The Stranger in the Mirror(52)
Hailey slid Blythe’s cell phone over to her. “Why don’t you call her now?”
“I will.” Blythe picked up the phone, scrolled down her contact list, and tapped on the number.
“Gigi. It’s Blythe. How are you?”
“Not too bad, just getting ready for the holidays over here. How are you doing?”
“I’m all right. I’m actually here with Hailey. We were wondering if you’d heard from Addison lately.”
There was a sigh on the other end. “I haven’t spoken to her in a few weeks,” Gigi said. “She’s stopped taking my calls, and her phone goes right to voice mail. I’ve tried texting her, and for a while she was answering, but a few weeks ago she wrote to say she was grateful to me and Ed for all we’d done for her and that she loved us, but she needed to give all her attention to her family for the time being. That maybe in the future we could be in touch again, but not right now.”
Blythe was shocked. She understood that Addison needed to find her own way, but how could she just cut off Ed and Gigi, after they’d saved her life and helped her rebuild one?
“I’m so sorry, Gigi. I know how hard this must be for you and Ed. How did things seem to you when you were in contact? Did she sound okay, like things were going well?”
“They did. She seemed apprehensive at first, but as time went on, she sounded like she was beginning to remember things. It even sounded like she was happy to be back.” She stopped again. “But then a few days ago Julian called me to tell me he’s worried about her.”
Blythe looked at Hailey and frowned. “Did he say why?”
“He didn’t go into a lot of detail, but apparently she’s back in therapy, and it’s taking a lot out of her.”
“I suppose that would be expected, given everything she’s been through. And continuing to go through,” Blythe said.
“Right. From what Julian says, she doesn’t have any close friends, and he’s been encouraging her to call me, but she won’t. He even suggested to Addy that she should ask me to visit, but she refuses.”
“Hmm. Strange,” Blythe said. “You don’t think he could be lying, do you?”
Gigi sighs again. “I don’t know what to think anymore, to tell you the truth. But doesn’t it seem like if things were bad, Addy would tell me and Ed? I know things are more complicated with Gabriel, but she’d have no reason to keep that from us, right? And Julian seems like he’s on the up-and-up. If he didn’t want to help her get better, why would he have bothered to find her and take her home?”
That was true, Blythe thought. “I haven’t told anyone but Hailey this, Gigi, but I hired a detective to look into Julian. He’s found nothing to indicate that he’s a liar or dangerous or, I don’t know, playing at some sort of crazy game. Maybe it’s just taking Addison time to adjust.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Well,” Blythe said, “if you hear anything that worries or alarms you, would you let us know?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. Take care, Gigi.”
After she hung up, Blythe looked at Hailey and recounted the conversation to her. “What do you think?”
Before she could speak, the phone rang. Blythe’s brows knit together when she saw Gigi’s name. “Hello?”
“I thought of something after we hung up,” Gigi said. “Did Gabriel ever tell you that when he and Addy were in Florida, some guy came up to her in a restaurant and insisted he knew her?”
“What? No. He never told me that.”
“I guess that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Why?”
“Well, it probably wasn’t something either he or Addy would want broadcasted. He told her he remembered her from the club in Fort Lauderdale where she used to work.”
“What kind of club?” Blythe asked. She had a feeling Gigi wasn’t talking about a country club.
“A strip club,” Gigi said, almost in a whisper. “Addy was mortified. Naturally she didn’t want anyone to know. Anyway,” she continued, “Ed ended up going down to Florida to talk to this guy, see what he could find out, but it was basically a dead end.”
“Do you have the man’s name? Perhaps my detective can dig a little deeper, find some answers.”
“I don’t remember it offhand, but I still have his business card. I’ll take a picture and text it to you as soon as we hang up.”
Blythe sighed. “Thank you, Gigi.”
“You’ll let me know whatever you find out?”
“Of course.”
“She’s a wonderful girl, Blythe. I think she’s been hurt by people who she should have been able to trust. I don’t want that to happen again.”
Blythe didn’t want to say it to Gigi, but she was beginning to think that the untrustworthy one was Addison herself.
??44??
Cassandra
When I left this morning to go to the grocery store, I noticed a silver car parked on the side of the road outside the house. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but now as I approach the driveway, I see that the car is still there. It has Massachusetts tags, but I can’t see if anyone is inside because the windows are heavily tinted. My heart quickens as I glance into the rearview mirror and watch as it pulls in behind me. We’re not expecting anyone, and I’m starting to feel panicky. I don’t know what to do. If I hit the remote and pull into the garage, whoever’s in the car will have instant access to the house. I decide to park in front of the house and stay in the car, with the doors locked and the phone in my hand.