Executive Protection(57)

Lucy stepped into the entry, white and dark wood stairs to the left leading both up and down and straight ahead she saw a wide, open room with shining dark wood floors and soft yellow walls. Neutral red-, yellow-and green-striped chairs and a huge brown leather sectional were positioned before a panel of white-trimmed windows.

Leaving the entry, Lucy passed a pair of open white French doors to a dining room on her right. Across from there was another set of French doors, those opening to a smaller sitting area, a place to get away from the noise. On the other side of the wall from the dining room was the kitchen, overlooking the living room. Dark granite countertops and white cabinets looked rich and clean, and the double-door, stainless-steel refrigerator could feed an army. An island lined with stools separated the kitchen from the living room, and a round, casual dining table sat at the end of the kitchen before the wall of windows it shared with the living room.


Sophie skipped into the living room and dropped her stuffed animal and tote bag. Dolls spilled out, and she busily fell into imaginative play. No doubt, this was the biggest dollhouse she’d ever seen. It certainly was for Lucy—this had to be a dream.

Lucy put down the bags on the kitchen island counter with Thad and began to unload groceries. There were no stores here, only beach houses, sand and ocean. They’d stopped in Corolla on the way.

Thad turned on the oven and put French fries on a cooking sheet while Lucy put a container of mac ’n’ cheese in the microwave.

“I’ll grill our burgers,” Thad said.

This had such a domesticated feel. She followed him to the balcony door, drawn by the view. The sun was setting, giving the ocean’s surface an orange sheen. Thad started the giant steel grill on the balcony. Stairs led down to the pool. There was also a hot tub.

Going to the railing, she rested her hands there and leaned over to see the back of the house. There were windows on every side, but panels of them filled the back on all levels. A wooden railed path led to the beach, breaking waves rolling up onto sand in the distance. The beach was wide and went on for as far as the eye could see.

Catching Thad watching her, having paused in his task of putting burgers on the grill, Lucy turned and went back into the house to cut tomatoes, cheese, onions and lettuce. The look in Thad’s eyes stayed with her. He seemed relaxed, even with Sophie here.

The television played in the living room and Lucy realized Sophie had turned it on. She’d had to become more independent since her mother died.

She finished preparing Sophie’s dinner and put the plate on the kitchen island.

“Sophie.”

“Yes!” Sophie bounded into the kitchen and clumsily climbed up onto the stool. She had a spoon in hand and stirred the steaming macaroni and cheese. It was too hot to eat.

Lucy resumed getting the burgers ready. They’d bought coleslaw and potato salad to keep it simple.

“Lucy?” Sophie queried in her high-pitched voice.

“Yes?”

“Do I have to go back to Rosanna’s house?”

That was a loaded question. Lucy stopped what she was doing and faced Sophie. “No, honey, you don’t.”

Her head tilted to one side as that news confused her. “Am I going to live with you now?”

“For a while, yes.” The question singed Lucy, piercing through her core.

Sophie’s head tilted again, more confusion gripping her. “For how long?”

“I don’t know. We have to work it through the State.”

“What’s the State?”

“The people who sent you to Rosanna’s house.”

Instead of confusion, dislike pinched her mouth and saddened her sweet brown eyes. “I don’t like those people.”

“They’re trying to help you.”

“I don’t like them.”

Moving around the island, Lucy put her hand on the girl’s head, smoothing her unruly hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure everything turns out okay.” She wasn’t sure how she’d do that, but she’d do all she could.

“Why can’t I live with you all the time?” Sophie asked.

Choked up over her helplessness and indecision over what to do about Sophie, Lucy couldn’t answer.

“Don’t you want me?”

Oh, that stung. “It’s not that, Sophie.” What could she say to avoid hurting her? Her young mind wouldn’t understand.

“Why doesn’t anyone want me?”

“It isn’t that anyone doesn’t want you.”

“My mommy left. Rosanna doesn’t want me. And now you.”

Lucy swiveled Sophie’s stool so that she faced her and took her hands. “Okay, listen to me, Sophie. Your mother didn’t leave you. She died. And Rosanna...” She looked down, uncertain of how much to tell her. Not one who believed in lying to children, she went with the truth. “Rosanna died, too. She was in an accident the night we picked you up from the fishing house.”

The news troubled Sophie, but she couldn’t process so much terrible information all at once. She hadn’t known Rosanna the way she’d known her mother. “Like my mommy?”

“Yes, like your mommy.”

“Well...” Consternation and more confusion marred her face. “Then I better not live with you.”