Page 163

“They’re gorgeous, you’ll suffer, but you’ll look fabulous. Strong, capable, feminine, professional, and fabulous. I’m going to do your hair in a fishtail braid. I’ve got a lipstick that matches this dress. You’ll wear that.”

“I love you, Cleo.”

“How could you not? Crisis averted.”

Cleo’s phone sang out with “Count on Me.”

“And Clover agrees. Pack it,” Cleo ordered.

On a cloudy morning, Trey loaded suitcases in the car. If he wondered why they needed so much for a two-day trip, he wisely said nothing. And valuing his life, he didn’t suggest, with the load they had, they take the truck Sonya had yet to drive.

Both women had dressed for the road in jeans, T-shirts, and light jackets. Sonya wore a Red Sox fielder’s cap.

He thought she looked adorable.

And she stroked and cooed and fussed over Yoda as if she and Cleo were headed to the South Pacific instead of Boston.

“We’re going to be fine,” Trey assured them as Sonya continued to coo to Yoda and draped an arm around Mookie’s neck. Cleo cooed, too, and cuddled the cat, who appeared mildly interested.

“You have the keys and there’s plenty of food if you decide to bring them back and stay at night.”

“We’ll see how it goes.”

“I’m going to check my list one more time.”

“Sonya, you’ve checked it three times. Everything’s in the car.” Swinging her to him, he kissed her. “How can I miss you if you won’t go away?”

“Funny,” she said, but she did laugh. “Thanks, really, for looking after Yoda. You be a good boy. You’re going to have so much fun. Trey, don’t forget to—” She broke off, laughed at herself. “You won’t forget. You never forget.”

“And you’ll take Pye to Owen.” With some reluctance, Cleo passed the cat to Trey. “He’s expecting her.”

“I will, and he is.”

“Okay, all right.” Sonya took a last look around the foyer and couldn’t think of anything else to delay the start. “We’re ready.”

She wrapped her arms around Trey. “Miss me a little.”

“I already do. Text me when you get there. You’re going to kick ass tomorrow.”

“That’s the plan. Let’s do this, Cleo.”

As they walked to the car, got in, and he stood in the doorway with two dogs and a cat, his phone played Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.”

“Looks like they are.”

Since he’d juggled his schedule just enough, he closed the door and went back for another cup of coffee.

And to give the manor and its residents time to get used to having him in the house alone.

After Collin’s death and before Sonya’s arrival, he certainly had been. But everything changed with that arrival. Activity at the manor had certainly kicked up.

Barring emergency, he had every intention of staying there for thetwo nights Sonya and Cleo were gone. He expected Owen would join him, but either way.

He wanted to see what Dobbs might have in store when the current object of her wrath wasn’t around.

As he sipped his coffee, three doors above slammed in sharp, rapid snaps.

He just smiled. She’d have to do a lot better than that.