Page 37 of Acting on Instinct
“I’m sure that finding jazzed you.” Kira stopped to focus on the scents around her. She preferred her house to smell like lemon verbena, fresh and herbaceous. She hadn’t smelled any scent connected to Lula. “You don’t seem to be taking advantage of that finding.”
“Not a fan of roses, to be honest,” Lula crinkled her nose.
“London loves it. She gets hers from the Valley of Roses near Kazanluk, Bulgaria. The Damask rose is used by all of the major fashion houses. London always wondered why someone would dilute it with other scents.”
“She uses it therapeutically now. The oil particularly helps the posterior cingulate cortex—the part of the brain that does the heavy lifting when it comes to processing emotions.”
“Speaking of emotions, how is she doing with Archie?”
“A nanny has to be with him twenty-four seven because London forgets that he’s in the bath or loses focus when he’s doing something that requires attention. It’s really quite dangerous.”
“London dreamed of being a mom. She wanted to do her art and love her babies. This must be torture for her.”
“She’s pregnant again.”
Kira stared at Lula, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“She’s pregnant.”
“On purpose?” Kira gasped.
“I asked the same thing. London doesn’t remember.”
Kira gripped her abdomen and pulled her lips into a deep frown. “I’m sick to my stomach.”
“William is thrilled. If that’s any information for you.”
“Yeah. It is. William is exactly who I thought he was. And London loves him for who he is. So, there’s that.”
“She doesn’t remember if she’s talked to you recently. She didn’t check her notes. I will say, though, that she has a sense of self-preservation—not the precise word—but you’ll understand it when I tell you that she speaks in code. Things from when she was younger come more easily to her. And from my observations, she uses those earlier memories so she understands what she’s talking about, but no one else would have context.”
“It makes me sad that that’s necessary.”
“Everyone wants a little privacy,” Lula said. “If I were depending on a device to take notes about my life and I knew that they could be reviewed by my medical team and my husband, I think it’s healthy that she’s figured out how to maintain some dignity.”
“Yeah.”
“I told London I’d be traveling in this area. I have a meeting at the fort. She asked her device about you, and she came up with a note that she needed to get something to you from the time you met the witch.”
“Witch?” Kira said as she reached for the white box that Lula pulled from her bag.
Kira wrapped her fingers around the box top and started to lift. She stopped and looked up to catch London’s gaze. “Do you know what it is?” She lifted her brow. “Did you open it already?”
“You’re my friend. I don’t spy on friends.”
Kira tipped her head. “Really? Is that how you see me?”
“I do. I understand why you wouldn’t feel the same.”
Kira sighed. “I do actually. It’s complicated, that’s for sure. But I also know that, through everything, you had my back and tried to protect Ty. You were doing your job.” She patted the base of her throat. “I sound so self-pitying. My logic says that’s ridiculous because my life was headed along an untenable trajectory.” She pressed her lips tight and released. “I’m conflicted.”
“Fair.” Lula nodded toward the box. “Aren’t you curious?”
Kira lifted the lid to find an antique ring. She blinked at it then focused on Lula again, her voice wobbling. “London sent this to me?” Of course she did. Butthiswas shocking.
Kira slid the ring onto her ring finger, where it was entirely too big. She moved it to her index finger and looked at it.
Lula turned and looked out the window, taking a deep breath, then closed her eyes.
