It took me a minute to realize he was referring to Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
“Where did you go?” I asked quietly.
“To talk with my attorneys about Amelia. I want her charged for some of the things she’s done over the last five years.” He absently rubbed the scar on his cheek. “I also met with a realtor about selling my house here.”
My eyes snapped up. “You’re going to sell your house?”
“Yes. Because you live in California, and I can’t see you wanting to move here.”
He turned my barstool a little to face him.
I sighed and leaned my forehead against his chest for a moment. “Don’t sell your house here because of me. You love it, and Mémé is here.”
Before he could reply, Elodie walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes. “Where were you?” She leaned her head against his hip. “It was scary. Mommy hit Belly in the face and made blood go all over.”
Connor looked at me. “You didn’t tell me about the blood.”
I winced. “We just talked about it.”
“That was from your foot.”
“Your foot got hurt too?” Elodie asked.
“Yeah, but it’s fine now. And you were so brave.”
Her chin wobbled. “I didn’t feel brave.”
“Neither did I.” I slid off the stool and hugged her. “But we didn’t panic and we got away in one piece. I think that counts for something.”
Connor wrapped his arms around both of us and let out a breath. “I agree.”
Chapter 36
We stayed at Titus’s apartment that night. Connor left for a couple of hours to check on his house, and talk to his assistant. When he came back, he brought takeout Chinese food and our suitcases.
I looked around. “Do you think Titus will care if we eat in his living room? I don’t want to get anything on his couch.”
Connor pulled out cartons and put them on the coffee table. “I’ll fucking buy him a new one if he does.”
“Five bucks,” Elodie chirped.
I shook my head. “You need to curb your prolific use of the f-bomb around her.”
Connor shrugged and kicked off his shoes. I ran into the bathroom and grabbed a couple of towels to put over the couch, and we ate in front of the TV.
Elodie snuggled between us that night. I was afraid she would have nightmares, but she slept soundly through the night. My mind wouldn’t quiet, however, and the day’s events kept playing through my mind.
The next morning, we went back to Connor’s house after he promised the codes had been changed. Police Officer Teasdale stopped by around eleven to take our statements, saving us a trip to the station. He was probably in his mid-thirties, and had an intense gaze. He wore a typical police uniform, except the insignia on his shoulder had a red seal and crown, and a Canadian flag underneath.
“So you did not invite them in or open the door?” he asked me for the third time.
“No. And I know I locked it after Elodie’s aunt left. I’ve been a little anxious since I got here.”
Connor searched my face.
Officer Teasdale turned to Elodie. “Did you see your mom hit Isabella?”
She nodded, and her lower lip trembled. “Belly didn’t even say anything mean or bad, and Mommy screamed and hit her twice. Really hard. And you know what?”
