No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 11



"Felicia, Mr. Wagner's on the line for you." Deborah Walker, who had tagged along with me, extended the phone toward me.

I had underestimated Conrad's persistence. In such a situation, I could only take the phone and respond formally, "Mr. Wagner, what can I do for you?"

"Felicia," Conrad's voice was deep, laced with evident remorse, "Why did you leave so early today? I got home, and you weren't there."

Realizing he wasn't talking shop, I stepped away. "Went out for breakfast."

Conrad apologized to me. "Sorry, I... got held up last night. Couldn't make it back."

A chill ran through me, my lips curling into a mocking smile. "And why was that?"

Conrad was silent.

I held my breath, giving him a way out. "Couldn't find a caregiver?"

Conrad replied calmly, "Yes."

nothing more before Conrad spoke again, "Felicia, when are you free?

we last had a meal together. According to what Jimmy had said the night before, Conrad had been staying with Haley. Was his sudden invitation for lunch a guilt trip for bailing on me the previous night or a sudden strike of conscience? I didn't know or

up by lunchtime.

the sarcasm in my voice, then fell silent for a beat. "Don't

there to think about if he could walk out on me the

work and didn't want to drag personal matters into it. "I'm busy right now. If

didn't respond, so I ended

on-site inspections. After wrapping up the discussions by ten in the morning, Deborah and I headed

me in charge of monitoring all its phases. Eighty percent complete, my task was to

deviations from the blueprints were unlikely, given the partner's compliance, I had to make the trip as part of the process. Walking

sit and rest, and Deborah noticed my

foot," I didn't hide it. If we weren't in the field, I'd have loved to kick off my shoes and give my feet a

Deborah observed my face. "Felicia, you seem off, not

gestured to her face.

that to anyone. And when a woman's mood was off, no amount of

I found an excuse, then pretended to be

was a chatterbox, and I feared her

shadow