Page 50 of Shattered Hearts

Now, if I can hold off on another breakdown, if I can focus on my recovery, my future won’t seem so scary.

Gage helps.

Imagining our lives together will keep me on the right track. It’s all I want.

“Getting rid of me, huh?” Ingrid asks, meeting me at the door. She’s holding my pills and a glass of water, and she watches me swallow them before I can even slip my jacket off.

“Peggy already called you?”

“No. My employment agency. Your brother was very generous. I’ve never been given such a large severance package.”

“I’m sorry. I was at his office this morning and I asked him what he thought. He’s trying to help me find more independence, and I hate you’re here alone a lot now that I’m seeing Gage.”

She squeezes my arm. “You don’t have to explain or apologize. I’ve watched you grow from a confused young woman into someone who’s sure of herself. You might still be on some drugs, but you’ll get there, Zarah. I know you will. I’ll miss you.”

I hug her. “I’ll miss you too, but this is what I need now.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Where will you go?”

We walk to the kitchen, and Lucille sets out enormous cinnamon rolls and serves us coffee. She putters around, humming. There’s nothing she likes more than having people to feed.

“I sublet my apartment when Zane hired me. My sister said I can nanny her kids until my employment agency finds me something else. I’ll be okay.”

“I’ll give you a terrific reference, of course.”

She smiles at her plate. “Thanks.”

We finish our breakfast, and she goes upstairs to pack. I look in on Stella but she’s sitting in the window seat reading, and I don’t bother her. It’s too early to nap, and feeling confident, I let the dogs outside. If I don’t wander too far, I won’t get lost.

Sansa and Arya are happy to be let loose, and they run ahead, playing in the snow.

Ingrid doesn’t waste time, and an hour later an old, rusted car speeds up to the house. A large bag is slung over her shoulder, and she’s carting two heavy suitcases. She sets one down to wave at me in the distance.

She must have arranged her ride the second I stepped outside, and I swallow back a sob of disappointment. I run to try and catch her, wanting one more hug and to wish her well, but I’m too far away and the vehicle is chugging down our driveway and almost to the highway by the time I reach the house. She didn’t want to tell me goodbye.

Maybe she’s angry I let her go.

If that’s the way she’s going to be, it’s better we went our separate ways. Because of what the position entailed, I know Zane paid her above what she normally would have earned, and maybe she’s worried about finding a job that will pay her equally as well. Or maybe she liked living here.

All I know is I can’t stop crying.

I sniffle through the rest of the day and barely manage to eat dinner, and despite Gage calling to wish me goodnight, I cry myself to sleep. My throat is scratchy the next morning, and when I have to swallow my pills alone, my tears start all over again.

“Zarah, you saw Ingrid leave yesterday, right?” Zane asks, leaning into my room. He looks worried, and he’s not dressed for work.

“Yeah. We had breakfast together, then she packed. I was outside playing with the dogs, and I watched a car pick her up. It hurt my feelings she left so quickly. Why?”

“She didn’t check in at the employment agency, and her sister’s been waiting for her since yesterday morning.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, no one has seen her since she left our house. Ingrid’s missing.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Gage

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