Page 53 of The Cottage on Plum Island
Jennifer climbed out of the cab when it came to a stop at the hospital entrance. She was about to pay when the cab driver told her it had already been taken care of. Jennifer thanked the man and walked into the cool, sterile building. A shiver flitted up her spine as it always did when she entered a hospital. Jennifer disliked everything about them, especially that ominous feeling that shrouded a person as you walked around the place.
Jennifer announced herself at the reception and let them know she was there to have DNA testing done. A nurse suddenly appeared beside her to escort her to an examination room, where Jennifer was seated in a chair.
“Doctor Mulder will be with you shortly,” the nurse told Jennifer before leaving the room.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and Andrew stepped in.
“Hello, Jennifer,” Andrew greeted, glancing around the room. “Where’s Harley?”
“I don’t know!” Jennifer’s eyes narrowed on him. “He left early this morning to go to Chestnut Hill.” Her eyes searched his. “You wouldn’t happen to know why Harley would be going to your neighborhood, would you?”
“No!” Andrew frowned. “Maybe to visit his ex-in-laws?”
“His ex-in-law?” It was Jennifer’s turn to frown in confusion before looking at Andrew questioningly. “How would you know who his ex-in-laws are?”
“My sister-in-law, Doctor Jessica Ainsley, you met in Liam’s office,” Andrew explained. “She told me after I asked her why Harley would accuse her of being responsible for the death of his son.”
“I know who Doctor Ainsley is!” Jennifer told him impatiently. “I’m just surprised Harley would go to his in-laws so early in the morning without telling me.”
“Maybe he thought he’d be back before you left for the hospital,” Andrew offered an explanation. “I can call MargaretWesley if you’d like me to?”
“No!” Jennifer’s face scrunched up as she looked at him. She craned her neck to look past Andrew at the door. “Where is this doctor?”
“Do you mind if I stay here?” Andrew asked, pointing toward the chair beside her.
“Sure,” Jennifer said with a shrug.
Andrew sat beside her. “Molly enjoyed meeting you and Liam yesterday.”
“Molly’s a great kid,” Jennifer told him. “You’ve done a great job raising her.”
“I can’t take all the credit for that,” Andrew admitted. “Molly has always been an independent spirit. She reminds me of you.”
“Really?” Jennifer looked at him skeptically. “And how wouldyouknow anything about me?”
“I know more than you think,” Andrew told her, his voice low as he caught her eye again. “You may not have seen me, but I was there.”
“That’s just creepy!” Jennifer looked at him with raised brows and decided to change the subject. “Who did you say Harley’s ex-in-laws were?”
“The Wesley family,” Andrew answered. “They own Wesley Fashion and Textiles.”
“Oh!” Jennifer was surprised. “Wow.”
“I’m surprised that I never met Harley,” Andrew said. “I know the Wesley and their two daughters.”
“Harley was in the Navy and then the SEALs,” Jennifer explained. “I think they lived in California until he and his ex-wife divorced.”
“I believe Harley was married to Angela, the eldest of the daughters and the less troubled one,” Andrew commented.
The room door opened, and the doctor walked in. He wasn’t very tall but fit, had warm eyes, and a ready smile.
“Hello, Andrew,” the doctor greeted and turned to smile at Jennifer. “You must be Miss Gains?”
Jennifer nodded.
“I’m Doctor Mulder,” the man introduced himself.
“I figured,” Jennifer said, eyeing him coolly.
