Page 51 of The Unforgiven
She hadn’t seen Brett since she told him about the baby two days ago, but he’d texted her several times to find out if she’d made any plans for the weekend. She’d replied that she was free, but that might change now that Jason Womack was due to arrive. She needed to make a list of places to visit with Jason and figure out the best time to drive out to Arabella Plantation.
Tired of walking, Quinn found a bench. She reached into her bag and pulled out her mobile to call Dina Aptekar and ask about shooting some footage at the plantation. One glance at the screen told her there’d been no calls from Gabe. Not even a text. But there was a text from Jill, asking her to call.
Quinn decided to get business out of the way first and called the Arabella Plantation. Dina came on the phone after a brief hold.
“This is a bit unorthodox, but since you’re a Besson and this is your family’s history, I suppose we can make an exception and let you have a private tour,” Dina said. “However, I don’t think you can use the footage for anything but private viewing. Give me a call tomorrow and I’ll figure something out. Maybe you can come a half hour before we open to avoid random tourists wandering into the shot. Would that be enough time to get what you need?”
“I think so,” Quinn replied, although she wasn’t sure. She’d have to talk to Jason and see what he thought. Quinn wished that Rhys had given her Jason’s contact information so she could find out exactly when he was planning to arrive and what hours he preferred to work. She supposed morning light would be best for filming the plantation, but Jason might want to get some twilight shots or even some footage of the mansion and the slave quarters by night.
Quinn put Rhys and Jason out of her mind and rang Gabe’s number. Again, the call went directly to voicemail. Quinn felt a pang of worry. Why wasn’t he answering? She fired off a text to him and then selected Jill’s number. She needed to hear a friendly voice, and Jill would be at her shop at this time.
“Hey, Jilly, how are things?” Quinn asked, relieved when her cousin answered on the first ring.
“Not too bad,” Jill said. “How’s sunny New Orleans? I reckon you don’t even need an umbrella. This weather is getting me down. What happened to bloody spring?”
“It’s England, Jill,” Quinn pointed out.
“Don’t I know it? Lord, I’d trade my firstborn for a week in the Maldives.”
“You don’t have a firstborn.”
“Hypothetically, love. Speaking of firstborns, how are you feeling?”
“I’m all right. Just a little more tired than usual. And I’ve had trouble adjusting to the time difference. I miss home.”
“When are you back?”
“I was planning to fly back at the weekend, but Rhys thinks there’s a story here, so he is sending a cameraman my way.”
“What story?” Jill didn’t know anything about Quinn’s ability to see into the past, so Quinn instantly backtracked. She had been making too many slips of the tongue of late.
“Rhys just thought it might be a nice change of pace to have an episode set in mysterious old antebellum South. Something to shock British audiences out of their complacency. You know what they expect—castles and medieval maidens. This will be something very different.”
“It sure will. Can’t wait to see it.”
“Jill, have you heard from Gabe?” Quinn asked carefully.
“No. Why?”
“He’s not answering his mobile, and Rhys mentioned that Emma is staying with Sylvia for a few days.”
“And how does Rhys know that Emma is staying with Sylvia?” Jill asked, instantly latching on to that bit of information.
“I gather they’ve been spending time together.”
“As what?”
“I’m not quite sure, and I don’t think it’s my place to ask. But I am concerned about Gabe.”
“Sounds like he might have left town. Have you called his parents?”
“I don’t want to alarm them, or make Gabe feel as if I’m checking up on him,” Quinn replied.
“Look, Quinn, Gabe probably has a perfectly logical explanation, being the perfectly logical bloke that he is. Have faith. He loves you.”
“Oh, I don’t think…” Quinn allowed the sentence to trail off. What exactly did she think? “Jill, I don’t think Gabe is with another woman. I think something’s wrong.”
“Quinn, whatever happened, Gabe will deal with it. He probably just doesn’t want to worry you, especially since you can’t do much from where you are. Don’t worry, coz.”
