. “Why?"

“You spaced out on me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve been working on that land deal all day, and I just thought of a clause that I might have to redo. Did you say something?”

Damn, she hated lying. But if she admitted to having a conversation with an imaginary voice in her head, Bridget might think that she was losing it and suggest a consultation with Vanessa.

Perhaps that wasn’t such a bad idea. The therapist could help her sort things out, and if she saw her as a client, Vanessa would have to keep Edna’s slip into insanity confidential.

“I asked you if you wanted me to get you a cappuccino.”

“Sure. I like the arpeggio.”

“Me too. It’s strong and flavorful.” Bridget winked. “Like a good man.”

Edna ignored the remark, although strong and flavorful fit Rufsur to a tee. “I’ll get the sandwiches from the vending machine. Which one do you want?”

“The basil and mozzarella.”

“Got it.”

As Bridget walked up to the Nespresso device, Edna let out a breath and pulled out the clan credit card to pay for the sandwiches.

In three days, Rufsur would be back, and she still didn’t know how she was going to handle it.

Would she run into his open arms and admit missing him? Or would she play it cool and pretend that their short separation hadn’t bothered her?

The smart thing would be to do the latter, but Edna had a feeling that one look at Rufsur’s smile and adorable dimples would crumble her defenses, and she would succumb to the former.

3

Eleanor

Eleanor Takala, aka Marisol Ortega, aka Gina Padenton, read the email from Director Roberts for the third time and still couldn’t believe her eyes.

Dear Marisol,

I regret to inform you that your services will no longer be required. In an effort to cut costs, it has been decided to replace you with two full-time in-house recruiters. Your salary and the bonuses paid to you for each new trainee were deemed excessive.

Even though severance pay wasn't included in your contract, which I should remind you was terminable without notice by both parties, I managed to convince the administration to compensate you for the abrupt termination in the generous sum of $50,000.

Because of the sensitivity of this program and others at this location, your access has been revoked, and you are prohibited from entering the facility. If you attempt to do so, you will be arrested, and charges will be brought against you. The contents of your apartment in the facility have been packed up and shipped to your address in Harrisonburg. The van should be arriving later today.

Also, your security clearance has been revoked,