When Darkness Falls(45)

“Take care of yourself. I’ll do what I can here. But I can’t promise anything.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll always give you a good reference.”

Haley shut her eyes against the tears that were forming. “I know. Thanks.”

She clicked the phone off and slumped in the vinyl booth. She and Devon couldn’t afford to lose a few days’ pay for her trip here, let alone be without her income for however long it would take to find a new job if she had to. But she couldn’t do anything about that now, unless she was willing to fly back home right now and leave Devon to Lydia.

Her room still wasn’t ready, so Haley stayed in her corner of the breakfast room and called Kari, hoping for some encouragement.

“If he loves you, he’ll come back,” Kari said.

“I don’t think it’s that simple.” Haley watched a tan couple page through brochures at the concierge desk. They were probably here on vacation. Her eyes ached.

“With men, it’s usually pretty simple,” Kari said.

“That’s a stereotype,” Haley said. “It’s not all about sex.”

“You’re sure? What does Lydia look like?”

“She’s stunning. But it’s not that. It’s not like Devon’s gone running after every pretty woman he’s ever seen.”

“Haley, I don’t like to say this, but you don’t really know that. You met him, you married him, and he practically became a recluse. You don’t know what he’s like in normal circumstances. I don’t understand what’s happening any better than you do. But Devon’s chosen to stay in L.A. With another woman. I saw how hard the Brian thing was on you, and I hate to see you throwing everything into another relationship with someone who’s not putting you first.”

Haley cleared her throat. “This isn’t like with Brian.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not.” She took a long drink of water.

“I’m sorry,” Kari said. “I support whatever you do. I’m just worried about you.”

“I know.”

Her room was ready half an hour later. The entrance was off an outdoor walkway, and on the opposite side sliding glass doors led to a balcony. A Queen bed with a white-on-white striped comforter and stacks of pillows stood in the center of the room. After locking the doors, Haley sat at the small desk and scrolled through the address book on her phone, looking for anyone she’d met in or near Los Angeles. She hadn’t talked to most of the people since before she and Brian had split. But she had sent wedding announcements, and they’d sent cards. Any of them probably would be happy to hear from her. Musicians usually helped one another out, especially in the folk and bluegrass world. But Haley didn’t know what she could tell them about her life that wouldn’t sound insane. She couldn’t explain in ten minutes or less the panic attacks, Devon’s dreams, or his fear of hurting her. They’d think Devon was crazy. Hopeless. And maybe that Haley was, too. She closed her eyes. How she wished she had one person who would understand how much she loved Devon and that she had to try to save things. She lay down without turning down the sheets and slept.

She awoke a little after seven in the evening. Devon had left a message on her phone asking her to meet him in the lobby of her hotel at eight and they’d go to dinner.

After a shower, Haley stepped onto the balcony overlooking the hotel’s enclosed courtyard. The wood felt warm beneath her bare feet, but the breeze already had turned cold, and the rose color in the sky was fading to charcoal. She strained her eyes to see if anyone hid in the garden. Shadows shrouded it so that its wooden bridges and stone pathways were barely visible. She couldn’t help thinking how easy it would be for someone to hide down there. She looked away. She was being ridiculous. The courtyard could only be accessed from the hotel. If anyone was in it, it was just another hotel guest or a staff member.

Haley listened to Devon’s message again, trying to figure out from his tone how he was feeling, but she couldn’t. Lydia had probably been right there listening. If he insisted on staying in L.A. and talking further with Lydia, Haley would get him to promise he’d stay in the hotel. If he was still afraid he’d hurt Haley, he could keep the hotel room and she’d find someone to crash with and not tell him where she was.

The wind whistled, and foliage around the garden’s lily pond rustled. The pond itself appeared black rather than green. Haley’s arms prickled.

She had a feeling she didn’t want to hear whatever Devon was going to say tonight.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Devon stood in the lobby, within a few feet of the entryway doors. His head ached. He couldn’t imagine how he would explain anything to Haley. He ought to be locked up for considering what Lydia had said to him. And if he were doing the things she claimed….

He smelled Haley’s perfume, heard the revolving door whir behind him. He spun around. Haley tried to smile, but her lips only curved a little. She wore jeans and a white cotton T-shirt and had her long hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked younger than twenty-five, almost like a teenager.

“Where’d you come from?” Devon said. He’d expected to see her emerge from the elevators, not enter the lobby from outside.

“It’s quicker to walk this way from my room. Weren’t you cold?”