Page 122 of The Lies I Told
He smiled, sipped his coffee. “You tell me.”
Had I stood here before, talking to him? I still had no specific memory, but Ihadbeen in this area before my car accident. I was more certain than ever. My mind raced back toward the Black Hole, but instead of penetrating it, I slammed against it. I tried to reach inside and grope for any kind of memory or hint. But there was nothing. No clue. Just a feeling I was on the right track.
“I don’t have an agenda, David,” I said.
“Seriously, why did you come here? And don’t say the engagement pictures. Did Brit send you here? Did she want you to tell me something?”
“Brit’s never used me to do her bidding. And even if she did, I wouldn’t.”
“Why not? You two are sisters. The last of the surviving Stocktons. Blood is thicker than water.” His smile waned and he tapped his index finger against the side of the mug.
“Brit didn’t send me.”
“She doesn’t like the ring. We’ve established that,” he said. “What else is bothering her?”
“I never said she didn’t like the ring. Your words, not mine.”
“Maybe she doesn’t like me as much as she thought.” He leaned toward me, his eyes darkening a shade. “Maybe the ring is just the beginning of the end.” That easy smile tightened around his lips.
“This is not a conversation you should be having with me. Seriously, I was just asking about the pictures.”
He held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m getting all worked up over nothing. I get that way sometimes. Worst case–scenario kind of guy.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You just got engaged. Makes sense you’d be nervous.”
“I suppose I am nervous, aren’t I? I was in love once, but she died. I’m just afraid of losing again.”
Jenny had said my Good Samaritan had called me Clare. Could he be talking about Clare? “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I mean, we’re going to be family.”
“Right.”
He picked up his mug, dumped the coffee in the sink, and set the cup on the counter. “Coffee this late will keep me up all night.”
“Look, I’m sorry I showed up unannounced. You and I can schedule a meeting with Brit about the pictures later.” Whatever idea I’d had about DNA collection suddenly didn’t warrant being alone with this man. “I’ll just take off.”
“Have you ever been in love, Marisa?”
“What? No.”
“Maybe when Brit settles down with me, you’ll find someone to take care of you.”
“I don’t need taking care of,” I said.
“We all do.” His smile returned to its former brilliance. “I don’t want to chase you off.”
“You’re not. Really.” I rose and shouldered my purse.
“I feel like I’m rushing you off.”
“Not at all.” I thought about the mug sitting inside the sink. But there was no way I could just reach around him and pocket it.
Still, to leave could end my one chance to learn more about him and Clare. I could push this a little further. “Do you mind if I use your restroom before I go?”
“Sure, second door on the right.”
“Thanks.”
