Chapter Twenty-Four
JANE
“What do you mean he's not here?” Thea asked.
I adjusted the phone on my shoulder as I turned off the faucet with one hand and quickly dried my hands. A moment later, I gripped the phone in my hand again. “He said something came up with work. He didn't say what.”
“And you didn't ask?” Thea pressed.
“No,” I muttered, feeling a little foolish. “Do you know something about what's going on?”
I hated that I was quizzing his sister for answers and, even more so, that I’d felt like I couldn’t ask Ian.
“No, he's always been a workaholic, but that's kind of weird for him to cancel like that without explaining. You two have been visiting every weekend, right?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly.
“Well, I think you should ask him when he calls. His job is his job, but you're more important,” Thea offered pointedly.
“Okay, okay. I will. Sometimes it's hard to focus on work when you're trying to do other things,” I offered.
I was trying really hard to be understanding and make sense of it, but the whole thing felt weird, and I didn't know why.
It made me feel like something else was going on with him, and he just wasn't telling me.
Maybe it had something to do with me. I didn't say any of that to Thea.
She was his sister, and I wasn't going to get into that with her.
“If you find out what's up, tell me. I'm also going to call him and do a little reconnaissance for you. I'll fill you in.”
“Thea,” I warned. “Don't you dare. That's ridiculous.”
“Why is it ridiculous?” she countered. “He's my brother, so I can be as nosy as I want.”
“But I don't want him to think I'm asking you to do that.”
My friend let out a sharp, dry laugh. “He would never think that. I'm nosy anyway,” she said flatly.
I laughed because that was entirely true. “I'll talk to you soon.”
“Don't make it more than it is,” she added.
“Okay. I won't,” I said, rolling my eyes even though she couldn’t see me.
After I got off the phone, I settled into grading more papers.
Audrey called to check in with me as well.
Even when she invited me to meet her for lunch, I demurred.
Not because I didn't want to see her, but she was married to Ian's brother.
It felt like a little merry-go-round of too many people connected and me feeling foolish about all of it.
I told myself it was nothing. I told myself I would be fine.
I was. Until I got a phone call from a reporter.