Talk about awkward! Chloe was just worried, though. When she had left, they looked pissed, and she knew she was going to pay for it. Chloe surveyed th... area around her, clear so far. She stepped warily onto the porch and opened the screen door to the house. Mom? She asked loudly. Actually, Billy said from the sofa, Your parents had to leave. There was an emergency in town that was work related, so they told us that were in charge till they get back, which will be late tomorrow night. Chloes. ‘Harry sent them some money and told them to stay another week. I believe they’re still in Florida.’ Joshua handed her his pay check when he came in on Wednesday night. She looked at him questioningly. The amount was nearly double what it had always been before. ‘I got a promotion,’ He grinned. ‘With the dish washing machine installed, I have time to seat the customers and do other things like take reservations and handle the cash register. Harry calls me the ‘Maitre d’.’ She stared at him in. I just got a bit ... upset, that’s all, and I overreacted. My apologies, Mr. Martin. It won’t happen again. I promise you that. Lauren, please be reasonable! I’m trying to build our future for our family and all that!”Clearly, it had occurred to the lawyerly side of Lewis, Damien thought with amusement, that if divorced from him, Lauren could be required to testify against him in court. That, far more than any other reason, sexual, financial, romantic, or whatever, judging from the man’s panic,. She said I could drop her off at work if I liked. Which is what I ended up doing, after fidgeting around while she finished her stuff. She gathered her things, put them into a crazy looking bag and we left together. She worked with an advertising firm. She got off my bike, humming, as we reached her office complex and with a ‘bye’ breezed off. I made a dignified departure. Talk about being under someone’s spell. I went about my work as usual but she was on my mind most of the time. I was.