Page 78 of To Bring You Back
He motioned her to continue down the hall. They passed a couple of more rooms and climbed another staircase.
“John’s staying up here too. Take this hall around that corner. I’m sure you’ll find Bruce there, if you want him. But these are the lake-view rooms. The best is probably the third door down.”
The one directly above his own room. She nudged open the door. A wall of windows overlooked the lake, a feature Gannon’s room had boasted too. On the dresser, a tray held orchids growing from a piece of driftwood. The comforter bulged, inviting her to flop in and sleep like she’d never slept before.
He laid the cord on the writing table by the door. “Harper—”
Adeline lifted her hand. “Let’s talk tomorrow.”
He swallowed, tense, and nodded. “Do you need anything else?”
She shook her head. How could she begin to name the things she needed right now?
“If that changes—”
“—John’s right around the corner.”
He lowered his head and rubbed his neck, then retreated into the hall without putting up a fight.
Adeline eased herself onto the bed and stared at the empty doorway. She should’ve let him explain. She’d thought it’d be better to wait for a fresh day, a little sleep to renew her perspective, but she wouldn’t sleep with all these unanswered questions between them.
Something in the hall rustled. He must not be able to leave their relationship so shaky either. She scanned the room. Two armchairs waited for a conversation by the windows, but they probably ought to talk somewhere other than a bedroom. The study they’d passed would suffice. She stood to head him off.
Harper appeared in the doorway, still wearing sunglasses, a tote over her shoulder. She pranced into the room, more agile in her platform wedge sandals than Adeline could ever dream of being.
With a giggle, Harper held a tote toward her. “Here you go, hon.”
Hon? Adeline almost corrected her, asking her to call her by name, but she stopped. A little pink was visible below the rim of the glasses. Harper needed grace. She could let a pet name slide.
Harper extended the tote closer. “I just saw my stylist, and he had all kinds of goodies for me, so I’m sharing.” She emphasized the last word as if Adeline would be impressed she had the manners of a kindergartner.
Adeline took the tote. “Okay, thanks. I’m going to get to bed, so …”
The sunglasses made Harper’s face unreadable, but she smiled sweetly. She sure was peppy for someone who’d been attacked earlier. “Aren’t you going to look?”
Adeline didn’t bother to hide her sigh as she retrieved the bag and parted the handles. The bag contained full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Something black and lacy pooled at the bottom. A headband? She hooked the fabric with her finger and lifted it.
Lingerie.
She let it fall back into the tote.
“Brand new. Tags and all.” Harper touched the lip of the tote and peeked inside, the baby powder scent of her perfume nauseating. “I won’t be needing it, and Gannon likes that kind of thing.”
Adeline’s stomach rolled at the implications.
Harper smiled and withdrew to the hall. “Have a good night. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
The bag fell from Adeline’s fingers.
Is this how you clean up my heart, God? You dismantle the relationship most likely to make me stumble?
No. She needed to be doubting Gannon’s goodness, not God’s.
And even that …
Harper was probably lying, but if she was that kind of person, why would he have let the actress onto the property? Surely there were other safe places for her. Unless Gannon had feelings for her. Unresolved feelings, like the kind that might linger after an intimate relationship.
The bag lay at her feet. She should’ve sent the offering away with Harper. But even if it were gone, the image of the lingerie would’ve remained. This was ugly. A relationship she resented and certainly hadn’t wanted to see the inner workings of. Was that how God felt about Adeline’s own past with Gannon?
