Page 19 of One Last Lie

I escort him to the door and note how his eyes move toward the parlor, behind which is the family room where the children wait for their story. I catch a brief glimpse of his expression when he does that. He’s not smiling. In place of that smile is a hard look as cold and flat as his voice when I answer the door.

When he leaves, it’s as though the atmosphere in the room lightens considerably. I think I understand now why the children are so wary of visitors. Elena was after their father’s company, and as for Doctor Harrow… I’m not sure what he’s after, but his interest in Elijah didn’t seem that of a concerned psychologist.

“Mary!” Isabella’s voice calls. “Samuel wants to know if we watch a movie tonight!”

“Of course, dear!” I call back. “I’ll have Paolo prepare soup for dinner, and we can enjoy it while watching a movie of his choice.”

“Okay!”

I head to the kitchen to speak to Paolo. On the way, I crumple up Doctor Harrow’s card and throw it into the wastebin.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I read three chapters of Huckleberry Finn. By the time I finish, the day has warmed considerably, and the near-constant cloud cover has parted to reveal a glimpse of sun. Samuel is still recovering, but I am of the old-fashioned opinion that there is no better remedy to a cold than fresh air and sunshine.

I close the book and say, “Children, I believe we should take a walk before lunch. I am eager to see the grounds under a blue sky and not a gray one. Perhaps Elijah will treat us to a foray into the deep grounds and show us where he goes when he meditates.”

Elijah shuffles his feet. “Actually… I was hoping to talk to you. Alone.”

I frown. “Is everything all right?’

“Fine. Just…” he glances at Samuel.

Isabella catches the look and says, “I can take Samuel out. You haven’t had much time to talk to Elijah. We’ll be back in a couple of hours for lunch.”

“Aww, but I want to go to the deep grounds!” Samuel protests. “You never take me there!”

“Next time, buddy,” Elijah promises.

Samuel mopes for a moment, but no boy can resist the allure of a sunlit day for long. He soon overcomes his disappointment and allows his sister to lead him—bundled in a thick woolen coat with scarf and gloves—outside.

Elijah watches them leave with an almost parental love in his eyes. “He’ll come back sweating like a dog wearing all that.”

“Sweating is good when one is ill. He can take a bath after lunch and change into fresh clothing. Besides, the snow is already several weeks late. It could arrive any day, and who knows when we’ll see clear weather again?”

“When the sun comes back.”

I give him a wry smile. “Keen observation, Mr. Ashford.”

He chuckles. “That’s just what Dad always used to say when I was stuck inside during the rain. I’d ask him what made the rains come, and he’d say, ‘The clouds got here.’ Then I’d ask when the clouds would leave, and he’d say, ‘When the sun comes back.’”

“No doubt that frustrated you to no end.”

He shrugs. “Yes and no. I mean, I wanted to play outside, but it kind of helped me learn to accept it, you know? Some days will be cloudy, and some days will be sunny. Maybe it’s silly, but I liked it.”

His smile fades, and I risk approaching the topic of his grief. “You must miss your father very much.”

He chuckles, a little bitterly. “Keen observation, Miss Wilcox.”

My heart sinks a little, but it’s not about my feelings. I’m here to help him, not prove that I’m some brilliant counselor. “You said you wanted to talk to me?”

His expression darkens. “Yes. I have something to show you.”

He stands and leaves the family room, striding purposefully. He’s nearly as tall as his father’s six-foot-one, and I have to hurry to keep up with him. I think of asking him to slow down so I can walk rather than trot, but I sense that he’s moving quickly to avoid losing his courage, and I don’t want to get in the way of that.

He doesn’t slow as he ascends the stairs, and I am nearly out of breath when we reach the third floor. I’ll have to take more time for exercise.

He leads me to his room, and when he finally stops, I have to catch my breath a moment before I speak. While I do, he opens his closet and retrieves a small item from the top shelf of his closet.

---