Page 46 of Embers of Torment

"No, you can't do that. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. Besides, I'm already less stressed after talking to you."

"I'm still coming over, and that's that. No arguing. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Fine." Della expelled a heavy sigh as she hung up the call.

I shut my computer off and hurried to my boss's office. I stopped in his doorway and was about to speak when he held up his hand and pointed to his ear, signaling me to hang on a minute because he was on the phone. I shifted my stance from foot to foot as he conversed with one of our managers.

"Stuart, I need to leave," I said when he touched his earbud and ended the call.

"What's up?" Stuart leaned back, the lines between his brows creasing. "You seem concerned about something."

"I've got a personal matter I have to attend to. If that's okay, I can come in early to finish the project."

"It isn't necessary. That was Brian, if you couldn't tell. They're making a design adjustment, which gives you an extension. Go ahead and take off. We'll see where Brian's team is with the changes in the morning."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"No problem."

After leaving work, I hurried up Seaport Boulevard. Reaching the intersection beside Della's office building, my eyes darted up and down the street as I waited for the stoplight to change. A black sedan drove toward me and slowed to make a right turn. Although the owner had the side windows tinted, I could see two people sitting in the back seat through the windshield, and I could swear one of them was Sofie. A man sat next to her. The car turned and drove in the direction I'd come.

The light changed, and I stepped from the curb. I immediately jumped back. An old brown Cadillac Eldorado barreled in my direction and wasn't going to stop. I yelled at the male driver, and we made eye contact right before he ran the light and sped around the corner, almost wiping out a bicyclist. My ire rose even more when the older woman in the passenger seat glared at me for being in their way.

Wondering where the idiot was from, I glanced at the license plate, but there wasn't one. The vehicle raced down the street, recklessly changing lanes until it got behind Sofie's car. Grumbling at the driver's stupidity, I continued my walk home.

"Wow. What did you do? Run over here or something," Della said when she answered my knock minutes later. She appeared tired, and her smile was far from genuine. Backing away, she let me into her apartment and closed the door.

"I didn't run. I walked fast." I was trying to lighten the mood, seeing Della so visibly down. I reached for her and pulled her close, my arms encircling her in a comforting embrace. "I missed you, and you had me worried. How about you relax, and I make us some dinner?"

"Sure." Della shrugged her shoulder, her enthusiasm and energy gone.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her to the living room. "What do you have that I can make?"

"Soup and grilled cheese, some of that leftover casserole we ate the other day, and I have rotisserie chicken you can throw in a salad."

"What do you prefer?"

"Tomato soup and grilled cheese. I want comfort food right now. I'm a cheese freak, so there are several kinds in the vegetable crisper that you can use." Della settled on the couch. She peered at me, her expression somewhat sheepish. "You didn't have to rush over here, you know. But I appreciate it." She slid her hand across her thigh, smoothing a wrinkle in her linen pants. "It feels weird having someone care."

"Of course, I care." I sat beside her and pulled her in for a hug, followed by a kiss on her forehead. I hated seeing her so dispirited. This wasn't the Della I was used to. I already had an internal need to care for her, but this made me want to wrap her in my arms like a human cocoon and keep the world at bay. I squeezed Della's shoulder. "Do you have any bubble bath?"

"Yeah, why are you asking me that?" Della's expression was full of wary curiosity.

"I thought I could run you a bath so you could relax while I make dinner. It might help you feel better." I nudged Della with my shoulder. "You know you want to."

Della grinned, a spark back in her eyes. "Since you're determined to spoil me, I have some vanilla and patchouli foam bath under my sink."

"Perfect. I'll be right back." I got up and went to Della's bathroom. Locating the bottle, I sat on the edge of her tub and poured a small amount of the liquid into the running water, making sure the temperature was soothingly warm. The sweet and woodsy scent that filled the air was comforting, and I made a mental note that it would be fun to share a soak in the bubbles when she was feeling better. Finished, I returned to the livingroom. "Madam, your luxurious oasis of vanilla and patchouli awaits."

Giggling, Della got up and went to the bathroom, the door quietly shutting behind her.

Rifling through Della's cupboards and refrigerator, I gathered all the necessary ingredients and worked on making dinner. Although challenging, I refrained from pressing Della for details regarding her interview with the detective when we spoke on the phone earlier. I hoped she'd fill me in once she relaxed, especially the pieces of the puzzle she'd referred to as "other things happened."

A half-hour later, Della emerged from the bathroom wearing a fluffy pink robe. She sat at the two-person table by the window, which I'd set with placemats, napkins, and silverware.

I placed her soup and sandwich in front of her. "What do you want to drink?"

"Hmm. A pale ale or red wine would go with the tomato and cheese. I'm leaning toward the beer."

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