Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            “She keeps sending my calls to voice mail. Where is she?”

            “That, I will not tell you. If she doesn’t wish to see you, I will respect that. I’d do the same for you.”

            “I know,” Tom grumbled. “Will you at least tell her that I’m sorry that I shouted at her? I was worried and . . . well, I shouldn’t have done that.”

            “No, you really shouldn’t have. I’ll tell her. I have to go now. Good night, Tom.”

            Tom ended the call, frustrated. He didn’t know where Liza was and who she was with, which sucked. At least he knew that she was all right. Wherever she was.

            She’ll calm down in time, he told himself. She’d come back.

            But as what? As a friend, he told himself firmly, although the words no longer felt right.

            And if she never did? The prospect of a life without Liza wasn’t something he could even think about. Every aspect of the life he’d built since coming to Sacramento was tied to Liza.

            Everything but his job. Which he’d now go home to do.




GRANITE BAY, CALIFORNIA

            THURSDAY, MAY 25, 10:15 P.M.

            “Thank you,” Liza said, hugging Karl Sokolov first, then Irina as she walked them to her new front door. “You guys are insane, letting me have this place until July.” The posh apartment was one that Karl made available to clients visiting his marketing firm. “This is the nicest place I’ve ever lived.”

            The poshest, at any rate. The nicest place she’d ever lived was the place she’d left that morning, and she was already homesick.

            “This place sits empty most of the time,” Karl said. “I’m glad someone is using it.”

            Liza shook her head helplessly. “I think you’re lying about that, but again, I thank you.”

            “Did you show her the alarm panel, Karl?” Irina asked.

            “I did, my love.”

            “Did you introduce her to the guard in the lobby?”

            Karl kissed Irina soundly. “I most certainly did.”

            “Good. Liza, there are clean sheets on the bed and food in the pantry and the fridge. There is also a list of restaurants that deliver in the drawer next to the stove. Karl’s company has an account with all of them, so you will not need to pay.”

            Liza’s brows shot up. “I most certainly will pay. I have funds. I was Fritz’s beneficiary. I got his death benefits.” She’d told them about Fritz when she’d returned from Monterey, and it seemed that telling people about Fritz got easier every time. She needed to tell her Chicago family soon. She didn’t want them hearing it from Tom. They need to hear it from me. “I put half of the money in a trust for his parents to use for their retirement, and I’ll use the rest for living expenses and tuition not covered by my GI benefits and financial aid. I’ll be fine.”

            Karl’s smile was both proud and sad. “Do his parents know about the trust?”

            “No. I thought I’d tell them . . . later. Their grief is still too fresh.”

            “You are a good girl, Liza.” Irina took Liza’s cheeks in her palms and brought their foreheads together. “Your mother would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

            Liza had to clear her throat. “Stop making me cry, Irina.”

            Karl tugged at Irina’s sleeve. “Come on, my love. Let her get some rest.”

            Irina had called her as she, Gideon, and Daisy were driving back from Monterey to tell her that they’d found her a place and had moved her boxes and her car. Gideon had stopped first at the Sokolovs’ house so that Daisy could get her car, then the two of them had escorted her up to the apartment, where they’d helped unpack Liza’s things. With so many hands working, her boxes had been unpacked before she could blink.

            “I’ll be by tomorrow to read with Abigail,” Liza assured Irina. “Thank you again.”

            Everyone hugged her a final time, then left.