Page 267 of My Temptation (Kingston Lane)

“Hi, Jenny, sorry to bother you.”

“Hi, Juliet. What’s up?” Her tone is abrasive.

“Sorry to bother you, but have you heard from Henley today?” I ask.

“He emailed this morning to say he had external meetings all day and that he wouldn’t be in to the office.”

“Oh, yes. I completely forgot about that.” I hold on the line while I think. She obviously doesn’t know anything either. “Okay, thank you. I just couldn’t reach him. I’m sure he will call me back soon.”

“He’s a very busy man, Juliet.”

“I know,” I reply through gritted teeth. Don’t mess with me today, Jenny.

I am not in the mood.

“Thanks, Jenny.”

Thanks for nothing, bitch.

I do some cleaning and vacuum the floor. And then I prep my dinners for the week. I’m working afternoon shifts and want to try and be organized and healthy.

Where could he possibly be?

His father.

Oh fuck, I hadn’t even thought of that. Shit, shit, shit.

I scramble through Google to look for the nursing home’s phone number, and I call.

“Hello. San Sebastian Nursing Home.”

“Hello, can I be put through to the level-two nurses’ station, please?”

“Transferring you now.”

“Hello, level two. Christine speaking.”

I wince. I don’t really know Christine. I’ve never worked with her before. “Hi, Christine, it’s Juliet Drinkwater calling. We’ve never actually met, but I’ve seen your name on the roster. I do one shift a week.”

“Yes, hello, Juliet. I’ve seen your name on the roster too. How are you?”

“Good.” I pause. I know she can’t tell me anything.

“This is a random question, but I was wondering how Bernard James from room 206 is?”

“Oh . . . um.” She pauses.

“Off the record, of course,” I say. “He’s actually my boyfriend’s father, and I can’t get ahold of my boyfriend and am getting worried. His name is Henley James. Have you seen him?”

“Oh . . . ,” she replies. “You might want to come down here.”

“What’s happening?”

“Mr. James’s room is being cleaned out.”

My eyes widen. There’s only one reason someone cleans out a room.

No.

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