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"I don't know. Maybe I did. I don't know who she is."
"She's married, too, but she and Arthur have been talking all the time. And whenever I come into the room, he says he has to go, and he abruptly hangs up. Do you think I'm being paranoid and jealous, Callie?"
She saw the earnest, worried light in her mom's eyes, and she did what she always did—she tried to protect her. "I know Arthur loved you. That's all you need to think about."
"He did love me," Juliette said, nodding as if to reassure herself. "He still loves me. Why did you say heusedto love me?"
"I just meant he has loved you from the first day you met." She was disappointed to realize that her mom was no longer accepting the fact that Arthur was dead.
"I was lucky to find him. I hope I didn't mess it up. I always do that, don't I, Callie? I always mess things up with men. I did it with your father. And now with Arthur. Why can't I be better?"
"You're great, Mom. Don't ever think you're not."
"I love you, Callie. You're the only one I can really trust."
Her mother's words twisted the knife of guilt in her heart. "I love you, too. I just want what's best for you. You know that, right?"
Her mom gave her a vacant smile. "You're a sweet girl. I just wish you'd come and spend more time with me and Arthur. Maybe next week."
She didn't answer; she just helped her mom to her feet and led her down the stairs.
Flynn and Dr. Clarke were standing in the entryway. Whatever conversation they'd been having ended when she and her mother came down the stairs.
"The police will keep the press away from your vehicle," Flynn told her.
"Why is the press outside?" her mom asked. "Are they here for Arthur?"
"Yes," she said, keeping it simple.
"You're Arthur's friend," her mother said, her gaze focusing on Flynn. "We spoke last night, didn't we?"
"We did," Flynn replied.
"You used to date Olivia. It was so sad what happened to her. Did you find another girl to love?"
Callie couldn't help but wonder how Flynn would answer that question.Had he found another woman to love?
"It was a long time ago," he said carefully.
"I'm going to see Arthur now," her mother told him.
Flynn nodded, his gaze concerned.
"I'll meet you there, Callie," Dr. Clarke said.
"Yes." She looked at Flynn. "We'll have to talk later."
"I understand. Good luck," he murmured.
She waited for Flynn and the doctor to leave the house. Then she locked the door behind them and took her mom down the hall and into the garage. She opened the door to her mom's car, got her into the passenger seat and then moved around behind the wheel. As she drove out of the garage and down the drive, she could see dozens of people, not only the press, but also some of the neighbors.
She had a moment of panic when the crowd appeared to be blocking the driveway. She saw some photographers rushing forward to take photos and was really glad she'd managed to get her mother looking halfway presentable.
Thankfully, the police intervened, moving the crowd back. When she reached the street and pulled away from the house, she let out a sigh of relief. One hurdle down. Unfortunately, the next one would be a lot more challenging.
Getting her mother to the hospital was easy; leaving her there would be really difficult.
* * *