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She only got out here once every few months at this rate, and she wanted the time that she’d planned for. When Savannah didn’t make any attempt to move and leave, Fallon scoffed. She stepped forward and set the flowers down at the base of the headstone and took the dead flowers, and the ones that Savannah must have left because Fallon had never seen them before.
At least now she knew who was leaving flowers. For a while there, she’d thought it had been Monti or Tia, but after some questioning, she’d figured out that it was neither of them. Now that little mystery was solved with a crazy woman who was stalking her.
Wonderful.
Fallon said nothing as she stood back up with the dead flowers and Savannah’s flowers. She separated them and handed them back. “She doesn’t need your pity.”
“It’s not… it’s not pity,” Savannah fired back, fear racing across her gaze. “God, it’s anything but that.”
Fallon snorted. “Then what is it?”
“Guilt. My guilt.” Savannah stared down at the flowers in her hands, her cheeks reddening as the rain continued to pick up into what could be considered an actual storm, soaking through their jackets and hair.
Fallon loved a good storm, but this one was going to be ruined by Savannah and the mistrust and chaos she’d caused just by being here. Biting the inside of her cheek, Fallon stepped back and away. “My mother isn’t here to fix your guilt over anything. Your guilt is your problem.”
“I know that.” Savannah’s tone had a bite to it, one that Fallon hadn’t anticipated. Was she getting angry that Fallon hadn’t given in and told her which sister she was yet?
“Good, so we’re agreed.” Fallon took a step away and immediately headed for her car. She wasn’t going to get any peace with Savannah there.
“Look…” Savannah moved quickly and caught Fallon right before she reached the small roadway. “Why don’t we go get a coffee or something and I’ll explain? I know you said no before, but I’d really like to explain.”
“So I can relieve you of your guilt instead of my mother?” Fallon gave her a cold hard stare. This wasn’t what was supposed to be happening on a simple visit to the cemetery. “No, thank you.” Why had she added the platitude? At least it had some venom in her tone for added effect.
“Please, I’d really like to explain.”
“I said no.” Fallon moved out of Savannah’s reach and grabbed the door handle of her car. She slid behind the wheeland pushed the button to start the engine. Savannah stayed right where Fallon had left her, in the cold as the water pounded down on top of her head. Fallon’s heart tightened in her chest, an uncontrollable feeling inching its way up into her heart.
She couldn’t get rid of it this time. Not like she’d done before. But she wanted it to go away. She had so many questions, and she hated that she had no answers. But she was just going to have to live with that because that was the decision she’d made. Putting the car into drive, Fallon stepped on the gas and drove away.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, she made sure to keep eye contact with Savannah’s retreating form until she couldn’t see her anymore. When she was at the road, ready to turn onto the street, Fallon relaxed her shoulders and blew out a breath. She had to get herself under control before she went back to the office for the rest of the afternoon.
Driving to the nearest coffee shop, Fallon ordered a drink for herself and one for her boss. This would at least make her feel slightly better after the disaster that was visiting her mother over her lunch break. She hated when things didn’t go to plan, and this was a major plan that had gone awry.
Parking at the downtown office, Fallon took the two drinks and the dead flowers, and headed into the building. She ditched the flowers in the nearest trash can that she could find, and then made her way up to the office. She missed working at the home office that Athena kept—it was much quieter there. But ever since Athena had met Fallon’s sister Monti and become embroiled in a relationship with her, there were far fewer days that Athena wanted to work from home.
Which meant Fallon had to fight the downtown traffic.
Which she hated.
Pursing her lips, she stepped into the office suites and called through to Athena’s always closed door. “It’s just me. I’m back from lunch.”
Fallon set her purse on the top of her desk and took Athena’s coffee to her. Athena was beautiful. Her blonde hair was swooped to the side and she had a pile of books on her desk that she was reading through. She rolled her shoulders as she looked up into Fallon’s eyes.
“Is that for me?” Athena’s voice was smooth as ever, confident in the way it had been when Fallon had first started working for her fifteen years ago.
“It is.” Fallon handed the coffee cup over and stepped back. “I did buy one for myself, too.”
“Oh good. Don’t want people to think you’re trying to bribe me or get on my good side.”
“I think I’m already on your good side.” Fallon enjoyed this light teasing, something that Athena had come back into since Monti had arrived on the scene. It had been far too long since Fallon had seen her boss be so comfortable with herself, and she was glad that something had changed to make that possible.
“You are. How was the cemetery?”
Fallon froze. How had Athena even known that was where she went? “Uh… not great.”
Athena frowned as she sipped her drink. “What happened?”
“There was a strange woman there who’s been leaving flowers on mom’s headstone—so I guess that’s one mystery solved—but it was just unsettling.” Fallon clenched her fingers tightly into fists, that same tension she’d had at the cemetery coming back into her shoulders.
