Page 53 of The Homemaker (The Chain of Lakes #1)

Chapter Fifty-One

Alice

It’s never too late, until it is.

“I’ve fallen out of love with you.”

I grin, setting the day’s floral arrangement on the dining room table while Mr. Morrison frowns at his bowl of heart-healthy oatmeal with fresh berries and sweetened with local honey.

“Did you know there’s a book called Why We Are Carnivores & How Plants Try to Poison You ?”

“I did not.” I laugh.

“We should start it this afternoon. I bet we can get through it before you leave me.”

I refill his coffee. “My work here is about done. I’m not leaving you. I’m setting you free.”

He grumbles something while I exit the room to gather the bedsheets.

Blair and Murphy aren’t back yet, so I strip their bed first. With them wadded in my arms, I step toward the door, but something catches my eye.

It’s the half-empty closet. Blair’s clothes are hanging in their spot, but there’s not a single item that belongs to Murphy.

I glance at the desk. His computer is gone as well as his black backpack. What’s going on?

Just as I pass the stairs on my way to the laundry room, Vera appears at the top.

“Good morning,” I say.

She presses her lips together and shakes her head, eyes red with tears.

“Oh, are you okay?” I set the sheets on the floor and climb the stairs.

She shakes her head a half dozen times, then presses the pads of her fingers to her eyes. I hold open my arms, and she accepts my hug.

“He left her,” Vera whispers in a shaky voice. “Murphy called off the wedding.” She chokes on a sob.

My head swims.

He called off the wedding. His clothes are gone.

He’s gone .