Page 76 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“You’re going to see Jessica?” I whispered, keeping my voice low as I pulled the playroom door closed behind us. “Why?”

“My solicitor arranged it,” Alistair said. “I’d like to speak to her before she’s remanded to prison to await the trial.”

“Again, why?” I said, shaking my head. “This woman ruined your life. Why do you want to give her one more second of your time?”

A line appeared between his eyebrows. “Because this might be the only chance I get to ask her the questions I’ve had since the moment I woke to find her gone. To get some closure.”

“She’s done nothing but lie to you. Why would you think she’d be honest now?” I argued.

Alistair’s expression hardened even more.

I reached for him, pulling him close, trying to break through the armor he’d barricaded himself in. “The way to get closure is by moving on,” I whispered. “Stay here with me and Kenna. Focus on what we have now and what you want for the future instead of looking back.”

“I’m not looking back,” he said. “I’m looking for answers. You should understand that, since you’re doing the same thing.”

I let him go, crossing my arms against my chest, conflicted. “It’s not exactly the same.”

“No,” he said firmly, “but I also deserve to have my questions answered.”

He did deserve answers, and while Jessica was probably the only one who could give them, I doubted she would. It wasn’t like she’d shown any care about helping him up to this point. I worried that he’d get his hopes up only for her to dash them yet again.

But I didn’t say anything.

Instead, I bit down on my frustration because I could tell he just wanted my support. We’d been at odds with each other yesterday over the glassblowing class, yet he’d still supported my decision to go and had comforted me when I’d failed. For his sake, I would support his decision.

“Florence will be here until the afternoon,” he said, “and Weston and Locke are around if you need anything. I should be back later tonight. I’ll have my phone.”

“We’ll be fine,” I assured him before pressing up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Good luck.”

He was probably going to need it.

An uncomfortable bubble settled into the pit of my stomach, and it stayed there for most of the day. Not even Florence’s macaroons could banish it.

By early afternoon, I’d only received one text from Alistair to say that he’d landed. I knew he was probably busy with his solicitor, so I distracted myself the best I could with jewelry making and movies and playing hide and seek with Princess and Kenna.

But the moment my phone started ringing, I practically threw myself across the island to answer it, knocking a plastic bowl of beads onto the floor.

“I’ll get them!” Kenna cried.

“Thanks, Ken. Don’t let Princess near them; we don’t want her to accidentally eat one.”

“I won’t. Princess, you stay away.” To my surprise, she did, plopping her butt down on the floor to watch Kenna.

I glanced at my phone. To my disappointment, it wasn’t Alistair, it was Isla. I shoved the phone against my ear. “Hey, Isla. What’s up?”

“Oh my God, Madison! I am sooo sorry.”

My heart skipped a beat. Sorry for what? I pulled my phone away from my ear, making sure I hadn’t missed any urgent texts. What the hell was she apologizing for?

“It’s all my fault. I’ve already tried calling Alistair so we can get ahead of this,” she rambled, “but he won’t pick up his phone. Locke tried texting him, too, but still no answer.”

“It’s not just you—he’s been largely offline all day. Maybe he can’t have his phone out in the police station.”

“Of all the freaking days for that man to decide to go to⁠—”

“Hey…it’s okay,” I said, trying to get her to calm down. I still had no clue what the issue was. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

Kenna tugged on my leg. “I picked up all the beads. Can I have a biscuit?”