“That you tried to become overly familiar with him and that he turned you away.”

Her shock and anger melted into a smile. “Oh. That’s what he told you?”

“Yes.”

“And you believed him?”

“Of course,” I answered, defiantly.

She began to laugh. “I can assure you it was quite the opposite. It was at their last Fourth of July Celebration. The handsome lecher tried to corner me in his office. I laughed in his face and told him I wasn’t his nanny. It’s only out of respect for his wife that I haven’t told anyone.”

I could feel my stomach sinking into the floor. I didn’t want to believe it.

“You’re lying,” I said.

“Believe what you like. It appears you already have.”

“Why would Thomas lie to me?” I asked, trying to fight back tears.

“Yes,” she said, mockingly. “Why would he lie?”

She knew as plainly as if I had told her.

I was stunned, mortified, but deep down, I knew she was right. I had suspected it as soon as I left the Nightingale House.

She shook her head in pity.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your work and your little ‘bliss’,” she said with a nod to the necklace.

She turned and walked out of the pharmacy.

Thankfully, there were no other customers, because I spent the rest of the day weeping in the storeroom.

I’m such a fool. Such an idiot.

After closing the pharmacy, I came home and locked myself in my room.

I never want to leave.

23

I watch through the windshield of the parked car as the sun begins to rise above the hills surrounding Kingsbrook. Caitlyn is sleeping across the back seat.

Once I regained my senses in the basement, I ran upstairs to Caitlyn’s room to find her sitting up in her bed.

“Get your things,” I said. “We’re going for a drive.”

In the five minutes it took to pack up some of her things, the house remained still. I stayed by Caitlyn’s side the entire time. When she was done, I picked up her duffel bag, took her hand, and led her out into the hall and down the stairs. I didn’t bother turning off the lights. I wasn’t going to let the shadows anywhere near us.

Caitlyn didn’t say a word. She was resigned to my decision and didn’t protest but stopped at the door.

“Wait! I forgot my medallion! It’s by my bed.” She went to go back upstairs but I gently, but firmly, grabbed her wrist, and led her out the door.

“We’re not going back into this house for a while, okay?”

“But I—”

“Go to the car, please.”

It was more of a command than a request.

He shoulders sagged, but she obeyed.