9781631054631ChoiceAffairsSalisbury by Jamie Salisbury

grab something later.”
    “I’ll make sure
something is sent to your office. No need for you to make do with potato chips.
Anyway, I’m off. Enjoy your meeting, gentlemen.”
    “Enjoy your walk,”
Apolo countered.
    After swinging by the
kitchen, I headed o utside. Fall was definitely in the
air. It was a little cooler, but the big thing, of course, was the change in
the sun. I decided to walk to the bottom of the driveway to start with. That in
itself was good exercise.
    I was startled by the
sound of my phon e. I reached in my pocket and,
grabbing it, looked down at who was calling. “Hi, Iz.”
    “Hi,
yourself, Mrs. Choice.” She giggled. “Have you gotten used to that yet?”
    “No, but we haven’t
been around a great deal of people, if you know what I mean.”
    She giggle d again. “So, where did your husband take you?”
    “His
private island in the Caribbean. It’s beautiful, Iz. Still unspoiled in many ways, but the
house… Well, the house is…”
    “Overkill,
like Apolo? But I trust you had a wonderful time?”
    “Yes, and yes, the hou se was big, luxurious. Then, we went up to Washington. He
just wanted to spend some time settling in to the new place. But we made good
use of it. Lots of day trips.”
    “So, you were around
civilization?”
    “Yes, and yes, we saw
the article. You can imagine ho w furious Apolo was.
Frankly, Izzie, I don’t blame him.”
    “Have you spoken with
her? What excuse does she have this time?”
    “Oh, get this—she’s
disappeared. At least, Apolo’s fella’s haven’t been able to find her yet. She
disguised herself and snuck right by them.”
    “What does Apolo plan
for her this time?”
    I had made it to the
bottom of the driveway and leaned against the massive, steel gates that kept
unwanted guests away. I noted a young man sitting across the street in a sedan.
He had a camera positioned. He looked familiar, so I
did a double take. Bob Secrest, the so-called nice, young, up-and-coming
reporter. I’d met him at the country club-fundraiser where Apolo had announced
my promotion. I thought of a few choice things I’d like to do, but instead, tur ned my back to him.
    “Sorry,
Iz. There’s paparazzi staked out. As for Mother, I have no idea what he has
planned. He and Jacob were probably in the middle of discussing it when I
left.”
    “Well, nothing seems
to deter her. She’ll back down once the newness we ars
off. You know that, right?”
    “You really believe
that, Iz? Because I don’t. And if she slipped away from Apolo’s
guys, that means she didn’t return to Ireland with my father.”
    Silence. Izzie knew something I didn’t know.
“What? What is it?”
    “Well, she a nd your father had a huge falling out the night of your
wedding.”
    “And?”
    “That’s really all I
know. Oh, and guess who asked me to dance after you two left?”
    “Hard telling,” I
replied, trying to appear interested in what my best friend was saying, but
focused on this new development. An
argument, between my parents.
    “Bo!” You remember Bo?
That cute guy Jacob had take us around right before the wedding?”
    “That’s great, Iz. He seemed very nice.”
    “Yeah, and his head is
made of cheese. Okay, I get it. Your mind is on a gazillion other things right
now. Your parents, your mother’s bad behavior, and who knows what else. Why
don’t you call me when you’re not so distrac ted?”
    “I’m sorry, Izzie. You
just threw me for a loop. This is the first I’ve heard about my parents arguing
at the reception. It must have been something, if you heard it.”
    “Oh, everyone heard
it, Caitlyn. You know your mother. She’s a drama queen.”
    I gro aned. Great . Now, I was sure that Apolo must know
about it. “Unfortunately, we leave for Washington late tomorrow. Are you free
this evening?”
    Silence. “I can be. I mean, I don’t have to work
or anything.”
    “Don’t tell me. Bo?”
    “Yeah, he asked me
out. Again . But if you can arrange it, and