Page 51 of The Man in the Cottage

"There's not much to tell. I'm a writer. I moved here a few months ago to work on a book."

"A writer! How exciting. What kind of book?"

"A thriller."

"Oh, how fun. I love a good thriller. Maybe I'll read it when it's done." She accepts the mug I hand her and takes a sip. "And how did you and Travis meet? He's been so secretive about everything."

"He was already living in the cottage when I inherited the house. My grandmother had an arrangement with him."

"An arrangement." Patricia's eyebrows rise. "How interesting. And you just... let him stay?"

"My grandmother trusted him. That was good enough for me."

"Of course. Eleanor always did have a soft spot for strays."

Something about the way she says it makes my hackles rise. Strays. Like Travis is a stray dog she's discussing, not her son.

I carry the other mugs to the living room and hand them to Richard and Savannah. Richard nods his thanks without making eye contact. Savannah doesn't look up from her phone.

"So," Patricia says, settling back into the armchair with her coffee. "How long have you and Travis been together?"

"I'm not sure I'd say we're together. We've been getting to know each other."

"But you're dating. He mentioned he was seeing someone."

He did? When? "We've been on one date. It's still very new."

"One date." Patricia exchanges a glance with Richard that I can't interpret. "And yet here he is, living in your backyard, spending all his time with you. That seems like more than just getting to know each other."

"He was living here before we started... whatever this is. It's not like I moved him in."

"Of course not. I didn't mean to imply anything." But her smile has sharpened, just a little. "It's just that Travis has a history of getting attached quickly. We worry about him, that's all. He's been through so much this year."

"I know. He told me about his grandmother. And the... incident."

"Did he?" Patricia's eyes narrow. "What exactly did he tell you?"

I think about the cottage, the confession, the way Travis's voice cracked when he talked about missing his grandmother's death. Those details feel private. Sacred, almost. Not something to share with this woman who calls her son a stray.

"Enough," I say. "He told me enough."

Savannah finally looks up from her phone. "Mom, can we go? I'm starving."

"In a minute, sweetie." Patricia sets down her mug. "Kelly, I want to be direct with you. Travis is in a very vulnerable place right now. His career is uncertain, his reputation is damaged, and he's been hiding out here instead of dealing with his problems. I'm concerned that he's using this—" she gestures vaguely at the house, at me "—as an escape."

"An escape from what?"

"From reality. From his responsibilities. From his family, frankly." Her voice hardens. "We haven't heard from him in months. He doesn't return our calls. And now we find out he's been playing house with some woman he barely knows instead of facing the consequences of his actions."

Some woman he barely knows. Playing house. I feel my jaw tighten.

"With respect, Mrs. Howe, I don't think Travis is escaping anything. I think he's trying to figure out what he wants. That's not the same thing."

"Is that what he told you?" Patricia lets out a small laugh. "Travis has always been good at telling people what they want to hear. He's charming that way. But the reality is, he has obligations. A career, a contract, a family who's been worried sick about him. And instead of coming home and dealing with any of that, he's been hiding here."

"He's not hiding. He's healing."

"From what? A PR problem? Some bad press?" She shakes her head. "Plenty of athletes have dealt with worse and come out fine. Travis just needs to apologize, do some community service, show the public he's changed. Instead he's been wallowing."