The Shadow Writer by Maxwell Eliza

Author:Maxwell, Eliza
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781542043496
Published: 2019-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

33

GRAYE

The storm passes, as storms tend to do. The rain and the tears come, then go, leaving nothing but questions in their wake.

Graye’s heart hurts for Laura, but the other woman is too strong, too capable, to stay so low for long. Once she’s through the other side, she takes a deep breath, then lifts her head and swipes at her face.

“I’m sorry, Graye.” Her voice is hoarse and she gives a lopsided ghost of a smile. “Your job description doesn’t include mopping up your boss’s tears.”

“Please don’t do that,” Graye says quietly.

Laura glances at her. “Do what? Apologize?” Laura forces a laugh, and Graye can see her mask falling back into place, bit by bit. “You’re not being paid enough to deal with emotional meltdowns.”

“That,” Graye says. “Don’t do that.”

Laura’s face clouds. Does she not realize?

“Don’t put up walls between us and hang a sign with a job description on it. I’m not sitting here because you’re paying me to.”

Laura looks slightly abashed, and Graye regrets that her words put the expression there.

“Okay,” Laura murmurs.

“You can stay with me tonight, if you want,” Graye says. “Or here at the hotel if you’re more comfortable with that. You don’t have to go back.”

Laura sighs. “I wish it was that easy.”

“It is.”

Sadness is etched in the tiny lines around Laura’s eyes.

“No, it’s not. If I sleep now I avoid it all. When I wake up, the edges will be dull, the cuts already beginning to heal. I’ll find some excuse, some reason to put it off one more day. Then another.”

Graye opens her mouth to speak, but Laura shakes her head.

“No. I know myself. I like the path of least resistance. That’s what got me here.” She stares out into the darkness, where drips fall from the palm fronds and rainwater has pooled. Graye studies her profile. There’s still sadness there, but a new determination as well.

“I have to face this now, head-on, before I lose my nerve.”

She sends Graye a small smile.

“Don’t worry. David’s probably passed out anyway. I’m going to go home and pack his suitcases while he sleeps it off. No muss, no fuss. And tomorrow . . . well, tomorrow I’ll have the last day of the retreat to distract me.”

Now is the chance Graye has been waiting for. She should warn Laura that David isn’t the only threat. She should tell her about Rachel Caron’s visit to her home earlier this evening. She should spill everything about Nick and her past and the fact that he could be stalking them right now, skulking in the shadows waiting for a chance to . . . do what? She still doesn’t understand exactly what it is Nick hopes to achieve.

It’s a vital question and, without the answer, is Graye willing to risk jeopardizing everything she’s building here? Laura hasn’t even told her what she thinks of the book yet. She needs Laura to be on board.

And what would Nick have to gain by harming Laura anyway? Graye rationalizes. Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to target her? Laura’s not in any real danger.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.