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“What she did when Cleo and I saw her, or that night when I heard someone calling and banging on the door, when I saw the snowstorm that wasn’t there, in that three o’clock hour, that’s her. In the house.”

“When you think about it, she doesn’t use that hour much. Probably costs her more.”

“She doesn’t, now that you point that out. It’s not Dobbs pulling me when I walk, I absolutely know that. Does she watch herself? I wonder. Stand at the window and watch herself die, night after night?”

“I lean yes. Since she’s as crazy as Rochester’s first wife, wouldn’t she consider that one of her finest hours?”

“Yes. And points forJane Eyreover breakfast.” She looked at him, the wonderfully deep blue eyes, the just-a-little-longer-than-lawyerly dark hair, and that air of calm and confidence he wore as comfortably as his jeans.

“Warning. It’s unwise to tell an irritated woman she’s irritated.”

That simply rolled off him.

“Facts are facts, cutie. I’ve got a family thing later, then a work deal tonight. But I can come by after if you want.”

“I officially give you the night off. I need to put in some solid extra time on the Ryder proposal. Presentation’s coming up, and it has to kill.”

“From what I’ve seen, it already does.” He took their empty plates to the sink. “You’ve got a lot going on. Are you sure you want to do this big party?”

“Completely. It’s just what I need, what Cleo and I need. And honestly, I think it’s what the manor needs.”

“Then I’ll plan on the weekend here, digging out tables and chairs. I’ll rope Owen into it. Now Mookie and I have to take off.”

She went to the fridge, took out a tub of jambalaya. “Your parting gift.”

“That takes care of lunch.” When she put her arms around his waist, he cupped her chin in his hand, lowered his head to kiss her. “I won’t say don’t work too hard because why would I, and why would you listen? So how about go up to your office and kick ass.”

“Just exactly the right thing. You go do the same, because yeah, we love what we do.”

After Trey left with Mookie, Sonya glanced at the dishes. “And Molly loves what she does, so I’ll leave those for her. Let’s go get to work, Yoda. You can come, too, Pye.”

But when they reached the second floor, the cat veered off. Sonya watched her slink down the hall and into Cleo’s room.

Sonya put in a solid two hours, undisturbed, before she saw Cleo and the cat come out.

Sonya saved her work, rose. “I’m coming down with you. FYI, Pye’s been out this morning, and she’s had breakfast.”

“Thanks. I should’ve gotten up earlier and done that myself.”

“Owen let her out, Trey put out the food. But I don’t mind doing both, since I’m already up and doing that for Yoda. And Owen opened your Toaster Strudels.”

For a moment, Cleo frowned, then she shrugged. “I guess he’s entitled. I thought she’d curl up in bed with me, but she’s not a nighttime cuddler. She slept on the window seat.”

“I wonder if she watched the show.”

“What show?” On a yawn, Cleo walked into the mudroom. “And see! She hasn’t used the litter box once! I’m going to let her out again. Yoda, be a sweetie and go with her. What show?” Cleo repeated.

“Get your coffee.” And Sonya got a Coke for herself while she explained.

Irritation, mild but there, surfaced in Sonya when Cleo instantly got the implication.

“It’s like an echo, a repeat. She didn’t see or hear them because it’s not actually happening now.”

“Well, yeah. I was getting to that.”

“It’s fascinating. And now I’m annoyed I didn’t think of it before. Setting an alarm and going out there.” She sulked for half a minute. “I wish Owen had told me he was going to do it.”

“You’d have gone out there with him?”