Page 80 of Desolation

I snort at that. “Yeah, tell that to my kids who I’ve abandoned for weeks.”

He pulls out the stool next to me at the kitchen island. “You said they go to their grandparents a lot in the summer.”

I nod. “But I am usually there half the time. I might not like being at that grand estate but it’s large enough I don’t have to see my in-laws while my kids have fun.”

“I don’t think they feel like you abandoned them. They just miss you. They wouldn’t be talking to you if they felt that way.”

“How do you know?”

Landon drops his head and rubs the back of his neck. “Because I hated my mom.”

“What do you mean?” This is the first I have heard about Landon’s past and I only hope it makes him open up.

“My mom was a drunk and an addict. My brother and I scraped by. We learned to live on our own. My mom would leave us for days at a time in a smelly, trashy trailer. Sometimes our stepdad would be there with his fists but most of the time he was gone too. She gave two shits about us. Just saw us as a burden.”

I grab his hand that rests on his knee. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He says as he looks me in the eye. “I know what a good parent looks like. You are one. Don’t ever think you’re not.”

“But… I’m putting my kids through so much right now and a divorce.”

“That’s part of life, Mar. I could tell by the way they talked to you, how animated they were, how genuinely happy they looked to see you, they don’t think you abandoned them. And a divorce isn’t going to make a difference. They love you.”

My heart warms at his words. “I hope so.”

“I know so.”

I take a deep breath, my hands still shaky and clammy. “Did you hear that my husband is looking for me?”

He nods. “That’s right when I stood in the hall. Olivia has some lungs on her. Woke me up through the phone all the way to the room.”

I laugh. “That she does.” I pause, “Do you think he knows I found that file? It’s the only thing I could think of why he was looking for me?”

Landon rubs his finger over his lip. “Maybe. We still don’t know if he has anything to do with those accounts. But they do make him look suspicious. And if he found out that you know about that file, it could give him motive to look for you.”

Something clicks in my head. “Wait, do you think that had something to do with last night? How would he know I was here? How could he find me so quick?”

Landon shrugs. “Doubtful. You said it was late there?”

I nod.

“Well that happened around seven here. Would have been ten on the east coast. I don’t think he would have narrowed down your location so quickly.” He looks off toward the pool, his brow creased like I’ve noticed it does when he is thinking. “Unless he already was tipped off you were here.”

“By who?” I retort.

“Don’t know. Maybe your CFO?”

“No.” I stammer. “No, it’s not her. She wouldn’t do this. We’ve known each other too long.”

Landon nods. “Okay. Well, we are missing a connection somewhere. I’ll look into it today.”

“Wait, are you working on my case? Is this what had you on edge last night?”

Landon stands, pulling his shoulders back to stretch his chest. “I need to get to work.”

“Landon.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

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