Those were the exact words she had been struggling to voice.
“That settles everything then. I really should head in now.” Hadley’s tone carried a note of finality as she prepared to leave.
“Of course.” Eric’s reply held warmth and understanding.
Hadley stepped through her front door and made her way directly to Joy’s room, her maternal instincts pulling her toward her daughter.
During Hadley’s busiest moments, Melba stepped in as Joy’s devoted companion. Joy had blossomed into a spirited four-year-old, reaching the age when most children began their journey toward independent sleep.
The reality remained more complicated than that ideal timeline suggested—less than six months had passed since Joy’s surgery.
Eric had engaged in thoughtful discussions about this delicate matter during their time at Olisvale Bay. Together, they had reached a compassionate decision to postpone Joy’s transition to sleeping alone until she started school, allowing her the comfort and security she still needed.
After returning to the sanctuary of her bedroom, Hadley had barely finished her evening shower when her phone’s insistent ring cut through the quiet.
“Hello there.” Hadley answered her phone with immediate recognition. “Eric.”
“Hadley, I have excellent news.” Eric’s voice carried satisfaction through the phone. “You asked me to investigate Ernest’s wedding plans, and I’ve gathered all the information you requested. I’ve already sent the details to your phone.”
Hadley’s eyes darted to her device, catching sight of an unread message waiting for her attention.
“You managed to find everything so incredibly quickly?”
“Wasn’t something hard, really.” Eric’s laughter danced through the phone line. “I simply…”
Called Quentin, and he shared everything without hesitation. The whole process turned out to be remarkably straightforward.”
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“Thank you so much for doing this.” Hadley’s gratitude colored her words.
Even though Eric had made the task sound effortless, Hadley knew that if she had attempted the same inquiry herself, the situation might have become unnecessarily complicated, potentially raising Ernest’s suspicions about her motives.
“Think nothing of it.” Eric’s chuckle held genuine warmth. “It’s late. I should let you go to sleep.”
Hadley clutched her phone tighter, uncertainty creeping into her thoughts as she wrestled with unspoken questions.
“Is there something else on your mind?” Eric’s perceptive nature caught the subtle shift in her silence, curiosity threading through his inquiry.
“No, there’s nothing else.” Hadley’s pause stretched longer than intended as she caught her lower lip between her teeth. Her mind churned with a question she couldn’t quite suppress. “Doesn’t it strike you as odd that I’m asking about Ernest’s wedding details?”
Eric found himself momentarily speechless, caught off guard by her directness.
“Why would I need to question your reasons?”
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