“I appreciate that. I do,” he said. “But I’m still not buying that this visit was spontaneous.”

“What are you accusing me of?” After removing her high-heeled boots, she lifted her skirt and stepped into the water with him.

“You’ve spoken to my big brother, and he told you what happened earlier. That’s what motivated the visit.”

She wouldn’t look him in the eye. “Eli and I work together. We talk all the time. You know that.”

Seth set his wineglass to one side. “But I told Tia he was trustworthy, Mom.”

“Eli is trustworthy.”

“I used to think so, too, but first Cora and now—”

“He knows who he can tell and who he can’t,” she broke in, as if that was all that mattered.

Seth laughed. “So four people are now aware that Tia Beckett is staying in town instead of just one. How is that keeping her secret?”

“The two people Eli told are as trustworthy as he is,” she pointed out. “That’s how.”

Seth rolled his eyes. “So did you come over hoping to catch a glimpse of her? Do you even know who she is?” His mother wasn’t one for movies. She worked too hard and spent every extra minute trying to support her family or help someone else who needed a hand or a listening ear.

“I admit I’d never heard of her before. But I looked her up.” She tossed her long braid over her shoulder. “Gorgeous girl.”

Seth lowered his voice even though there was no way Tia could hear him. “Not anymore.”

A pained expression formed deep grooves in Aiyana’s forehead. “How tragic.”

“It is. I feel terrible for her.”

“How’s she coping?”

“She’s hiding out in the guesthouse and won’t come out except to take care of Maxi’s parrot.”

“Eli said she had dinner with you.”

“That was—” he stretched his neck “—somewhat coerced.”

She nibbled at her bottom lip as she considered the situation. “I have to say, it was brilliant of Maxi to give her some responsibility.”

Seth was grateful for that, too. It forced Tia to emerge from her self-imposed dungeon at least once a day. But he doubted Maxi had put Tia in charge of Kiki for Tia’s sake alone. “I think he saw it more as a win-win.”

“What about her friends and family? Are they checking on her? Does she have any emotional support?”

“Not that I can tell.”

“Then, we need to do something.”

He cocked a remonstrative eyebrow at her. “You can’t do anything because you’re not even supposed to know she’s here, remember?”

She didn’t seem satisfied with that, as he guessed she wouldn’t be. “She needs a good therapist.”

“I would agree, but she’d first have to get to a good therapist, and I don’t see her doing that, not when she won’t leave the house.”