blinked. “No, even Philip isn’t that self-involved.”
Wade pursed his mouth at her as if she’d said something stupid, and he stood back up to get his eggs.
Out in the sitting room, she heard a soft knock on the front door, and she tensed. That would be Robert.
“I’ll get it,” Rose called from her room.
Wade scooped his eggs from the pan onto a paper plate, and he sat down beside Eleisha with his own tea. Voices carried from the sitting room, and then Eleisha looked over to see Robert standing in the archway. He was quite possibly the most physically intimidating person she’d ever met, and she didn’t know why. He wasn’t even as tall as Philip.
Maybe it was his eyes.
He carried over one shoulder a narrow nylon bag that stretched down to his thigh, and he was looking around the kitchen at the bright pots of herbs and the teakettle and egg pan on the stove. Then his gaze moved to Eleisha and Wade sitting at the table.
“Is there more tea?” he asked.
That was the first moment Eleisha felt any kind of connection to him. She remembered waking up after her first night here and how wonderfully comfortable it had been to just sit in a kitchen and drink tea with other people. How long since he’d enjoyed such a simple pleasure?
“Yes,” she said, getting up. “Come and sit. Wade, you finish your eggs.”
She made Robert a cup of tea and brought it to him, deciding not beat about the bush, as they didn’t have a great deal of time. “We’ve decided to leave tonight. I reserved two adjoining cabins on an Amtrak,” she said.
“So soon?” he asked.
“There’s no reason to stay, and I should start making arrangements to purchase the church. I can give you our address in Portland if you need to think this over and perhaps join us later, or you can come with us tonight.”
“Tonight? I don’t have a ticket.”
“I bought one for you last night when I booked ours.”
He stood up, ignoring his tea, seeming uncomfortable. “You bought me a train ticket on one night’s notice? How much did that cost?”
“Cost?” She shook her head. “I’m not sure. I won’t pay the Visa bill until the end of the month.”
“It’s all right, Robert,” Wade cut in. “Eleisha doesn’t . . . she doesn’t need to worry about money. It’s fine.”
Maybe Robert liked to pay his own way?
Philip walked into the kitchen wearing nothing but his Calvin Klein jeans and rubbing his wet hair with a towel. He half turned to grab a mug out of the cupboard, exposing the white cigar burns on his shoulders.
At the sight of him like this, Robert froze, as if recognizing him for the first time, and the tension meter in the room suddenly shot up.
“What?” Wade asked in alarm, looking at Robert.
Philip stopped rubbing his hair and took the towel away, glancing down at himself, and then he locked eyes with Robert, but with some kind of intense realization dawning on his face until Eleisha wondered if the two of them were sharing a memory.
“Eleisha,” Philip said slowly, putting the empty mug down. “You’d better take your shower while I get us packed.”
She hurried over to him, still not sure what was wrong. “Of course. Can I borrow a sweater? I didn’t bring enough clothes.”
“Sure.”
He backed out of the kitchen and then turned around. Eleisha followed him to the guest room.
“What was that about?” she whispered.
“Nothing.” He turned away. “Go take your shower.”
She never pushed him when he got like this, so she gathered up some clothes to wear, not paying much attention to what she grabbed.
Considering his mood, this was hardly the most opportune moment, but she wanted to speak to him before they left.
“Philip,” she said to his back, “Rose is afraid of traveling, and I want you to look out for her, be kind to her, protect her like you do for me and Wade.”
He glanced over his shoulder, and she could see his expression darkening. This would be so much easier if she could just use her gift, but he’d feel it, and afterward, he’d blame her.
“Rose is like Robert,” she said quickly, “just someone we’re trying to help. She’ll never be the kind of friend that Wade is to us, and she will never be what you are to me.”
The anger in his profile vanished, but he didn’t answer.
“Be kind to her,” she repeated, hurrying out toward the bathroom.