My shoulders tensed. I couldn’t get through the day without suspecting everyone I passed of being part of the Branch.
But then I figured a Branch operative would not go undercover with two kids. Too many variables. And too much risk.
“You’re staying with us,” Elizabeth said again. “Because whatever answers you’re looking for, they involve me, too. We can help each other.”
I couldn’t tell if this was a good idea or not. Sam would say not. But if I wanted to know who Elizabeth was, then I needed to keep her close. That seemed like a good enough reason to accept.
“All right,” I finally said. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
16
ELIZABETH
WHAT WAS I DOING?
Every part of my brain said I was being reckless, that Nick’s good looks had me seeing stars.
But that wasn’t it. Was it?
I’d only been with him less than an hour, and already I was acutely aware of how often women, girls, even older women, checked him out. Something I’d forgotten about him in the years that had passed—he was gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that was hard to ignore, that almost seemed unnatural.
You’re doing the right thing, I told myself. Nick has answers that you need. It’s a good idea for both of you.
A totally crazy, completely risky, good idea.
Or maybe a bad idea masquerading as a good idea.
Aggie’s house was a fifteen-minute walk from downtown. Close enough to reach everything by foot, but far enough away that it was quiet. She lived in an authentic Victorian decorated in the traditional “painted lady” style. I loved her house. It was large and old and well preserved. Aggie had taken great pains to keep up with the house as it aged right along with her.
And even better, especially now, she’d kept the apartment above the carriage house (as she called it) functional. I hoped she would agree to let Nick stay with us.
When we reached the house, he kept two paces between us as I led him up the front steps, across the large porch, through the double front door, and down the hallway to the kitchen. That was where I could always find Aggie.
And she didn’t let me down today.
I came through the doorway first. She looked up and over her glasses at me, and smiled. She was making something—she always was—and had a cup of flour in her hands.
“Hello, dear,” she said, and then Nick walked in.
Aggie moved to set the cup of flour down, and as she did she rammed it against the bag of sugar, knocking it over. Sugar spilled across the counter and poured to the floor.
“I’ll get the broom,” I said, and moved toward the closet.
“No.” Aggie waved me away. “I’ll take care of it.” She wiped her hands on the towel tied to her apron. “Who’s this?”
In Aggie’s house, in the bright white kitchen, among the cat paintings and the vintage rolling pins hanging on the wall, Nick looked extremely out of place. Like a brand-new truck trying to blend in on a used-car lot.
He was large and pretty and overwhelming.
“This is my friend Nick,” I told her. “He needs a place to stay and I was wondering if he could sleep in the carriage house for a few days.”
Aggie set her hands on her wide hips and looked from me to Nick. “Hmm,” she said. “I haven’t heard you talk about a Nick.”
“That’s because—”
“I used to go to school with Elizabeth,” he cut in. “I transferred out in the ninth grade, but I’m back in town for a bit. Just visiting.” He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and hunched his shoulders. He seemed to shrink by five inches. Had he done that on purpose?
“I told Elizabeth I could stay in a hotel,” he went on. “I don’t want to trouble you.”
I held my breath as I waited for Aggie to respond. I really wanted her to say yes. I was afraid that if I let Nick out of my sight again, he’d disappear. I couldn’t go another six years wondering where he was, who he was, what answers he might have.
Please, Aggie, I thought.
“All right,” she said, and nodded once. “We have plenty of room around here. No sense keeping it all to ourselves.” She came around the counter and sized Nick up. “You related to the Vermont family? You look like Old Man Vermont.”
The Vermont family? I didn’t know anyone by the name of Vermont.
Nick shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
“Hmm,” she said again, and turned to me. “Can you get him settled in? I need to finish this batch of cookies for the fair this weekend.”
“Yes.” I went over to her and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Aggie.”
She smiled, and a bit of tension left her shoulders. “No need to thank me, dear. Now go on so I can get back to work.”