Liz took the next couple days to decompress. She went to work, tried to go about her day normally. When neither her father nor Dorian made any additional effort to get in touch with her, she began to wonder if she should let the whole thing go—if there was any universe that would allow her to pack away all that she had learned and put it out of her mind for good.
But, no.
The longer she went without solving this mystery, the more it would eat at her, drive her crazy. She already felt as if she’d lost her grip on reality. She needed to ground herself in this new truth, whatever it was, and then take it from there.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay without me?” Scarlett said as she crammed another dress into her suitcase Tuesday evening. “I mean, a lot’s going on,”
“I’ll be fine. I just can’t believe you’re leaving already. I only just got back home. But I guess that’s just the way wedding season goes.” Liz smiled, tried to play things off lightly so that Scarlett wouldn’t suspect what she planned to do while her roommate was away that week.
“Aww, I’ll miss you, too. Hugs!”
Liz loved how her friend both said the word aloud and made the gesture. It was like a double sign of affection, and she needed it, though Scarlett had no idea why…
“So tell me again, who’s getting married?” Liz planned to make small talk until Scarlett left for the airport, and luckily Scarlett never ran out of things to discuss when she had a willing conversation partner.
“It’s my friend—hey, his name is Ben, too—who’s getting married, and most of us never thought we’d see this day. I certainly didn’t. And his fiancée, Summer, totally—I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
“You wouldn’t be Scarlett if you didn’t ramble.” Liz laughed and handed her friend a little clutch of toiletries to pack in her bag. “I can tell you’re excited to see your Texas family.”
Scarlett gave Liz another hug and said, “You know you’re my Alaska family, right?” She could tell her roommate was nervous about leaving her alone in the wake of everything that had happened the past week. Even though things had quieted down during the past couple of days, she must have also sensed that this was merely the eye of the storm. Liz needed to put her at ease, make her feel good about going home—and she knew just how to do that.
“Of course I do. Besides, while you’re gone, I’m going to go stay with our extended Alaska family.”
“You mean?”
“Yeah, Lauren and Shane said the dogs and I could hang at their place for the week. Sofia gave me the week off, and I figure it’s best for me to be far off the beaten path while everything’s still so much up in the air.” This was the truth. Liz did plan to go to Lauren and Shane’s, but not until tomorrow.
Scarlett’s lingering tension notably left her body. “That’s a great idea.”
“It was Henry’s, actually.”
Scarlett smiled proudly. “God love that man.”
“I can see that.” Liz laughed again. Now she felt lighter, too. “Is he nervous about meeting everyone in your hometown?”
“I think he is, a little. But I have all week to butter them up. He’ll fly down after his exams on the day before the wedding.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.”
“Naturally.” Scarlett placed a hand on each of her hips and surveyed the room. When she was satisfied with her packing efforts, she turned the full force of her gaze on Liz. “Look, Liz… Ben’s my friend, but you’re my best friend. It’s not too late for me to cancel the flight and stay here to help you.”
“There’s nothing to help with. Until either Dorian or my father is willing to talk to me, I don’t really have any options.” The last thing Liz wanted to do was reveal her actual plan for that evening. Her friend needed some time to get back to her Texas roots—and Liz needed her out of the way in case anything truly dangerous went down.
“See you in just over a week, okay?”
“Call me when you get there.”
“I will.”
Liz waited a few minutes to make sure Scarlett had fully departed and didn’t need to come back for any forgotten luggage, then she texted Lauren.
Still okay for me to come stay with you for the week?
Of course! Are you leaving now?
I’ll be there tomorrow. Late, probably.
Briar Rose will be so psyched to see the dogs, and I’m psyched to see you!
Liz smiled, then dropped her phone into her purse. Technically, she hadn’t lied to anyone, but she’d also worked very hard to keep her plans for the evening secret. She would go to Lauren’s that night, but first…
She was going to see Warwick.