“Right.” Just me, she thought. How convenient. And anyone could have slipped something into her drink or food before she came downstairs or in the kitchen.
“You rest tonight and tomorrow. Have the nanny look after the baby. Nothing is broken from what I can tell, but you had quite a fall. You must be more careful in the future,” he said.
“I told you. Someone pushed me when I was down. I don’t make a habit of tumbling carelessly down steps. It happened because someone kicked me when I had knelt in pain.” She gripped the sheets tightly, frustrated.
“I can’t imagine why someone would push you. Perhaps it was an affect of the food poisoning, and you lost your balance,” the man said.
He would obviously hear no wrong against the Grangers or anyone in the household. Sophie held her tongue.
“Now, take it easy. If you need anything or have new or worse pain, have someone call me, and I’ll come right out.” He patted her arm.
“Thank you. I will,” she said dryly.
The doctor left, and Sophie settled back in bed, closing her eyes. It was about 10:00 p.m., and she was exhausted. Her stomach had settled down, thanks to medicine, and pain medicine was helping with the bumps and bruises. She had been lucky in the fall not to have broken something—or worse. She had sent John to check on the baby, but she knew he would be back any moment.
“Sophie?” John said softly.
“Yes, I’m awake.” She sat up, grimacing with pain.
“Maya’s fine—sleeping like an angel.” He sat in a chair by her bed. “How are you? What happened? You said someone pushed you before I called the doctor and during the chaos.” A frown drew his thick eyebrows together.
“Yes, someone did, and I think someone put something in my food, too, to make sure I’d be an easy target for...whatever. My being at the stairs was just dumb luck for him or her.”
“Are you sure you weren’t just dizzy?” John asked, studying her with concern.
“I’m sure, John. I’m not crazy.” She glowered at him, tired of explaining herself at every turn to the members of this household.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I doubted you. I believe you.” He looked haunted and distant.
“That’s good to know since we’re getting married. The question is, who wants to hurt me, and why?” Sophie bit her lip, not liking any of the possible answers.
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions.” John avoided her gaze.
Anger rose inside of her. “You don’t believe me!”
“I didn’t say that.” He shook his head, but something was holding him back from showing that he truly did.
“You don’t have to. It’s just like with your brother. Why didn’t you tell him about me—about my background? He said terrible things to me earlier! He thought I was some single mother with a baby out of wedlock—as if that wouldn’t be pitiable enough if I had chosen it and I were—a fortune hunter.” Her breath came in quick gasps.
“Please, try to calm down. You don’t look well,” John said, putting his hand on hers.
“I don’t feel well. Someone tried to kill me, and everyone here seems to hate me or have ulterior motives I don’t understand.” Sophie clenched her fists.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell him about your background. We don’t talk much. I didn’t think he would raise the topic with you. It just goes to show you never know what Evan is capable of.” John’s gaze darkened, his eyes like stormy orbs.
“Funny. He’s said much the same about you,” Sophie said, laughing softly.
“I’m sure he has.” John closed his eyes, looking drawn and exhausted. “We’ve never been close. That’s the truth.”
“I can see that. Maybe he wants to kill me off,” Sophie said, knowing her comment was flippant and ill advised.
John’s mouth tightened. “I wouldn’t take it that far, Sophie.”
She laughed. “Then where would you take it?”
“I think we just need to call it a night. I have a lot to think about. I’m sorry this happened to you, Sophie, and we will get to the bottom of it,” he said, tracing her jawline with his finger. His touch was like fire, and a frisson of desire ran through her. She hadn’t felt anything like it for what seemed like ages now.
“Goodnight,” Sophie said, not trusting herself to say more.
He left, and she lay back, staring at the ceiling. Whom could she trust? After all, John had been standing at the top of the stairs, just moments after she tumbled down them. Could he have pushed her? She didn’t want to believe it, but she didn’t know who had done it.
Another thought squeezed the breath out of her chest. Would whoever had tried to hurt her try to hurt the baby next? She let out a helpless moan at the possibility. Sophie could hardly move, and she felt scared and defenseless.
She hadn’t prayed in a long time, but Sophie found herself breathing a quick plea to the God of her childhood, back when she had believed in someone who looked out for mere humans and life had been simpler. “Please, God, help Maya and me. Save us from the evil in this place.” A tear slid down her cheek. Sophie had always considered herself strong, but she wondered if she had met her match with Haven House and its inhabitants.
* * * *
A knock sounded on the door mid-morning the next day. It was a Sunday. The days had passed in a blur since her arrival at Haven House. Now, the pain made the haze worse. Sophie reached for the bottle of pain pills the doctor had left.
“Who is it?” She croaked.
“Evan. I know you don’t want to talk to me, but please let me in and hear me out.”
She closed her eyes. “Alright. Come in, but make it snappy. I feel terrible.” Sophie sat up and swallowed the pill with the water John had left at her bedside the
