“No!” Kate stood. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good, and she didn’t want Annabelle to see it. Simon and Harrison both shot up from their seats. “Let’s go see,” Kate said, trying to keep her voice steady. She turned to Simon. “Stay here with Annabelle.”

Georgina looked around at everyone in confusion. “What is going on? Where are you going?”

Kate walked from the room to the hallway as Selby and Harrison followed behind. A long cardboard box sat on the gold Parsons table. She lifted the top and saw a card perched on the tissue paper covering its contents. She felt a shiver go up her spine. She felt as if she might collapse, her legs suddenly made of jelly.

She looked around uneasily. “How did he even know I was going to be here?”

Selby gave her a puzzled look. “How did who know?”

“What does the card say?” Harrison cut in.

Kate took it from the box and handed it to him, watching his face for a reaction. His eyebrows shot up.

“It’s from you. Did you forget that you had flowers sent to Selby tonight?” He handed the card to Kate.

Kate took the card wordlessly, her eyes scanning it.

Merry Christmas, Sel. I know white roses are your favorite.

Xo Kate

“But I . . .” She had to think. She hadn’t sent these, but she had thought about having an arrangement delivered. Could she have mentioned it to Fleur and forgotten? Selby and her father were both looking at her as if she were crazy. “Sorry, Selby. I’ve been so stressed. I guess the florist just made a mistake in addressing these to me. I remember now, I called them yesterday.” She moved back toward the box and pushed the paper back. White roses.

Simon came into the room, carrying a sleeping Annabelle. “What’s going on?”

“Just a little mix-up,” Selby said, her voice too bright. “Kate, these are lovely. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. Sorry about earlier. I seem to be forgetting things lately.”

Selby patted her arm. “It’s understandable.”

Kate took a deep breath and looked at Simon. “I think we should get going. Annabelle’s out, and I’m feeling exhausted.”

Once they were on the road, Simon turned to her. “What happened back there with the flowers?”

She leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes. “For a minute, I was afraid that it was another macabre message for me. You didn’t order those roses, did you?”

“You mean you didn’t?”

“I must have mentioned it to Fleur. I hadn’t realized she’d taken care of it.”