Page 97 of Keep This Promise
Great, I am hanging out with Sherlock Holmes. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something, Sophie. If you’re worried I’ll tell Holden, I won’t. Not unless it’s a risk to you.”
That leaves me a little perplexed. “Why would you keep things from him?”
“Because what you do today isn’t what he asked me to watch. He wants to keep you and Eden safe, not police your activities and tattle.”
“That’s . . . well, unexpected, I suppose.”
Spencer shrugs. “I could use a distraction. The writing is slow, and Brie is testifying today, so I really need to keep my mind busy.”
I know the trial began, but I didn’t realize Brielle was involved. “Why aren’t you there?”
“I’m also a witness, so I can’t hear her testimony. We really want this asshole to go to jail, so I’m here, and you’re my entertainment.”
I ponder if I should really trust Spencer with this. But, again, no one knows Theo’s life the way I do, and if I can help, isn’t that something?
“Holden got a copy of my husband’s medical record. He thought there may be a clue in it, and I was planning to go through it to see if I could find something.”
Spencer’s grin is wide. “And I am assuming you and Holden didn’t discuss this?”
“You’re correct.”
“Good. I like mischief and mysteries. Let’s see what we can find.”
I walk into the dining room where the file is sitting and open it. Spencer follows me, and Eden is watching her show and playing with dolls. I check my phone to see if there are any changes in her sugar, she went a little high a few minutes ago, but she’s back in the normal range. So, I take the seat in front of the file. Spencer sits beside me, his eyes shifting between me and the stack of paperwork.
“Let’s start at the beginning,” I say, flipping open the front cover of the file.
Spencer laughs. “It’s the best place to start.”
* * *
We go over things for hours. Spencer and I only get about a quarter of the way through the file because all of it was medical jargon that gave me a headache and we had to take a lot of breaks. Spencer asked a lot of questions, probing into what I remember of each incident. It was hard reliving it. None of the times he was sick are particularly good memories. It was a lot of us trying to make the best of a horrible situation. It’s now past dinner, and Eden has long since lost interest in her toys and shows.
“Mummy, do I need more needles?” she asks. Her hair is still damp from the bath, and she’s snuggled in her favorite pajamas, ready to settle down and get the rest she needs, so I give her a reassuring smile as I grab the handheld tester.
“We do. Remember Holden said we have to do it three times a day to check it against your machine in your little bag here.” I point to the pack that is around her waist.
“I love Holden.”
The declaration stuns me. “You do?”
She nods. “Do you love Holden?”
I . . . I don’t know how to answer that. I know that I haven’t ever felt this way about another man. I know that I want to be with him, to be near him always. The way he cared for me and Eden without hesitation made me respect him deeply. More than anything, it was how he never questioned his paternity that made my feelings for him grow.
Then we had last night, and it was nothing about the past or the things we share. It was about us, and it was beautiful.
“I think I might, love. I think I might.”
Eden’s smile grows bigger. “We should stay here.”
The future I didn’t know was possible becomes clearer. The two of us loving each other beyond measure, raising Eden, and setting roots down in this town is a picture I want to hold on to. I see us growing old together, living a full life of love, passion, and devotion. It’s all right there—with him.
I tuck Eden’s hair behind her ear and smile. “I do too. Now, let’s play click, click, boom.”
We check her sugar, and she’s a little low, so I give her a small cup of juice to bring it up. Once she’s level, I put her to bed and find Spencer, back with the file.
