Page 66 of Willowbrooke
Things had been nice between us since then. Mostly brief texts and the occasional meme about narcissistic parents, but it was more of a connection than we’d had years. I felt optimistic about forging a new kind of relationship with her—one that was on our own terms.
I threw myself into completing work on the house, trying to keep my mind off everything that had happened that night. The kitchen was completely done, the flooring refinished through the entirety of the home, the library reorganized and cataloged, and all bedrooms and bathrooms updated.
Willowbrooke was pristine.
She was, quite simply, my masterpiece.
I didn’t know how I was ever going to top this project.
Leo was a very welcome distraction as well. And although the image of him with Quinn would occasionally plague me, I found myself thinking of it less and less the closer Leo and I became.
Still disappointed that she had missed Leo, Mina and I eventually said our goodbyes, agreeing to another lunch date after the new year. Eager to get home to her own partner and spend Christmas Eve with his family, we lingered in theentryway in a tight hug.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” she whispered. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
I pulled her even closer. “Thank you.”
And with that, she was gone. My heart was always so full after spending time with her. I was still so distracted by thoughts of our conversation and her enthusiasm over how the house had turned out, that I didn’t hear Leo saunter in near dinnertime. He startled me when he gave me a soft kiss at my temple before dropping a bag of groceries on the counter.
“Everything alright?”
I nodded, changing the subject before he had time to probe further. “You sure you want to cook?” I had hoped we could relax together, and there were plenty of leftovers from lunch.
But cooking was one of the ways Leo relaxed, so I relented when he insisted.
“Can I help?” I offered instead.
“Sure.” He smiled, pointing to vegetables that needed to be rinsed and diced.
Working seamlessly together, we danced around each other in the kitchen in silence, until I couldn’t bear it any longer.
“What were you up to today?” I tried to keep my tone light, but hiding my curiosity was impossible. Leo wasn’t terribly secretive with me about anything, certainly not sincethe incident with Margot. He was now an open book—which was beyond refreshing.
Leo laughed, but didn’t respond.
“Mina thought you might be avoiding her,” I suggested.
“I would never avoid the Spanish Inquisition,” he joked. “I was asking William’s advice on a new business venture.” Finally he answered my initial question. I thought perhaps only to avoid more of my badgering over him conveniently being out of the house during Mina’s visit.
“Oh.” I was surprised by his answer. I noticed Leo had become increasingly antsy now that the major house work had been completed, and wondered if perhaps it was because he was rudderless without work to focus on, but I hadn’t mentioned my suspicions to him yet.
“I’ve been waiting for the right thing to come along, and I think I’ve found it.” He remained cryptic.
“And William agrees?”
Leo nodded. “He loves it, actually.”
I smiled at the thought of Leo finding something more fulfilling to do with his time. “You’re not going to share?” I nudged him, careful to do so when he wasn’t holding a knife.
He smirked. “Not yet.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, but allowed him to get away with the transgression, knowing he wouldn’t keep it from me for long, and likely had a good reason for doing so.
“So how did lunch with Mina go?”
“She loves the house.” I couldn’t help but grin,remembering her kind words.
“Of course she does—anyone who doesn’t love what you’ve done clearly has no taste.” Leo spoke so matter-of-factly, it made me blush. As if I was some famous designer who’d been in business for years working for the rich and famous, not Penny Abbot, with a singular professional project to my name.
