phone back to Miss Summers, please?”
When Bridget handed me the phone, my heart thudded faster. I didn’t like that he made me so nervous, so I clipped that feeling and presented my professional smile. I mostly resisted the urge to check my image in the corner and try for my best angle.
“Hi.” I stared into the screen at his face ... his thick eyebrows, his stunning chestnut-colored eyes, his sharp nose, and those lips that made you wonder what they tasted like. Then a horrifying thought came to mind. He could see every detail of my face. I pushed back the phone.
“Miss Summers.”
“Kate. Call me Kate, please.”
“Kate ...” He paused and seemed to have lost his words.
“Did you need anything?” I found myself lacking words and lost in his eyes.
“I-I wanted to thank you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s my job.” I flashed a glance at his daughter and smiled.
“I know.” His eyebrows drew to the center, like he was concerned. “I ... Well—”
“Leonardo. Who are you talking to? I hope it’s not business.” A woman’s voice.
The phone shifted. I got a glimpse of people at a table with candles shimmering. I bristled, my heart thundering. This situation reminded me of the night Jayden had cheated on me. He’d said he was away on a business trip, but he wasn’t. He’d drunk too much and video chatted me. Some girl he was with had showed herself and made out with him.
“I’m talking to my daughter.” His voice sounded muffled, like he didn’t want me to hear, and then I didn’t know what else he said.
“Mr. Medici?” I had to repeat his name.
“Miss Summers. Sorry about that. Anyway ...”
I didn’t bother asking him to call me Kate again. “Well, looks like you’re busy. Please go back to your dinner. Bridget is fine. Everything is fine.” I angled the phone so he could see his daughter one last time before we ended the call.
“Good. I’m not checking up on you. I know Bridget is in good hands. Thank you again.”
“Goodnight,” I said in a professional tone and pushed back into the headboard.
Bridget looked at me with her head tilted when I hung up. The way she crinkled her nose and scrunched her eyebrows reminded me of how Tyler looked when he was thinking over something intently.
“Is something wrong, Bridget?”
“Are you mad?” She pulled her blanket up to her chest.
“What? No. What made you think that?”
“You sounded mad.”
“Oh, no.” I’d been sure I kept a steady tone. Had I raised my voice? “I’m not mad. I couldn’t hear well. Anyway, you want to continue?” I flipped back to the page we had left off.
The corners of her mouth turned down, her eyes wide with concern.
“What’s wrong?” I wondered if I’d said something to upset her.
“Can you sleep with me? I get scared at nights. Sometimes Papa or Mona sleeps with me when I ask.”
“Sure. Not a problem.”
“Thank you.” She shifted to get comfortable among her pillows.
“Bridget, I promise I won’t get mad, but did you do something to my phone? Like change the ringtone by accident?”
“No, I promise.” She shook her head.
I wasn’t even sure when she would’ve had access to it. The only time I hadn’t had it was when I was in the bathroom. But it wouldn’t be the first time my phone had done something strange on its own, so I brushed it off.
“Bridget, where’s your mother?” I attempted to ask once more. I assumed from her previous words that her mother was dead, that she was an angel, but sometimes kids get their words mixed up.
It seemed like a simple question, but she didn’t answer and pointed to the book. I began to read aloud. It was none of my business.
Just do your job. Don’t meddle.
When Bridget fell asleep, I turned off the lights and called Abby as I lay in bed.
“Hey. How’s it going?” Abby said.
“Fine. How’s everything on your end?” I whispered and stared at the nightlight by the bathroom.
“The same. Nothing’s new. I’m in bed.”
“Can I speak to Ty?” I shifted to my side, facing Bridget.
“Sorry. He’s already asleep.” She sounded tired.
“Oh,” I dropped my voice. “Can you make sure he calls me tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Can you do me a favor?” I yawned and stretched my arms and flexed my bare feet.
“Sure.”
“Can you ask your friend that knows Jessica’s friend’s friend if they know anything about Bridget’s mother?”
“Huh?”
I snorted. That sounded confusing and crazy.
“Oh, gotcha. Sure. Is