Chapter 3 #2
“But what about Mr. Glenn?” Victoria had met the museum curator once when he’d arrived to meet with Thomas after a PT session. Thomas had acted friendlier and more pleased to see Clinton Glenn than anyone she had observed Thomas with before. “And your attorney, Mr. Neely. Surely, he’s trustworthy?”
“Bob? Yes.” Thomas looked off to the side, as if staring at the fire without seeing it. “I think so. I may show him what I discovered.”
Discovered? Victoria held back more questions. It wasn’t her place to pry into a client’s personal life. “I’ll pray for wisdom in the situation. Whatever is happening, the Lord can help you navigate it. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.’”
“‘…all those who practice it have a good understanding.’”
Victoria smiled. At least he wasn’t so disturbed as to not finish her Scripture quote, as per usual.
“Well, shall we get started? I’ll have you come to stand.
” She moved closer in case he needed any assistance, though she didn’t expect him to.
He’d made excellent progress in his balance. More than he seemed to realize.
Thomas leaned his upper body forward and stood as she had shown him, minimizing effort and ending with better skeletal alignment.
“Well done. I have a new exercise I’d like you to try today that will focus on your balance when—”
A grand two-toned bell rang through the mansion. The doorbell.
Thomas’s body stiffened. He reached for Victoria and gripped her wrist.
“Thomas? What is it?”
“Not now.”
Voices carried from the hallway. Two males.
Thomas darted a glance over his right shoulder toward the open doorway. “Will you come back tomorrow morning?”
“I was planning on Wednesday, since we’re having a session today.” Their usual schedule was every other weekday.
“No. You can’t stay. I need to do this.”
Victoria followed his gaze to the foyer outside the library. And to the figures that appeared there.
Two men entered the library and strode toward Thomas and Victoria. Ryan Briscoe and Clinton Glenn. Why was Thomas acting almost…afraid of his nephew and the curator she’d thought was his friend? Or was only one of them making him so tense and uncomfortable?
“Please, come back tomorrow at nine.” Thomas whispered the request with a fierce squeeze of her hand. “I’ll explain everything then.”
“Uncle, your friend is here to see you.” Ryan gave the unnecessary explanation as if his uncle was blind as he and Mr. Glenn paused halfway into the large room.
“But I see you’re busy with your therapy.
” Ryan seemed unable to help the condescension that laced the word, therapy.
No wonder Thomas so easily saw through his and Brenda’s supposed affection.
Thomas looked in the new visitor’s direction. “Victoria was just leaving.” He returned his gaze to her, his eyes peering deeply into hers, full of urgency she’d never seen in him before.
“Yes.” She returned the squeeze, her hand still in his.
“I’ll be back.” She said the words in a normal tone, looking directly at Thomas so he would know they were meant for him—her promise she would return in the morning as he’d asked.
Good thing tomorrow was her day off, or she might have had to refuse due to already scheduled appointments.
She scooped up her bag and the disposable pad. Giving a nod to the two men, she passed them and headed for the library doorway.
“Thomas, so good to see you.” Mr. Glenn’s tone was as warm and friendly as the last time she’d seen him visit Thomas at the estate. Perhaps there was nothing wrong, and she had misread the situation.
Relief eased some of the tension in her chest as she neared the foyer.
“Leave us, Ryan.”
Victoria paused at the almost unrecognizable voice.
Thomas had never sounded so cold, so grim. Not even when discussing his disappointing niece and nephew.
Should she turn back? See if Thomas needed her? Perhaps if she understood the problem, she could offer her help.
“I’ll see you out.” Ryan’s statement at her shoulder made her pulse jump.
She glanced at him, catching the disapproval in his eyes, as if he thought she was intending to eavesdrop.
He was apparently judging her in the light of his own character, at least from the two times she was sure she’d caught him listening outside his uncle’s office when Thomas had been on the phone. But confronting him on that point would do no good at the moment.
She allowed him to lead her to the front door and shut it behind her. Her thoughts, however, remained inside, with Thomas. And she did the only thing she knew could enable her to let go of worry and the things she couldn’t control.
Lord, You know what Thomas meant. You know what trouble he’s facing. Please give him wisdom and Your peace. Help me to leave this matter and all things in Your hands.
The last request in her silent prayer was one she should have prayed earlier.
She would need the Lord’s help to make it through the rest of the day, knowing that in seven hours and forty-six minutes, she would meet with the man she had never thought she would see again.
The one she had allowed to occupy her heart, only to regret it for the rest of her days.
She would have to be very careful this evening. She could not let herself commit the same error twice.