Mallory sat on the couch. Her gaze was fixed on my heavily founded belly, and there was a flicker of unreadable emotion in her eyes. She asked, “When are you due?”
In the past, I might have told her without hesitation. But now, knowing she was not well, I kept my tone calm.” Next month.”
Mallory glanced around the house nonchalantly, but then her body stiffened. I followed her gaze and felt my stomach drop–it was Ashton’s coat, carelessly left behind during his last visit. I had washed it with the intention of returning it, but I had unwittingly left it in plain sight.
Mallory slowly turned her head toward me, disbelief etched on her face. “Is Ash here?”
I shook my head quickly. “No, he isn’t.”
Suddenly, she began storming through the apartment.
“Is Ash here?” she repeated over and over, frantically searching the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. When she found no one, her demeanor settled slightly, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, I calculated that the nanny would return in about ten minutes.
Horced a smile. “Mal, you must be thirsty after all that running around. Would you like something to drink?” Mallory shook her head but said nothing, her silence unnerving. The atmosphere turned eerily quiet, and the tension in the room grew suffocating.
Just then, my phone rang, drawing both our gazes to the coffee table where it sat.
My heart sank. The phone was close to Mallory and far from my reach. I hurried to go over, but she grabbed it first . and extended it toward me.
I forced a stiff smile. “Thank you.”
