Page 76 of The Senator's Wife

Icy fingers of fear crept up Sloane’s spine when Athena stood up and shut the door.

She turned around to face Sloane and said flatly, “I can’t let you do that.”

- 61 -

ROSEMARY

Rosemary was still shaken from this morning’s encounter with Whit, and although he’d been studiously polite, she’d caught the glint of steely coldness in his eyes. She tried to stay on an even keel until Emmy arrived tonight but was unable to concentrate on anything for long. Reading didn’t help, and TV was a waste of time too. She checked and rechecked emails, and scanned news articles on the internet, but it was no use. All she could think about was Sloane.

Outside the weather raged, the slanted rain pelting furiously against the windows. This would be one of those storms that knocked out power and flooded streets. She decided the best way to stop thinking would be to take a short nap, and then her phone rang. “Hello?”

“Gram. My flight’s been delayed because of weather. It looks like a bad one there.”

Damn. Could anything else go wrong? “What are they saying? Do they have any idea when they can depart?”

“No, not right now. I’ll just have to stay here and wait. I’ll call you the minute I’m on the plane and ready for takeoff. Any news on your end?”

“Nothing. But no news is good news, right? Hang in there. You’ll be here soon. I’ll wait for your call. I love you,” Rosemary said, and slid from her chair to the sofa for that nap.

—

“Mom.”

She felt a hand shaking her shoulder and opened her eyes,surprised to see Camille. “Oh, you’re here. I was worried you might have problems because of the weather.”

“I left a little early, so it wasn’t too bad. We can have a quick dinner and then head to the airport in about forty-five minutes. That should give us plenty of time.”

“Emmy’s flight was delayed. She called earlier to let me know. I’m waiting for a call from her. What time is it?”

“Seven thirty. Why don’t you call her and get an update?”

Rosemary took her phone from the coffee table. There was a missed call and a text message from Emmy. She must not have heard Emmy’s call while she slept. “I have a text from her,” Rosemary said, swiping it open. “She’s booked on a midnight flight. One stop with a layover. She won’t arrive until early tomorrow morning.” Rosemary looked at Camille in dismay.

“I’ll stay the night, and we’ll leave first thing in the morning,” Camille said.

—

As soon as her driver stopped the car in front of Arrival Door 4 at Dulles Airport, Rosemary spotted Emmy waiting outside. “There she is,” Rosemary exclaimed.

Camille and Anthony opened their doors at the same time. Rosemary watched as her daughter sprang out and ran to Emmy, wrapping her arms around her. As Anthony took Emmy’s luggage to the trunk, the two women got into the car.

Emmy slid into the back seat and hugged Rosemary to her without letting go. “Gram, I can’t believe this. If something happens to Mom…” She shook her head, crying softly.

The drive from the airport to Sloane’s house in the morning rush hour was agonizingly slow, and Rosemary found herself drumming her fingers on the leather seat. When the car finally turned in to the driveway, they saw a black sedan parked in front of the house.

“Whose car is that?” Rosemary asked.

“I have no idea,” Emmy said as Anthony came to a stop.

Before he turned the engine off, Camille opened her door and leapt out of the car. Leaning in, she said, “Come on, Emmy. Mom, you stay here for a minute till we see who that is.”

“No way. I’m coming with you. Have Anthony get my chair,” Rosemary commanded. Once it was brought around and Rosemary maneuvered herself into it, Camille got behind the chair and pushed as they went to the entrance.

Emmy punched in the key code, and as she pushed the door open, they heard voices coming from the living room. The three of them crossed the hallway and found two men in suits, one sitting and one standing with his arm perched on the fireplace mantel. They were talking to Athena.

“What’s going on here? Where’s my mother?” Emmy yelled angrily.

Athena and the two men stopped talking and turned to look at them.

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