Spectrum (Stone Society #14) - Faith Gibson Page 0,86

the moment was gone. Instead of taking up space someone else could enjoy, Rebekah made her way to the exit. She knew every inch of the Gardens and was familiar with those who worked and volunteered there. Most days, she found someone to speak to, if only to say hello. Not today. No, she got in her car and headed to the estate she called home.

When she had first come to live on the property, Rebekah wasn’t sure about being secluded, but after a while, the grounds, the fence surrounding the property, and the massive structure she shared with Jacob all became another sanctuary for her. The older man had been a colleague who befriended Rebekah. Theirs had been a relationship borne of loneliness on both their parts. His wife had passed away, and Rebekah filled the void for him, while his kindness did the same for her. After a couple years, Jacob convinced Rebekah to marry him. He had no children from his first marriage, and he wanted to provide for her. For fifteen years, the two of them lived together as friends. He never pushed her for a physical relationship, knowing her heart belonged to someone else. When Jacob passed away, he left Rebekah with an estate worth millions, but once again, her heart was shattered. She lost her best friend the day she laid Jacob to rest.

Rebekah had lost her heart the first time over thirty years ago, and no man had been able to retrieve it in all that time. She’d tried. Heaven knows she had tried to forget Gabriel, but her one and only love was always there, right at the surface. Rebekah had been brokenhearted when Gabriel turned her away. She had stuck around for a while, keeping in contact with his mother, but eventually Gabriel disappeared.

He had been different the last time she’d seen him. Quiet. Withdrawn. Whatever happened to change his appearance also changed Gabriel on the inside. Gone was the effervescent man she fell in love with. In his place was someone she didn’t recognize. Rebekah remained for a couple years, hoping and praying Gabriel would reach out to her. He never did, so she moved out west, hoping to put Gabriel behind her with the distance between them.

It didn’t work.

Trying to move on with her life, Rebekah threw herself into her profession and studies. She became a psychologist in the hopes that if she ever found Gabriel again, she could at least understand whatever he’d gone through. She wanted to help him, but if she never saw him again, at least she could help others. She had met Jacob at the clinic where she worked. He had first been her boss and mentor, then her friend and husband. His daily presence was a comfort until she lost him too. Now she was content with her tabby, Esmeralda.

Speaking of the feline, Esmeralda greeted her at the door, winding through Rebekah’s legs as she tried to navigate through to the kitchen without falling.

“Esme, one of these days, you’re going to make me fall, and then who’s going to feed you? Hmm?”

Esmeralda responded with a long “mrawr.”

Rebekah set her purse on the counter, then bent to pick up the menace. Rubbing at the M on Esme’s forehead, Rebekah carried her pet into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Esme nudged Rebekah’s hand for more loving. Toeing off her shoes, Rebekah relaxed, letting the cat’s purring do its job of soothing Rebekah’s soul. She closed her eyes as she stroked Esme, thinking about Christopher’s request for dinner with colleagues. The last time she had dined out in a group had been with Jacob before the heart attack took him suddenly. Rebekah used to love going to restaurants, meeting up with friends. If Christopher’s coworkers were anything like him, Friday wouldn’t be a hardship. It was the wives she was leery of. Still, she could hold her own for one evening.

Friday rolled around, and Rebekah was nervous. She dabbed concealer under her eyes, doing her best to cover the purple skin. It wasn’t like she was trying too hard to impress Christopher. Her makeup was subtle. Always had been. When satisfied with her face, she brushed her dark hair now interspersed with gray. She rummaged through her closet to find the perfect outfit. The Bowery was an upscale place, so she opted for one of her more stylish dresses, then added simple pearl earrings instead of her preferred diamonds. She didn’t want