Page 83 of Noble Neighbor
“That’s a lot of Oliver,” Aleck commented drily.
“I’ve fallen in love,” she admitted softly. “And I’m going to tell him. Everything. And it’s the real reason for my call.”
She wanted a future with Oliver. But not with a dark cloud hanging over their heads. Deceit was no way to start a life together.
The heavy silence spoke louder than words.
“I trust him,” she added, slipping from her perch on the bed.
“We’ve had this conversation before. Andyoutold me, Sunny, four-and-a-half years ago when you lay in that hospital bed, you told me to talk you out ofevertellinganyoneabout that evil bastard.”
She reached the window, peering across at the log house. “I know. But Oliver—”
“Who is this Oliver? What’s his last name? Where are you? Let me do some snooping.”
Sunny swung around, pacing back to the bed. “No. No, Aleck. No investigation. It’s unnecessary. I know Oliver. He’s a good man. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. And … tell Daddy and Mama, Granny … I’m okay.We’reokay. We’re happy here, Aleck.”
“This is a mistake, Sunny.”
She could hear the frustration in his voice. It was tinged with disbelief. Even some fear. As her anchor during the last years, he had the right to those emotions.
But she’d made her mind up, her call just a courtesy. A way to settle her parents’ minds. “Then it’s my mistake to make.”
“What about your girls? Think of Kenzie and Molly. This affects them, too.”
“Dammit, Aleck. I know,” she yelled. And sucked in a breath, continuing with a calmer tone. “Oliver loves them. He’ll continue to love them regardless of who their father was. He’ll be a wonderful dad to them, Aleck.”
“Fuck.”
“I’m going to do it, Aleck. I’m going to tell Oliver everything. Today.”
Sunny ended the call, chucked the phone onto thebed, and stormed from the room before she talked herselfout of her decision. A couple of minutes later, she let herself into Oliver’s home.
“Hello?” Listening, the only sound within the house was thetick-tockfrom the grandfather clock in the hallway. She shrugged out of her jacket and hung it on the rack before making her way to his office.
It was empty, but the aroma of a steaming mug of coffee on his desk called to her. Sunny meandered over and took a sip. One sip led to a second, and she settled into his chair, closing her chilled hands around the ceramic, figuring he wouldn’t mind if she waited.
He might object to her finishing his coffee, and the thought brought a smile to her lips. She could always offer to pay penance.
But her smile dimmed as she remembered her reasonfor the visit. Oliver deserved the truth before he — eitherof them — took that final step.
Hopefully, he would be as understanding as she reckoned. Then again, his wife was a murder victim. And taking on the Jones girls and their baggage was a huge commitment. And maybe he wasn’t the man she thought him to be.
Urgh.Stop second-guessing yourself.
She placed the mug down, accidently knocking the mouse. The monitor lit up, drawing her gaze.
Shock bulleted through her.
The words filled her vision, ricocheting in her mind.
She shook her head and read them again.
SILK ROPE STRANGLER: 5 YEARS ON
Let Us Never Forget.
Her heart stuttered back to life, thumping against her ribs, and she lifted a hand to contain it, sure it would burst from her chest.
