“Suspects?” Sabrina asked.
Sofia pushed her jacket aside, flashing her a shiny police badge strapped to her waist. “Yeah. I’m a detective with the NYPD.”
“Really?” Sabrina couldn’t believe it. From what she could tell, based on the luxurious apartments and the chauffeur and bodyguards, Lucas Anderson was a wealthy man. Sofia obviously did not need to work.
“Yeah,” she chuckled. “Lucas isn’t crazy about it, but he knows my career means a lot to me.” She turned to Isabelle. “Do you mind keeping watch? I’ll try to wrap up by six.”
“No worries, Sofia, take as long as you need,” Isabelle said as she struggled with a wiggling Alessandro, who clamored for his mother now that she was in the room. “I can stay until you come back.”
“Thanks, sis,” Sofia took the squirming child out of her arms. “Also, if you wouldn’t mind, could you help Sabrina get settled in? She can stay in whichever room she wants. And she could use an extra set of clothes.”
“Gotcha,” Isabelle said.
“This is the hardest part,” Sofia said sadly. “I know it’s only a couple of hours, but I do miss him so much whenever I’m away.”
Though it took a while to say goodbye, as Alessandro started crying when Sofia was trying to leave, eventually, Isabelle was able to calm the boy with a toy, then put both children down for a nap in the nursery. Afterward, Isabelle showed her to a luxurious guest bedroom, which she immediately took a liking to.
“This will be great. Thanks Isabelle.”
“I’ll run down to my apartment and grab you some sweats and a shirt while you shower,” Isabelle said. “My top should fit, but I think the sweats might be a little short.”
“Thank you, I’m sure it’ll be better than what I’m wearing now,” she said with a self-deprecating laugh.
The bathroom was just as luxurious as the rest of the apartment, and Sabrina took her time washing up and getting clean with all the fancy toiletries.
When she was done, she felt a whole lot better. Walking out to the bedroom as she toweled off, she spotted the folded clothes at the foot of the bed. She put them on, though as Isabelle had warned, the pants came down mid-calf. She blew out a breath. The first thing she was going to do when this was all over was to wear her own clothes again.
“Hey,” Isabelle greeted as she walked out into the living room. The two boys were now playing on the plush carpet while Isabelle sat on the couch, magazine in her hand. “I made you a sandwich,” she said, nodding at the tray on the coffee table. “Nothing fancy, but if there’s anything else you want or if you have any allergies, you can help yourself to whatever’s in the kitchen.”
“No allergies, and I’m sure it’s fine.” She sat down on the couch and grabbed the plate, taking a bite of the sandwich, then swallowed it down. “Thank you so much, Isabelle. This is delicious. And thanks for everything as well.”
“I’m happy to help. I can’t believe that after all you’ve been through …” There was a wistful look on her face. “I mean, three years ….”
“I’m still unclear on the whole True Mates thing, but I think I’m starting to understand a little.” It was still processing in her mind, but she was beginning to realize a few things, especially now that her head was clearer after that long, hot shower.
“You do?”
“I don’t remember him, but I do,” Sabrina continued. “About a year ago, I started painting Cross, even though the potion made me forget I ever met him.” Isabelle looked stunned at her revelation. “I mean, unconsciously, I was drawing and painting him. And it’s like … though I don’t remember we were True Mates, I knew there was something not complete. It’s not like I feel empty or unfulfilled or anything. But … it’s as if there was something not there and when he came back, it was there again. Though I still can’t explain what it is.”
Isabelle didn’t say anything, though her lips tightened and pursed together.
A cry made them both look toward the carpet. Evan looked unhappy, as Alessandro held up a teddy bear in triumph, giggling naughtily.
“Oh, Alessandro,” Isabelle tsked. “Give that back.”
Sabrina couldn’t help but get that gnawing feeling again that Evan’s face was so familiar, especially now that he was frowning. It was something about that furrow between his brows and his lips turning down in a pout …
“That’s not yours, Alessandro.”
Evan let out an indignant sound and snatched the toy back, making Alessandro cry.
“C’mon now, you two,” Isabelle warned. “Evan, you can share Teddy for a bit, can’t you?” After a second or two, Evan gave the stuffed bear to Alessandro, mollifying him. “Kids,” she shrugged. “So, Sabrina, you said you paint? You’re an artist?”
She nodded. “I’ve always loved painting. I did my BA at the Rhode Island School of Design and then came back here.”
“I wish I had some kind of talent,” she said. “I mean, I used to like fashion a lot. Thought about becoming a social media model of some kind. But when Evan was born, I kind of gave all that up.”
“When all this is over, maybe I can paint Evan,” Sabrina offered. “It could be a family portrait. You, Evan, and his dad?”
Isabelle visibly paled. “He doesn’t …” She swallowed hard. “Evan’s dad isn’t in the picture.”
Sabrina winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up if it’s a tough subject.”
“It’s not. I mean, it is.” Isabelle worried her lower lip. “But I don’t like to talk about it.”
She reached over and covered the other woman’s hand. “Then we won’t.”
For the rest of the afternoon, Sabrina helped Isabelle watch over the two boys. Just as she promised, Sofia arrived before six, ecstatic because she was able to close the case she was working on. There was
