Page 47 of Declan
“It was great. I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s a good way to spend it, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Did you have a good weekend?”
Elise grinned. “I had a fantastic weekend.”
Erica smiled. “That’s great,” she said as she picked up the ringing phone.
Elise smiled. “Oh, it was great alright,” she said under her breath as she made her way to her office to stow her purse, and then she’d get to work with one of the classes.
She entered a room filled with little ballerinas and it just thrilled her to see them eager to learn. She hoped some of them would continue with it and one day dance on a stage. That had been her dream since she was four years old. It was a long process, but well worth it, she believed.
As she watched one of the little girls twirling around on her own, Elise couldn’t help but chuckle. This was why they had to be watched. Brandy told her that she panicked when one of the four-year-olds disappeared. She was found in the class for older students, trying to copy their steps. Brandy said she had to laughwhen the little girl tried to copy them on their toes, and when she couldn’t she just sat down and watched.
“When school is out, are you going to adjust the schedules?” Brandy asked.
Elise glanced at her, then back to the children. “Yes, for sure.”
“Good. It will be nice not to have so many gaps in classes.” Brandy looked at her. “I love working here, Elise. It’s so much fun and you’re an amazing boss.”
Elise slipped her arm around Brandy. “I’m glad you work here too. You do an amazing job with the girls. They love you.”
“I love them. How cute are they?” Brandy laughed.
“Adorable for sure.”
“So, how’s things with you and Declan?”
Elise sighed, making Brandy laugh. “He’s an amazing man.”
“He seems like he is. Much better than Stephen was.”
“You didn’t care for him, did you?”
Brandy shook her head. “He just gave me the heebie-jeebies.”
“Well, your instincts were right. Declan told me he was arrested for vehicular homicide while driving drunk but got probation for two years because of his daughter and it being his first offense.” Elise shook her head. “Declan said he should be in prison for it.”
“Yes, he should. He only got a two-year probation?”
“Yes. Declan wasn’t happy about that at all.”
“He deserved more. Do you know who he killed?”
Elise looked at her. “His wife.”
Brandy gasped. “Oh, my God! I didn’t know that. Of course, I just moved here a year ago.” She shrugged.
“I never would have known if Declan hadn’t told me. I asked Stephen how his wife died and all he said was in a car accident. He never mentioned he was the cause of it.”
“Johnston knew if he told you the truth, you’d stop seeing him. Of course, you did anyway.”
“We saw him at The Hartland Saturday night. He tried to intimidate me. Declan got up to use the bathroom, which he didn’t really, but Stephen came to the table to talk to me—”
“Wait. Wait. What do you mean he didn’t really use the bathroom?” Brandy frowned.
Elise laughed. “Declan told me he needed to use the restroom, but I think he actually just got up to see if Stephen would make a move. When he did, Declan came back to the table. No matter what Stephen says, he is afraid of Declan.”
