Page 20 of Keeping Caroline

Noticing one of the screens remained blacked out, I reached for the control panel to adjust the connection. “Seems so. Delacroix’s gang doesn’t strike me as the type to let bygones be bygones. Ivy’s testimony could put a lot of them away. I’m sure they’re going to be desperate to get rid of him before he can.”

Ethan grunted, the sound heavy with unspoken fears. For someone who was always so careful and controlled, I knew the uncertainty must keep him up at night. “That’s why we’re turning this place into Fort Knox. No one’s laying a finger on Scarlett or the baby. Even if they don’t know my identity, they know hers. I don’t want her to feel like she can’t live her life or be safe. Her father put her in this predicament, but I have to do everything I can to keep them safe until this case blows over—until they’re hopefully locked up.”

“We’ll get there, boss,” I said, sitting in the chair beside him and taking the mouse he’d abandoned. My eyes scanned the monitors, watching as the last of the cameras blinked online, covering every shadowed nook of the property.

As I moved closer to the displays, Ethan rolled his chair back to get out of my way. “What are you working on now?”

My fingers flew across the keyboard, bringing the grid up on the screen. The green dots popped into existence, each one representing an unseen eye. “Syncing the motion sensors. If a leaf falls, we’ll know about it.”

Chapter 13

The Phoenix

“I wish Daniel could be here to see this.”

Even as I was surrounded by an explosion of pink while helping Scarlett fold the baby clothes she’d just washed, sadness made my chest ache. So much had happened since I’d been in her shoes—so much that left me broken. She looked up at me, endless love and support showing in her brown eyes. “I do too, Cara. If it’s too much—”

“No.” No matter how much it hurt, the last thing I wanted was for her to feel like she couldn’t share her joy with me. I was excited for my new niece’s arrival too. It was just that my wounds were always there. I wasn’t sure if they would ever heal completely. I forced a smile, my heart swelling with joy for her, but as I reached for another garment from the bag of Evie’s old baby clothes I’d given them, my fingers brushed the fabric of Daniel’s favorite shirt that had somehow ended up in the bag, one I’d never quite been able to part with, just like the wedding band around my finger. The texture against my skin was a bittersweet pang, a ghost of his presence that lingered in threads and memories.

“Caroline?” Scarlett’s voice pulled me from the depths of my thoughts, her dark eyes searching mine with concern.

“Sorry, I’m just—.” Pausing, I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m really happy for you, Scarlett. Truly.”

“Hey,” she said softly, reaching across the pile of laundry to squeeze my hand. “He’d be so proud of you, you know? Of how strong you’ve been for Evie.”

I nodded, unable to speak past the tightness in my chest. “It’s just that...” Setting the blanket I folded into the open drawer, I shook my head. “It’s just that I don’t think he would believe Ethan is married and expecting a baby. He would be so proud.”

I’d meant every word, and Scarlett knew it. Her eyes danced as she laughed. “To be honest, I wouldn’t have believed it seven months ago, but he’s proven to be pretty amazing.”

Her words warmed a little piece of me that had grown cold. The smile that spread across my lips this time was genuine. “He always has been. I’m just glad he finally showed that part of himself to someone other than me and Evie.”

“Mommy, look!” Evie’s cheerful voice pulled my attention to the doorway, where she stood holding a picture she must have just drawn of a stick figure baby holding hands with a stick figure little girl wearing a pink dress in the shape of a triangle, both hairless. “This is me and baby Adelaide!”

Not waiting for an invitation, she darted into the room, doing her best to prop the drawing up against the golden lamp on the dresser.

“That’s beautiful, nugget. Did you draw it all by yourself?”

Her smile grew as she nodded vigorously, her missing front tooth making her even cuter. “I did! She’s going to be my best friend, so I wanted to draw some pictures for her and give her some of my toys.”

“That’s such a nice idea,” Scarlett said, crossing the room and leaning over the dresser to take a closer look at the picture.

Filled with pride at herself, Evie rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, which was the first time I noticed she was wearing a pair of Scarlett’s heels that were many sizes too big for her.

Covering my mouth to hide my giggle, I stepped forward as well, patting her on the back. “Those are some nice shoes you’re wearing too, Evie. Where did you find those?”

Even though she was having a tough time staying balanced, she straightened her spine. “These are auntie shoes, and since I’m going to be an auntie, I needed some too—just like Auntie Scarlett.”

Holding back what I knew would be a fit of giggles, Scarlett and I looked at each other, both of our smiles wide. I was about to respond and tell Evie that I would have to buy a pair of auntie shoes in her size, but she’d already moved on to the next thing, feet clacking against the hardwood floor as she headed back down the hall toward her room.

With all the laundry put away, Scarlett and I headed into the kitchen. It was only four in the afternoon, but we were both hungry, and with Ethan and Tristan having worked both inside and outside for hours, we figured they were too.

“Chop vegetables or stir fry?” Scarlett asked, already handing me the knife. We’d been cooking together long enough that we already knew our jobs when we did. We enjoyed doing things together—just like sisters. With me chopping and her cooking, we fell into an easy rhythm.

“So...” The words hung on my tongue long enough that Scarlett’s eyes flicked up to me, an expectant look in them. “Um, so tell me a little about Tristan. Do you know him well?”

When the corner of her mouth curled up, I realized I was not hiding my reason for asking as well as I had thought, and I was slightly mortified. “Why do you ask?”

I rolled my eyes and shoulder-bumped her, making her laugh. “No particular reason. I mean, Ethan trusts him, so he’s a good guy, right?”

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