By midday she had a selection of photos to consider for the Doyle project. Asking Corrine, she decided, had been the perfect move. Not only good photos, but the woman knew all the subjects, and it showed.
She didn’t think twice about which to use of Trey.
His mother caught him leaning back against his desk, his phone at his ear. Untucked shirt, dark jeans, scarred boots crossed at the ankles.
It captured his calm energy. A contradiction in terms, she thought, but that was Trey Doyle.
Just as she’d captured her father-in-law, in his three-piece suit, glasses at the tip of his nose as he pulled a law book from the shelf.
“These are good, they’re damn good. Let’s make them work.”
She spent the rest of the day on it, and most of the next.
And in her opinion, it did work, and well.
In anticipation of Cleo’s arrival the next day, she took Yoda into the village for some supplies and flowers.
On her way out again, her phone rang. She tapped the button on the steering wheel to answer.
“This is Sonya.”
“Hey, Sonya, Anna. I’m right behind you.”
Sonya glanced in the rearview. “Oh, well, hi.”
“I don’t suppose I could talk you into turning around. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee. I was going to text you. I’d like to talk to you about a couple of things.”
“I’d turn around, but I’ve got the dog with me. Why don’t you come up? I’ll buy you the decaffeinated beverage of your choice.”
“Love it, thanks. I’ll see you in a few.”
* * *
While Sonya chose happy daffodils for Cleo’s room, Cleo pulled up in front of the manor.
As she didn’t see Sonya’s car, she considered the wisdom of her one-day-early surprise. With a shrug, she decided she’d just haul some of her things to the front door, then send Sonya a text.
She muscled out a suitcase, pleased that spring teased the air instead of winter biting it. If Sonya planned to come back soon, she’d wait. If she planned not, well, she’d just drive down to the village and do some exploring until.
After dragging the suitcase to the door, it opened.
“Hey. I didn’t think you were home, I…”
Sonya didn’t stand there. No one did.
She hesitated, then squared her shoulders. She’d live here, so she’d better get used to it. When she walked in, the music pumped. Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s “Welcome Back.”
“I’ll take that as a good sign.”
As a precaution, she propped her suitcase against the door. It weighed a ton because she had a ton of clothes. And wasn’t sorry.
She hauled her second one, then her weekender, then the last of her boxes before shutting the door.
She looked at the staircase, looked at her suitcases. Sighed.
She still wasn’t sorry.
She’d pulled, yanked, carried the first to the landing when the banging started.
And the servant’s door creaked open.
She heard the bell, dim but insistent. She stepped toward it.
Chapter Twenty-three
Sonya spotted Cleo’s car when she made the turn, and everything in her lit up bright.
She pulled up, jumped out. She expected to see suitcases, boxes when she peered in.
“Either you bought a second car or you already have company.”
Anna walked over to Sonya.
“It’s Cleo’s. I didn’t expect her until tomorrow.”
“The friend who’s moving in. What a nice surprise. Listen, I’ll take off, leave you two alone to get her settled in. We can do this later.”
“No, come in.” From her car, Sonya grabbed the flowers and grocery bags. “You should meet her. Wherever she is. She must be inside. I don’t know how because I always lock up when I leave.”
They walked to the house together.
“See?” At the locked door, Sonya took out her key. Yoda raced in first and sniffed at the suitcases.
“Her things. Cleo!” Her voice just echoed back. “Hell with that.” Taking out her phone, she texted.
Where are you?
The response took a minute.
Brt.
“Be right there from where?” Sonya muttered. “That’s another of her bags up there. Maybe she—”
She broke off as the servant’s door opened.
Cleo stepped out. She shoved a hand at her hair, then lifted her arms in the air. “Surprise!”
“You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. I got everything done, and thought why the hell should I wait until morning? So here I am,” she continued as she walked down the stairs.