Page 61 of The Atonement

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything, for fear whatever I said might be an encouragement for him to do so. I couldn’t trust myself. What was I doing? Why was I here? What was I thinking?

There were so many more important things.

“But I think I’ll save that for our first date.” Without a word, he turned his face back toward the sky, the corners of his mouth fighting against a smile, and left me to ponder my racing thoughts.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

PETER

Iapproached the front desk of the hotel, worriedly scratching my head and patting my pockets a bit overzealously. The young man behind the counter watched me with an apathetic stare, pushing the bridge of his glasses up farther on his nose.

“Can I help you?”

“Actually, yes. This is so embarrassing, but I’ve lost my room key somewhere, and I left my phone in the room. Could I get a spare?”

“Sure.” He looked relieved I wasn’t asking him to do something difficult as he typed something into the computer in front of him and asked, “What’s your room number?”

“It’s 408.”

He typed it in before eyeing my bandaged wrist suspiciously. I dropped my arm to my side. “Name?”

“Greenburg. It’s probably under my wife’s name, Ainsley.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes skimming the screen. “Do you have some ID?”

I produced my wallet in a flash, a carefree smile on my lips. “Of course. Thank you for asking.”

“No problem.” He half glanced at the ID and spun around, using one of the keys on his wrist to unlock a cabinet. Seconds later, he was handing me a new room key.

“Thanks. Uh, is there any charge?”

“Nah,” he said, rubbing a finger across the pimple on his chin. “You’re good.”

“Thanks, man.” I turned away from him and headed for the elevators, my body trembling with adrenaline.

I was so close.

So close.

The excitement was almost too much.

When I reached her room, I stood still for a moment, listening to be sure she was indeed gone. To make sure he’d taken her away like we’d planned. After a few moments, I pressed the key to the door and watched the light flash green. I turned the handle, waiting again as the seconds passed.

One…

Two…

On three, I pushed the door open and rushed inside, shutting it behind me and pressing my back to the door.

“Hello?” I called.

No answer.

I moved farther into the room, spying her open suitcase on the end of the bed. I picked up a T-shirt, lifting itto my nose and drawing in a breath. I sorted through the bag, filled only with her wrinkled clothing and toiletries.

I looked around, bending down to check the floor and underneath the bed. Where were the children’s bags?

I checked the bathroom, searching for any sign of their things—toothbrushes, clothes, anything, but there was nothing.