Chapter 4

"You know," Pen sighed, "as much as I'd love to attend a wedding at The Iris, I'm not sure I'm up to it."

I glanced at Pen, who was propped up by a pile of fluffy pillows in a guest room at my parents' house. My parents had no idea that I would be moving out next week, nor did they know that Pen would be my roommate for the time being.

"See how you feel this weekend. Today is raw and nerve-wracking." I crossed my ankles on the arm of the sofa while my head rested on the opposite arm. "I'll get us something to eat soon," I suggested. "Then I have to get back to the café."

"I can walk downstairs, Talla. I don't want you waiting on me."

I swung my feet to the floor and ruffled my hair with my fingers. "You need to be taken care of for a change," I said in a no-nonsense tone. "I'll be right back with lunch." I quickly left the room and hurried downstairs.

Julie, our cook—personal chef—was manning the kitchen, for which I was grateful. Not only was she a lovely person, but she cooked like a dream. My mother could cook, but only basic things. That is probably where I got my skills in the kitchen. My father, on the other hand, rarely set foot in the kitchen. He was a snob.

Julie closed the refrigerator door as I entered the room. She smiled. "I'll make lunch for you and Penelope."

"I have to go back to the café, but I'll take Pen's lunch upstairs before I go." I pulled up a chair at the counter and watched Julie putter around. "I think we'd all starve if you weren't here."

Julie raised her eyebrows, a frown on her wrinkle-free face. Her skin had always fascinated me. She didn't like the sun, which was odd considering we lived in sunny Tennessee. Her pale skin was flawless for her nearly sixty years. Julie had never been married, never wanted to be married, or so she once told me.

"You're staring, Tallulah."

"Oh! I was just thinking about you." I shrugged. "Do you think I should go see Aidan? Ask him nicely to move out of Pen's house?"

"That might be embarrassing, Tallulah. From what I've heard, Penelope put Aiden on the title papers. Legally, that means he owns the house, too. Can't expect the guy to move out just because you say he has to."

"Yes, but-"

"No buts, Tallulah James." Julie waved a knife as she added, "You need to stay out of Aiden's business."

"I'm not letting Penelope go through this alone," I said incredulous, she'd even ask me to stay away.

"I meant confronting Aiden. That's not something you should do alone. I've never trusted that man."

"I liked him at first, then I put up with him because that's what Pen wanted."

"I must say I was surprised when I saw Penelope. I had no idea she was being abused." Tears hovered in Julie's eyes. "Did you know?"

"Yes." I felt sick to my stomach that I hadn't done anything to help my friend get away. Instead of listening to Pen about staying with him and everything being okay. I should have listened to my head and my heart. "Why didn't I help her before, Julie?" I hiccuped, followed by a sob. "I should have done something."

"Oh, now." Julie came over and put an arm around my shoulders. "Pen is strong-willed, Talla. You know that. She stayed because she wanted to, and I think you know that too."

I nodded.

"So, dry your tears and let me finish Pen's lunch."

"Any chance of an extra plate?" said Tate, appearing in the doorway.

I wiped away my tears and gave my brother a smile. "Why are you home?"

"I live here." He rolled his eyes. "I'm home now so I can look after Pen."

"Really?"

"Don't be so suspicious. I really care for the girl, not that I would admit it to anyone again. She's like another sister." He smiled and kissed my cheek. "I promise I have no ulterior motives. Now go."

"I have to let Pen know I'm leaving." I looked at my brother. "Please don't let Dad know that Pen is here. I'll tell him later."

"I know what battles to pick, Talla, and telling Dad about our guest and the reason she is here is not one of them."

"Thank you." I hugged my brother and reached out and squeezed Julie's arm.

At the café, I wiped down the counters while my mind wandered back to the groom and his impending wedding. I had told Pen that she would have time to recover, but in fact she didn't. Saturday was tomorrow. What was I going to do?

I hadn't done enough with the late George Forester. Hardly anything, when I thought about it. My need to keep my secret visions, just that, a secret, hadn't helped. Of course, I had no idea that Doreen Sommers was about to join him. The old lady had discovered who had killed George. Then the killer, Donna, had been killed in prison. Her death was still unsolved, which bothered me.

There was a possibility that I knew the killer. That didn't sit well with me. Then there was the strange comment Tate had made to me about not trusting Aiden—which I already knew. But he'd added Monica to his statement. That confused me and since then Tate has refused to say anything more.

Monica had been my best friend since the first day of preschool. She'd been killed, and her youngest brother had gone to prison for killing her killer. That asshole, Joshua Allenick, deserved everything he got for what he did to my friend. Monica's oldest siblings were Carlisle and Jessop Hallen. Rhodes was the one who served time. It was a sad situation. But what did Tate mean by his comment? Not knowing irritated me.

A throat cleared as Bernie stepped into my line of sight. "You know the gold in the countertop is part of the pattern, right?"

"Oh!" I stopped scrubbing.

Bernie laughed. "I guess you got something on your mind trying to get the gold out of there, huh?"

I winced. "You have no idea."

"I'll make you a coffee and a sandwich," Bernie said after a moment. "I haven't seen you eat or drink anything today."

"I haven't. I wasn't hungry before, but I could eat now." I tossed the rag into the cleaning tub and closed the closet door. "I'll go wash my hands."

I ran down the hallway toward the staff bathroom but stopped short as I bumped into a large body. His hands immediately reached up and grabbed my arms. I was so surprised to see Carlisle Hallen that all thoughts fled. The man had a habit of doing that to me. "Where are you running to?"

"I wasn't." I cleared my throat and stepped back. "I was cleaning. Going to wash my hands before I eat." I felt the heat on my cheeks as Carlisle's eyes lingered on my face.

"How is Penelope?" Carlisle asked, his gaze unwavering.

"Resting in the guest room at my parents' house. At least she should be there. She can move around a little easier. At least her ribs are bruised and not broken."

He nodded.

"How's Jessop?"

"My brother has a hard head."

"Aidan's ring really got him." The silence made me fidget. "So, um, I have to go to the bathroom." I moved closer so I could get past him, but Carlisle didn't move. I raised a brow.

A smirk on Carlisle's handsome face made my knees weaken. The man knew what he was doing to me. There was glee in his eyes. "Who am I to keep a lady out of the bathroom?" He still didn't budge.

"Hell in a handbasket," I muttered. "Will you move so I can get by?"

"Why didn't you say so?" he snarled, dipping his face so that his lips brushed my earlobe. I shivered. He whispered, "Stay out of trouble, Tallulah." And then he was out the back door.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would fly out of my chest to run after the man. I reached up and held one hand there while the other, pressed against the wall, kept me on my feet.

"Now that you're done playing with the handsome man, go wash up." Bernie laughed.

My cheeks heated up even more. "He was the one playing with me," I muttered.

Why had he been back here?