Norma

loor-to-ceiling windows as I stepped off the

scent of red roses hit me. My throat tightened in

d roses lined the m

clearing away the empty glass jars of the herbal tonic I had spent three

ill damp from the snow, Martha fr

en called again an hour ago to make sure the flower

," I said quietly, holding back a cough as I w

e black suitcase from the bottom compartment, and packed onl

had given me over the years stay

ed reflection in the mirror and slowly slid the diamo

cold marble surface, without leaving

ssed Jaiden's closed bedroom door, which was co

andmade wool scarf I had knitted for Jaiden last mo

oment. Then I turned away without picking

e suffocating scent of roses that didn't bel

line, I stopped by a specialty boutique to pick up a wooden box of rare vintage Da

a's estate. The silver-haired Chairwoman Emerita of the International Sports M

ntly set the vintage

ney, I'm back,"

ses, her sharp gaze taking in my drawn fa

rative medicine to play housewife for a hockey player," she s

, and now you think you can just

es. I reached into my bag, pulled out a notebook containing the soft-

ke. Now, I want to take back eve

the dense equations and clinical models, her stern expres

k, she took off her

Emilia," she said warmly. "Your lab coat is still hanging in the private

inking back the sud

siness hotel downtown, sat down at the desk, and opened a n

Norto

of my Montreal hotel suite, nursing a mild hangover. Candice'

om the leather sofa, I

ompletel

t by seven in the morning reminding me to take my vitam

wasn't a si

to the table. She was clearly sulking

personal assistant stepped in with m

said Mrs. Norton came back to the house early this morning while you were away, packed

d on my silk tie,

nd pack her bags. All because she overheard me telling Cand

ely. "As compliant as she is, she'l

nd someone to

nd have it delivered to the penthouse," I instructed, buttoning my cuffs

rned off her phone to play hard to get, irritation flared in my che

of my nose, I looked

and freeze all her supplementary credit cards immediately. Let's see how long an un

of the suite toward the training rin