Page 60 of This Heart
“The wine bottle?”
“Yeah.”
I stood. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Declan. Are you suggesting the woman I hired to watch my daughter drugged me?”
“I’m not…notsaying it.”
“She didn’t drug me, but she is one hell of a mind player.”
Then it hit me. I knew precisely where Kim had found out about what Hope had said.
“I got it. I know where she found out.”
I didn’t wait for Declan; I rushed into my bedroom and pulled open the side drawer and stared down at the journal Hope had given me when we got married.
“What is that?” Declan asked, walking up behind me.
Picking up the journal, I turned and faced Declan. I held it up. “This is my journal. I haven’t written in it since maybe May? I always put it in a certain way; don’t ask me, maybe OCD. But it was facing down in the drawer. I know I would never put it in there that way. Kim found it and read it.”
“Did you write about what Hope said?”
I shook my head. “No, I wrote about that day. The day I told Aurora that Hope had been right, that she was trying to replace her, but I only said it because I felt so fucking guilty for wanting to be with Aurora, and it was the only thing I knew to say to push her away. This is where Kim got it.”
Holding up his hands, Declan said, “Wait. Did you just say you want to be with Aurora? Liam, how long have you felt that way about her?”
I sighed. “For a while. Since before Hope found out about the cancer.”
His mouth fell open, then shut.
“I know. It’s a long story and one I don’t really want to get into right now. I need to let Aurora know about all of this.”
Declan hit the side of my arm. “At least we know she didn’t drug you.”
I shot him a dirty look. “That is a relief! Declan, the woman has lied, stolen things, and read from my personal journal, all in an attempt to do one thing.”
“Get into your pants,” Declan stated.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, probably, but to push Aurora away.” I closed my eyes and cursed. “Shit, I should have listened to Harper.”
“I’ve uttered those words a time or two myself in just the last few days. My wife is brilliant.”
“This isn’t funny, Declan.”
He walked up to me. “It isn’t, but listen, you found out before this psychopath could do anything else to you or Winnie. Fire her ass and we’ll all help you out with Winnie until you find someone else to watch her.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was a text from Hope’s sister, Mary.
Mary: How would you feel if I were to move to Moose Village permanently and watch Winnie for you? I can’t stay in New York City any longer. I’ll find my own place to live, but in the meantime, I can help with Winnie. Opal and Dad said they don’t like the new nanny.
Looking up, I smiled. “That problem just took care of itself.”
“How?” Declan asked.
“Mary is moving to Moose Village and is offering to watch Winnie.”
He smiled.
“Now, I just need to figure out how to make things right with Aurora.”
