Page 248 of The Heart You Kept

A book is on the floor in front of the bookcase, Alora must have got a book out and knocked it loose. I pick it up and place it back in the shelving and walk around and tighten all the locks and close the drapes.

My eyes roam over the place as I walk around, why do I feel so off….

I’m being paranoid.

I dim the lights, make my way back upstairs and slide into bed, I pull Alora close and wrap my arms around her. “Good night, my darling,” I whisper.

She doesn’t answer, she’s already asleep.

ALORA

“I’m off, Doe.” Edward leans down and kisses me softly. The bedroom is semi-dark, only early, it’s not fully light. “See you tonight.”

“Okay,” I whisper sleepily. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Have a good day.” Another kiss and I hear him walk down the stairs and then the front door open and close, moments later the car drives up the street and around the corner.

I snuggle back into bed, close my eyes and doze for what feels like a long time.

Creak….

I frown with my eyes closed, what was that?

Creak….

There it is again; I drag my eyes open and look up to the ceiling as I listen.

Hmm, great, just what I need. A damn mouse in the roof.

I lie for a few more minutes, it’s raining and really coming down outside. There’s thunder rumbling in the distance and the sky is dark. Eventually I drag myself out of bed and walk into the bathroom and catch sight of myself in the mirror and wince as I pull my hair up into a high bun.

I turn on the shower and get in under the hot water. The room fills with steam and I smile into the heat, my favorite way to start the day.

Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…. My phone vibrates across the counter.

I walk out of the shower dripping wet to see that it’s Philippe. “Hello,” I answer.

“Hi, Alora, we’re at the front door. Edward said you had some extra things that needed carrying out to the car this morning.”

Oh crap, they’re at the front door in the pouring rain and I’m not even ready.

“I’m just in the shower, Philippe, you have a key, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Let yourself in and have a cup of coffee, I’ll be about fifteen minutes.”

“Alright then.”

I hang up and rush back through my shower, damn it I haven’t even packed.

“Thanks for today.” I smile to Jonty as I lock the store door. It’s been a productive day and we got so much done. We moved the store around, got in four deliveries and sold two large armoires, three big mirrors and nearly every lamp we had in stock. I am thoroughly exhausted and for once am happy that I don’t have to cook dinner tonight.

The blacked-out car is across the road, the waiting guards sit inside as they patiently wait. The rain has thrown everything out today, the guards haven’t been able to walk around the street as usual and I’m sure they have gone a little stir-crazy being cooped up in a car or in the front of my store. As per Edward’s instructions I have packed a few bags of my things and the boys put them in the trunk this morning and I will be staying with him in Monaco most nights from here on in.

I’m a little sad to be leaving my place here in Nice, but I’ll be going back there every day or two to water my garden before or after work and we will stay there a night or two each week. Not sure yet what we’re going to do with my place long term moving forward, but I guess we’ll work it out when we need to.

I walk across to the car where Philippe is standing waiting for me with the back door open. “Good afternoon, Miss Sorenson.” He smiles.