He laughs bitterly. “That’s rich coming from you.”
“What does that mean?”
“When were you going to tell me that we got the report back from the psychologist about Noa?”
Aimee recoils. “How do you know about that?”
“The psychologist’s office called me to schedule the follow-up. They said they wait a week after the report has been emailed so there’s time to read it. And it had been a week.”
“I was going to tell you. Last week was crazy, and then this whole thing with Anton happened.”
“You didn’t tell me because you’re in denial. You don’t want to hear there’s anything wrong with her.”
Aimee feels like she’s got whiplash. Where is this coming from? How is she the one on the defensive all of a sudden? “You’re not being fair.”
“You didn’t want to get her tested, and now you don’t want to face what those tests might say.”
The words pierce her. “I didn’t know you felt that way.” She is reeling. She has never seen him angry like this before.
“I have to go to Giant.” He goes to the basket where they keep the reusable grocery bags and grabs a few.
She follows him. “But we’re not done talking.”
“I’m done.”
“Scott.” she touches his shoulder and he spins around. “Why did you hire a private investigator? Does this have something to do with Anton?”
Genuine surprise spreads across his face. “Anton? No, it hasnothing to do with Anton. It’s work related. We are running into some intellectual property theft issues.”
“It’s work related.”
“Yes. Work. You know, my job?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It’s not something I’m supposed to talk about. We’re having some problems with one of our consultants and things are kind of tense right now. Jon Block is helping us out. But we don’t exactly want to advertise this. You get that, right? So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to anyone.”
“Who would I mention it to?”
He shrugs. “Anyone. Lisa. Gwen.”
“Is your job in trouble? Should I be worried?”
“No. It’s going to be fine. It’s just a rough patch.”
“I wish you had told me. With everything going on, with Anton, and then you being at Villain & Saint—”
“I went to Villain & Saint to meet Jon Block. If Anton followed me there after I left him, I had no idea. I swear. The last time I saw him was on the stoop of his house. And if the police talk to Jon Block, which I’m sure they will, he will say the same thing.”
Aimee nods.
“We good? Can I go grocery shopping now?”
Aimee winces at the sarcasm in his voice. “Yeah. We’re good.”
Scott grabs his keys and heads out the back door. Aimee stands there, as if frozen on the spot. She doesn’t feelgood. It’s the first time Scott’s ever come close to raising his voice with her, and she still can’t decide what exactly he was so upset about. He had a right to be angry that she followed him, but the way he turned it around on her so quickly makes her uneasy. Her head is spinning.
But that isn’t the only thing bothering her. It is something she can barely admit to herself.