Page 92 of The Homemaker

Halfway to the guesthouse, I take a hard left, down the terrace, through the fence, and across the one-way parkway to the lake. I need a walk, a moment to clear my head and organize my thoughts before dealing with my mother.

Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times to stroll along the path around the lake because it’s less crowded.

“Wait up.”

I close my eyes for a second when I hear Murphy’s voice behind me.

“I think we’re done waiting for each other,” I say.

“Alice, that day you thought I was drowning in the pool?—”

“You feel like an ass because my fiancé drowned before I could save him. It’s fine. I wasn’t triggered. Just doing a public service.”

“Are you angry with me?” He catches up, and I feel his gaze on my cheek, as I keep my pace.

“No. I’m angry at … nothing. No one. I’m not angry. You’re putting words into my mouth. And where’s your wife?”

“I don’t have one.”

I stop, slowly deflating as he steps in front of me. My focus stays on his chest because I can’t look at him.

“For the record, I waited for you,” he says.

“I did too,” I whisper, lifting my gaze.

Two vertical lines form between his eyes. “What do you mean?”

I shake my head and step past him to continue walking.

“Wait. No. You can’t say that then walk away.”

“Uh, I did. And I am.”

“You didn’t wait for me. You left me. And I’m not blaming you. What happened to you is horrible. I just need things between us to be clear, and what’s clear is I waited for you.”

“Murphy, I don’t think things will ever be clear between us. They will forever be about as clear as that water.” I nod to the mossy green water edged with algae. “But if you must know, I returned to Minneapolis for you, but you were gone.The rental was sold. Your neighbors knew nothing of your whereabouts, and the one gallery I found that once had your art didn’t know where you’d moved. So I waited. Rented an apartment. Got a job. And settled into the area. Then I waited. I waited and waited. Until …”

“You’re not being serious.”

I give him a quick sidelong glance and smirk. “Well, I wish I weren’t. I’m not usually so sappy and pathetic.”

He grips my arm, making me stop and look at him. A couple walking their dog pass us on the left.

“You waited until what? Until when?”

I’m still waiting.

“Until my boss’s daughter came home for the summer with her fiancé.”

Murphy squints, shaking his head. “That’s a lie. You were with Callen.”

“I’m not marrying him.”

“You’re mad because I’m marrying Blair?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course not.”

“Then what?”