Page 141 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

I’d been trying ever since to get into Thea’s good graces. But since I only saw them two or three times a year, my progress had been slow. Especially because Thea and I had nothing in common except our last name.

Most would call us both beautiful. Thea certainly was with her long dark hair, sparkling eyes and blinding smile. But she had an inner beauty that catapulted her to a different level. She worked hard, running her own business. She was an artist, creating sculptures and paintings that spoke to the soul. She didn’t care about material things or social status. Her goal in life was to raise happy children.

She probably agreed with everything that reporter had written.

Silence loomed in the kitchen as we drank our coffee. “It’s, um, quiet this morning.”

“The kids were up late last night. I’m sure they’ll sleep in.”

“Sorry.” They’d stayed up late because my flight hadn’t gotten in until nine. With the thirty-minute drive from the airport to Lark Cove added on top, they hadn’t gotten tucked into bed until almost ten.

“Don’t worry about it. A late night isn’t going to hurt them.”

“I can’t believe it’s already been six months since you guys came to the city. The kids sure have grown since this summer.”

Charlie, Collin and Camila were eleven, four and two, respectively. While Charlie was still the same tomboy she’d always been, Collin and Camila were developing their own personalities. Collin was a bundle of energy, never stopping as he explored the world. And Camila wasn’t the baby she’d been last summer. Now she was talking and doing her best to keep pace with her older siblings.

Maybe she’d have better luck than I had.

Did they think their aunt was a complete failure too?

With talk about the kids out of the way, there wasn’t much else to discuss at five in the morning. So we sat there, listening to the refrigerator hum. Halfway into my coffee, I wished I’d stayed in bed. There was an elephant in the room, and it was named NY Scene.

“You think it’s true.”

“Huh?” Thea asked.

“The magazine. You think what she wrote was true.”

“The truth?” She sighed. “Yes and no. Yes, I think they captured the facts. No, I don’t think you’re all of the things she called you.”

“Thank you.” My chin quivered. That was maybe the nicest thing she’d ever said to me. “I, um . . . I feel kind of lost. I don’t want to be that person.” Useless. Spoiled. Petty.

Thea was quiet for a few moments, then reached across the granite counter and covered my wrist with her hand. “I have an idea.”

“What’s that?” I looked up, my hopes skyrocketing that she’d help me out.

“You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I do.” I nodded. “I trust you.”

“Good.” Thea smiled and went back to her coffee. I waited for her to tell me her idea, but she didn’t say a word. She just kept sipping from her mug for a few minutes and then got up and went to the fridge for eggs.

“Uh, are you going to tell me your idea?”

She grinned over her shoulder, then cracked the first egg on the edge of a bowl. “Just trust me.”

I frowned at the dingy building outside the car window. A few hours after breakfast, Thea had loaded us all up in their SUV and ordered Logan to drive to the Lark Cove Bar.

“Are we getting lunch here or something?”

“No, I’ve got to get a few things organized before we can go.”

“Where are we going?” Logan asked.

“Paris. We’re leaving this afternoon.”

“What? Paris?” I looked between them both in the front seat of their SUV. “Why didn’t you say anything at breakfast? Or when I called you yesterday?”