Page 45 of Home Team Advantage
He raised his eyebrows. “You saw Dr. Phillips?”
“No, Dr. Howard. Dr. Phillips retired.”
Eddie laughed softly. “Dr. Phillips didn’t retire. She’s no older than I am. My grandmother refused to see her again after she recommended assisted living.”
Anna said nothing.
Eddie leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “You still don’t believe me. Ask yourself this, Miss Black. Why did none of the dozens of caregivers who preceded you stick around if my grandmother was such a joy to be around?” He straightened and adjusted his tie, flashing a Vacheron Constantin watch and a heavy gold ring in the process. “You’re her ally now, but that will change. She’ll start accusing you of things, and eventually, you’ll become the villain.”
Anna had heard more than enough. “Your concerns are duly noted, Mr. Campbell. Now, if you don’t mind …”
She started to walk around him, but he sidestepped and blocked her path once again.
“Actually, I do mind,” he said, his facade beginning to slip. He grabbed her arm, his fingers pressing into the soft flesh below her wrist in a viselike grip.
“Let go of me!”
“I know my grandmother. I know what’s best for her. You do not. You might think you’re helping, but you’re only making things more difficult by delaying the inevitable.”
Anna curled her other hand into a fist and was about to stomp on his foot and throat-punch him when he released her and gave her a shove. Then, he turned and walked away.
Once he was out of sight, Anna rubbed her wrist and tried to calm her breathing. “Asshole,” she murmured under her breath as she turned and walked in the other direction.
By the time Anna finished her errands and made it back to the jeweler, there was a closed sign on the door. She’d try again tomorrow, but she had to tell Mrs. Campbell about it today.
* * *
“How was lunch?” Anna asked as they dropped off the last of Elsa’s friends.
“Wonderful!” Elsa said, in high spirits. “Prom night preparations are coming together nicely.”
“Prom night?”
Elsa laughed. “That’s what we call the annual senior citizens’ shindig. This year’s theme is ageless enchantment. We’re turning the fire hall into a mystical forest. Faith said she’d do the design for us.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Anna said, attempting to summon some enthusiasm.
“I have the perfect dress. It’s a deep midnight blue. Gene loved me in that dress. Said it brought out my eyes. It will require dry cleaning, so perhaps we can drop it off next week when we’re in town. I’ll wear my sapphires too. Oh, and my good watch. I haven’t worn that in ages. I’m sure it will need a new battery.”
Anna’s stomach clenched painfully.
“Gene got it for me for our anniversary one year,” Elsa continued. “Oh, he was so proud! We didn’t have a lot of money back in those days, so it was a big deal.”
Anna didn’t think it was possible, but she felt even worse. “About that,” she began. “I took your watch to the jeweler to have it cleaned and get a new battery a few weeks ago.”
“Did you now? How very kind of you. One less thing to do before the big event. When will it be ready?”
“I was supposed to pick it up today.”
“Well, don’t worry about it, dear. Plenty of time.”
Anna cleared her throat. “The thing is, the young woman working there said they didn’t have it.”
“Young woman?” Elsa pursed her lips. “Wasn’t Otto there?”
“If he’s the owner, then no.”
“Ah, well, Otto can be a bit scatterbrained sometimes. His wife used to say he’d lose his head if it wasn’t attached. She used to keep the place organized, but she’s been gone a while now.”
