“My work often keeps me away. I’m not immersed in Emily’s day-to-day activities, but I know every move she makes.” He removed his phone from his jacket pocket and opened a photo app. “I received a video this morning. Yesterday, friends invited her to an after-school tea party.”
“What a lovely setting.” Fiona glanced at a video of three little girls in school uniforms seated around a table. The name of an elite private school was embroidered over the pocket of each jacket. Custom-made shirts, an expensive private school, and a full-time nanny—who are you, Gavin McIver? What she knew about him she liked, but what she didn’t know could be a problem.
“Emily’s the one with curly red hair.” Gavin paused the video.
Under the mop of curls, deep-blue eyes admired the desserts on the tall cake plate. “She’s beautiful.” Fiona glanced from the phone to Gavin. “She has your eyes. How can you stand being separated?”

“I’ll see her soon.” He cleared the photo.
“Are you leaving?” She placed a thumb and forefinger on the spoon and stirred what was left of her tea. The spoon dragged tea leaves along the bottom. A diviner she hired to entertain afternoon tea guests told her leaves along the bottom were a sign for the future. Good or bad was determined by other factors. She wouldn’t object to Gavin being in her future.
“Hey. If you keep stirring, you’ll wear a hole in the cup.” He tapped her chin with a knuckle. “No. She’ll be here next Thursday.” He leaned back and smiled.”

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