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Shebreathed deeply to calm herself and was immediately struck by the cloying, floral smell of a foreign perfume infused in the fibres ofConnor’sclothing.
Pullingaway, her eyes flew to his face, his attention focused onGrace.Wherehad he been?Howbadly did he want this fashion job?
‘Howis she, doctor?’ he said, not registering the change inStella’sexpression.Shefiled it away for later.Theirdaughter’s health was the most important thing right now.
Claudiahanded her a tissue, which she took gratefully.
Thedoctor, who had been quietly getting on with her job whileStellaandConnorhad their reunion, said, ‘Ithink she’ll be fine.Idon’t believe she’s concussed.Shehas a few bruises and a cut, but other than that—all okay.’
Bothparents sagged with relief. ‘Thankyou, doctor,’ saidConnor, putting his arm aroundStella’sshoulders.Ifhe felt her stiffen a little, he didn’t let on.
‘Thatbeing said,Iwant to keep her in for one more hour, just to observe her, but assuming all is well, we’ll discharge her then.’Shesmiled and left the room.
StellaandConnorrushed toGrace. ‘How’smy girl?’Connorleaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
‘Piggy,’ she said, pointing at aPeppaPigmobile stuck to the ceiling.Everyonetittered with relief.
Settlingherself ontoGrace’sexamination bed,Stellaassumed a calm, polite expression and cleared her throat. ‘SoKrish, where did you say you found him?’
‘Uh…’Shewould have had to be blind to miss the momentary look of panic onKrish’sface.
Suspicionwelled up inside of her. ‘Connor?’
Herubbed the back of his neck, the gesture he made when he was trying to come up with a good answer.Lettingout a reluctant sigh, he said, ‘Iwas atValentina’shouse.’
Stellarecoiled like he’d slapped her. ‘ValentinaVavilek?ThesameValentinaVavilekwho you promised you wouldn’t shoot anymore?’
‘Oh, shit,’ saidClaudia.
Connorpursed his lips. ‘Technically, it wasn’t a shoot.’
‘Whatthe fu—’Stellastopped herself from completing the word.Herheart beat faster.Goodthing they were in a hospital, because she felt on the cusp of a major cardiac event.Andthere might also be a murder.
‘Hey!’ interruptedClaudia. ‘Whydon’tKrishandIstay withGracefor a few minutes while you two go and have a chatnot in here?’
Witha glance down atGrace’salert face,Stellasaid, ‘Fine.Gracie, mummy and daddy will be back in just a minute.’Shestood and left without waiting to see ifConnorfollowed.
Inthe empty examination room next door, she spun on him and hissed, ‘What’sgoing on?’
Heheld up his hands. ‘It’snot what you’re thinking.Firstoff, let me say that nothing happened.’
Stellacrossed her arms.Hewas wearing a navy suit with a navy shirt.Convenient.Lipstickmarks wouldn’t turn up on a fabric that dark.
Hespread his hands in front of him like it had all been a great misunderstanding. ‘Thepicture editor was her friend.Valentinaset up the meeting.’
‘Oh, so she had to come for what?Moralsupport?Footsies?’
‘Please, you knowValentina.She’sa bored housewife.Shejust wanted to feel involved in the creative discussion.Actuallyshe had some good ideas.’
Stella’shands went fullItalian. ‘Idon’t care if she came up with the cure to cancer during lunch.Youdidn’t tell me she was involved.Infact, you lied to me point blank.’
Shakinghis head, he said, ‘Ididn’t lie…’
‘Byomission.It’sthe same thing.Lebugie hanno le gambe corte,Connor.’
‘Whatdoes that mean?’
‘Lieshave short legs,’ she said through gritted teeth.
