Her thoughts roiled. Old feelings that she’d suppressed for a long time had been bubbling to the surface. She and JD had gone through a time several years ago when he’d been incredibly stressed. He hadn’t told her anything, but she’d known something was off. She had that same sensation now, a tingling at her nerve endings, leaving her shrouded in confusion. She talked to the boys some, but they always told her everything was okay. That was to be expected. They loved their father, and they’d always been loyal to him. They almost idolized him. And maybe, for a time, she had too. But marriage taught you things, and you saw your partner in a new light. You saw the good and the bad. Some things you didn’t want to see at all, so you pretended you didn’t.

JD could be unscrupulous in his business, but she’d never heard of him being outright dishonest. And as his wealth had grown, she’d felt as if she were doing good. What was the point of money if you couldn’t help others? Lydia had helped others a lot.

But what good was all that if she couldn’t help herself?

They were near their destination, and she drew in another breath and focused. They drove to a sprawling hotel property, lights ablaze, people heading up carpeted steps to glass double-doors. Her new driver followed a line of other vehicles, then pulled up to the curb near the front of the building. She hopped out and hurried around the front of the SUV, then opened the door for Lydia.

“Thank you,” Lydia said.

Jo nodded politely, and she handed keys to a valet with instructions to let her know where the vehicle was parked before walking Lydia inside.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Jo was wary as she followed Lydia into a humongous foyer filled with people. A chorus of raised voices, clinking glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter floated to elegant crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds. Lydia immediately recognized someone and strode over, kissing the woman lightly on the cheek. Jo held back, close enough where she could intervene if necessary, but far enough away to allow Lydia freedom to engage with the other guests.

Jo scanned the room, assessing any potential threats. Two uniformed security guards stood by the main doors. She mapped out the space, then moved to her right and saw another exit door at the far end of a wide hall. If she had to get Lydia out of there quickly, her options were limited.

She focused on the crowd next. They were well-attired, the men in suits or tuxes, the women adorned in a colorful and elegant array of dresses and pantsuits. Jo spotted a few men she pegged as bodyguards, given the distinctive bulges under their shoulders. Just like Jo, they stayed back at a discreet distance. However, if anything happened, they would move at the speed of light to protect their clients.

She was trained to look for signs of danger, not just people carrying weapons. She paid attention to the nuances of conversations and body language, watching for anyone acting strangely. This crowd was merry, everyone enjoying themselves. No one seemed particularly focused on Lydia, but Jo remained vigilant.

Waitstaff moved like ghosts between the clusters of people. Lydia took a champagne flute from a tray offered by a tall waiter, and she sipped it as she engaged in conversation, a smile plastered on her face. She waved at a couple that passed, her fingers flitting lightly, and then she turned to yet another pair. She began to work the room, floating between people, engaging in chitchat, always with that smile on her face.

Lydia may have been fooling them, but not Jo. Her blue eyes held a strain that she was keeping in check.

After a while, the crowd moved into a grand ballroom with round tables draped in cream-colored tablecloths, with various wild animal sculptures as centerpieces. The silver shined, and the china was gold-rimmed. Lydia sat at a table near the center of the room with a woman wearing a white pantsuit, gold rings on her fingers, and heavy eye makeup. Jo took a perimeter position, her back to the wall. The guests sat through a short introduction and then were invited to buffet tables set up on the left side of the room. Jo stayed back, keeping a careful watch on Lydia all the while. Once people had served themselves and returned to their tables, the room filled with the sounds of voices and silverware clanking on plates. Lydia ate demurely, her plate only half full. The woman in the pantsuit sat with her husband, but he engaged in conversation with another man next to him, so she turned to talk to Lydia.

At first, their conversation seemed to be light—both smiling, their demeanor relaxed. Then the other woman leaned over and murmured something, her lips moving rapidly. Lydia’s shoulders stiffened, and her champagne flute stopped halfway to her mouth. The woman said something else, and Lydia’s jaw tightened sharply as she put down her champagne glass.

The other woman seemed to realize she’d gotten a rise out of Lydia, and she punctuated her next words by tapping on the table. Lydia stared at her for a moment, her face like granite. Then she forced a smile, said something, and stood up. The woman looked at her, clearly surprised. Lydia put her napkin on her chair and, still smiling, snatched up her purse and stepped away from the table. The rest of the group didn’t notice anything as she walked away. A few other people mingled about, but no one paid attention as Lydia sidled between tables, making her way to an exit across the room.

Jo hurried along the edges of the tables, following her out the doors. She glanced around and saw her boss disappearing into a bathroom. Jo hurried after her, stepping into a sitting area with two benches in front of large mirrors. In the next room, Lydia had disappeared into a stall.

Jo waited by the door. Lydia emerged a minute later, and as she headed for a bank of sinks, she glanced to her left and saw Jo. She was startled but didn’t say anything. She took a moment to wash her hands, and then she walked into the sitting room. Another woman emerged from a stall, washed her hands, and smiled at Jo and Lydia as she exited the bathroom.

Now they were alone.

“Are you okay?” Jo asked.

Lydia sat down at a bench and stared at herself in the mirror. She reached into her purse, pulled out a lipstick case, and fixed her lips. She drew in a breath and let it out slowly, then looked at Jo in the mirror.

“Do you know who that woman at my table was?”

Jo shook her head. “I’m new to the area.”

“That was . . .” She waved a hand around. “Never mind. It’s immaterial.”

She seemed to want to talk, and Jo wanted to earn her trust. She perched herself on the end of the bench.

“She wasn’t nice to you, was she?” Jo asked.

Lydia stared at herself in the mirror. “You caught that.”

“Yes,” Jo said softly. “You handled yourself well. I don’t think anybody knew you were upset, except for the woman you were talking to.”

“It doesn’t matter what she thinks. I wasn’t prepared for what she said, though.”

“Oh?”

“It was about my husband.”

Lydia was about to say more, but the door opened and a woman in a blue dress entered. She gave them a polite smile as she walked past and into the other room.

“Well, it’s nothing,” Lydia said.

Jo cursed to herself. It had seemed she might get Lydia to open up—even if just a little—but the opportunity had been snatched away. Lydia dabbed at her eyes with a pinky finger. She looked dejected.

“Would you like to go home?” Jo asked.

Lydia’s eyebrows shot up. “The event isn’t over,” she said. It seemed as if she needed permission to leave.

“You don’t have to be on all the time,” Jo murmured. “You made your appearance. Isn’t that enough?”

Lydia continued to stare at herself, and then she nodded. “You know what? I think you’re right. I’ll go back in and make my excuses, and we’ll go. I’m tired.” The pinky finger now touched her lips, and then she smiled at Jo. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Jo stood and stepped back as Lydia got up as well. She followed her boss back into the dining hall, where Lydia marched purposefully back to her table, her head held high, her shoulders squared. She whisked her napkin off the chair and sat down, then smiled at the woman next to her. She chatted for a few minutes and then stood again, still all smiles.

After flitting her hand in her special wave, she made her way back toward Jo. The woman at the table stared after Lydia for a moment before her husband engaged her in conversation.

After they left the grand ballroom together, Lydia waited with security near the doors as Jo went outside for the SUV. She parked in front of the building, then hurried up the steps and escorted Lydia to the car. She held the door for her and got behind the wheel, and they drove away.

Lydia stared out the window, her lips pressed together firmly. After a minute or so, she surprised Jo with a question.

“Who do you care about most?”

Jo didn’t need to think long. “My family.”

“I understand that.” She paused. “Tell me about them.”

Jo did, trying to find a balance between connecting with Lydia and not sharing too much. She told her boss about Will and his love of cars, and how he’d taken her and her sister on camping trips. When she spoke about Avery, Jo gushed with pride at how well her sister had done in school, and how she was forging a career for herself.

“You’d do anything for them?” Lydia asked when she finished.

Jo nodded, thinking about her current situation. “Yes.”

“That’s an honest answer.”