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Gwen caught her breath. This wasn’t exactly a first date-type revelation. This wasn’t a date at all, even if Leslie probably thought so.
Will reached across the console and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” She shrugged. “It happened when I was a teen, ages ago.”
“But you had to adjust. Also, you don’t look old enough to be able to count your past in centuries.”
She laughed as he doubtless meant her to, but she’d had plenty of time to make mistakes, especially where guys were concerned. “I need to tell you how to get there.”
On the way, the cops called her back. While they’d seen where the vegetation on the shoulder had been crushed, they hadn’t found any SUV, black or otherwise, in the area. She relayed that information to Will.
“They said the couple upstairs hadn’t noticed the car, but I have their number. I can call.” She flicked open her contacts list.
“What would you ask them? ‘Are you doing something illegal, perhaps working with the Mafia?’”
She laughed. “Come on, Will. I’d be a little more subtle. But you know something?” She straightened as another thought occurred. “If it was the upstairs tenants’ apartment the car was watching, why hadn’t the driver of that car knocked on their door or left once he’d seen they were home?”
Her phone chimed with an incoming call. “Speak of the devil. It’s Margie, the wife who lives upstairs?”
“Hi. What’s up?”
“The police stopped by a few minutes ago and asked if we’d seen anything unusual going on in the neighborhood. They said a car had been surveilling the house,” Margie explained. “We said we hadn’t noticed, but I wanted to tell you when you come home to be careful.”
Gwen thanked her, said she was staying elsewhere tonight and disconnected. “The upstairs couple called to warn me to be careful.”
In fifteen minutes Will parked at the curb in front of her aunt and uncle’s brick and wood ranch house. She couldn’t worry about the SUV now. Her relatives would pick up on her worry. She gathered up her tote. “You ready for this?”
“Sure.” Will shut off the motor. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
“You may be sorry.” She stepped out and grabbed her tote.
Will came around and closed her door. “Stop trying to scare me.”
Her cousin, Leslie, opened the front door before they even rang the doorbell. “What took you so long? I was getting worried.”
“You know, this and that.” Gwen waited a beat, but her cousin didn’t invite them in or step back. “Can we come inside? Or are you going to make us stand out here?”
Leslie opened the door wider, gave Will a once-over, and sent Gwen a significant look.
Her cousin’s look said she wanted to know all about Will, how they’d met, how long they’d known each other. All of that. Gwen merely raised her brows before walking inside.
She peeked into the living room where her uncle sat in an armchair positioned for viewing the large, flatscreen television, only his legs visible. “Hi, Uncle Tim,” she called. His arm rose from the armrest and waved.
Her Aunt Kathy came in, carrying a beer and a glass, which she handed off to her husband. Her grandmother, apron still tied over her housedress, entered from the kitchen, and Gwen gave her a hug.
Her grandmother pushed her stylishly round-lensed glasses up her nose and regarded Will, who was closing the front door. “Well, well, well. Who is this?”
Her aunt propped her hands on her hips and peered at Will over the reading glasses resting on the end of her nose.
Gwen touched Will’s arm. “This is Will Strongbow. He drove me up after I missed my train.”
Uncle Tim set his beer aside and rose to shake hands. Everyone else made the appropriate noises. On the mantle clock, she caught the time and took a deep breath. She couldn’t settle in and get too comfortable, all too easy to do with her family. Loose lips sink ships, and she’d rather jump overboard without a life jacket than cause them any worry.
“So—” Granny started.
Gwen could sense the questions coming and decided to head her off. She patted her gran’s gnarled hands and turned toward the stairs. “Since I’m late, why don’t I go put on my dress so we can get started?”
Gwen stopped after climbing four steps. “Come on, Leslie, show me yours. I haven’t seen it yet, remember?”
