I know from experience that the only way for me to rein in a mental spiral like this is to talk out my concerns. In this case, with Bridger. So I draw in a deep breath and cross the hall to the study. One adult conversation, coming up.
“Hey, there,” I say softly, and he looks up from his laptop. “Do you have time to talk?”
“For you, I’ll always make?—”
The doorbell rings.
My gaze swings over to the grandfather clock behind his desk.
“Did you order more food?” I let out a small laugh. “No judgment. I could do some serious damage to a pepperoni pizza.”
He rises from his desk. “Not me.”
Hmmm.
As he strides across the house, I let him take the lead, following close behind. We pause at the double doors to peer through the long, glass inserts. A deliveryman is out in the circular drive, wrestling an enormous flower arrangement from his truck.
The bouquet is so large, the poor guy can barely carry it by himself.
“Flowers?” My shoulders drop with relief. “How sweet.”
Bridger signs for the delivery, tips the man, then hauls the arrangement inside. A creamy envelope protrudes from the vase. Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Adams.
“Must be from Sayla and Dex.”
Bridger opens the card. “No.”
“Who else knows our address?” I blink. “Or that we got married?” The end of my question comes out a bit breathless, because the answer is suddenly all too clear.
He hands me the note.
The roses should be a perfect match for that lovely tapestry above your stairs.
—M
“Okay, then.” My voice is trembly, and I meet Bridger’s gaze. “Your mom knows where we live.”
“Apparently.”
“And the color scheme of our house?”
His brow furrows. “Yes.”
And that’s when the metaphorical bubble in my head explodes.
Boom.
Chapter Twenty-One
Bridger
“This is actually good news.”
Loren gapes at me. “On what planet is any of this good? Because I happen to be on Earth, and in my world, people don’t do secret surveillance on family members.”
“I’m sure she just got a hold of a listing somewhere,” I say. “I didn’t hide the fact that I rented this place.”
But while none of my mother’s behavior comes as a complete shock to me, the same can’t be said of Loren. Maneuverings like this are completely foreign to her, and for that, I’m truly thankful. I’m also determined to shelter her from futurematernal manipulationas much as I can.