Lila took her seat, this time at the kitchen counter, she looked around, "Elliot that is weird, I did not see your housekeeper around, Mrs Magdalene?"
Elliot laughed nervously, "Yes, she is currently on leave and should be resuming soon and also she is no longer live-in, since she looks after her grandbabies now." Elliot explained.
"Awww, that is so cute. Congratulations to her. She is actually such a nice woman and I am glad." Lila said.
"Yes we are all happy." Elliot said smiling. Lila's expression turned serious, her stare fixed on Elliot. "You know, Elliot," she began, her voice softening, "I have been thinking. I realize I might have been a bit overbearing lately. I apologize if I have caused you any stress."
"What stress? What are you talking about?" Elliot asked confused.
"About the previous times, me constantly throwing myself at you. I realized I was being childish." Lila explained, a false sincere look crowding her face. Elliot raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden change in demeanor.
"Oh, well... Apology accepted," he said cautiously.
"The wedding is approaching, and it is very important that we all get along," Lila continued, her voice laced with sincerity. "I want us to be a family, Elliot. A real family. I hope we can move forward as brother and sister-in-laws." Elliot nodded, his skepticism battling with a flash of hope.
"I appreciate that, Lila," he said, smiling hard. "I want that too."
Lila stood up, moving to Elliot and wrapping him in a big hug, "Thank you." She said sounding like she was crying. Elliot patted her back, the hug lasted longer than usual. Elliot was becoming uncomfortable but did not want to be the one to pull away. As she hugged him tighter his nose was buried into her neck and he caught a whiff of something. The smell was comforting, a light bulb went off in his head as it realized it was Clara's perfume.
He raised his eyebrows wondering what game Lila was playing this time. Shortly after, she pulled away, wiping the tears at the corner of her eyes. "I am sorry about that." She said. Elliot handed her a napkin.
"Nah, it's fine." He told her. She thanked him for the napkins and sat back down, now on the stool again. Elliot looked confused wondering when she was going to leave. They continued their conversation, the topics random and superficial. They discussed wedding plans, the weather, and the latest social events. Elliot found it difficult to concentrate, his mind racing with unanswered questions. He was relieved when Lila finally announced that she had to leave.
"I think I will be taking my leave now." She announced. "Thank you for the breakfast, Elliot," she said, rising from the stool. "It was lovely. I will see you at the rehearsal dinner."
"Of course," Elliot replied, walking her to the door.
He hugged and pecked her on the cheeks as she did the same before opening the door and walking her out. As he was about to close the door, behind him she turned to face him, the close proximity to Elliot's lips making her dizzy. She gulped before speaking, "a..a...nd if.f..f you are still having pest problems, I could send the exterminator company right over to your house."
Elliot moved back slightly to give her some space, "Thank you, I will let you know whenever I'm ready." Elliot told her. He watched as she climbed into her car and drove away as he waved her goodbye, a wave of relief washing over him. He turned, entered the house and rushed upstairs, his heart pounding in his chest. He found Jonah in his bedroom, looking calm. "She is gone," Elliot said, his voice a blend of anxiety and calm.
"Good," Jonah replied, letting out a sigh. "I was starting to get claustrophobic in that closet."
"What the heck was that noise?" Elliot asked, his brow furrowed.
"I was trying to hide," Jonah explained. "I almost tripped over a pile of clothes." He then proceeded to tell Elliot about Lila's strange behavior, how she had entered the room and hidden a small blue teddy bear behind some books. Elliot's eyes widened.
"She hid a teddy bear? Why would she do that?"
"I have no idea," Jonah replied, shaking his head. "It was really weird and the teddy bear had a look in its eyes that kept me startled" Jonah added. "She was acting so nice downstairs, weird but nice enough," Elliot said, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Talking about being family and apologizing for her behavior. It did not make any sense. She was not acting like her normal pushy self." Elliot added.
"Maybe she is up to something." Jonah suggested. Elliot walked to the bookshelf searching for the teddy bear.
"Where is the teddy bear Jonah?" Elliot asked. "Like I said it made me uncomfortable so I checked it into one of the drawers in the dresser in the walk-in-closet.
"Can I see this teddy bear." Elliot asked, his mind muddled with thoughts. Jonah goes to the dresser and pulls it out returning to show Elliot. Elliot turned it around in his hand, studying it just like Jonah did.
"There is something familiar about this teddy bear." Elliot said, his face scrunched as he tries to recall.
"Ohh, I remember now, this was her gift to I and Clara at her parents all white barbecue party." Elliot told Jonah.
"Why did she have to plant it in my house?" Elliot added.
Jonah shrugged, "I do not know. All I know is whatever she is doing, it can't be good," Jonah said, his voice dark.
"We need to be careful." Elliot added. "She even wore Clara's perfume. I am so confused and I do not know what to think right now." Elliot told Jonah. Jonah paced back and forth in the room.
"Could she be the blackmailer?" Jonah asked.
"I do not know Jonah we have no evidence and we can't tell." Elliot said walking back to the room to place the teddy bear back into the dresser.
"No? Because everything is adding up together. The manager of the post office, claims he has many VIP clients and Lila is the child of a wealthy man and a socialite." Jonah thought out loud. "That does not mean anything Jonah, let us not get ahead of ourselves now." Elliot told him.
"I think you should consider it, she has the same build as the dark figure I met on the bridge that first night." Jonah said. "I do not think she is the one." Elliot told Jonah trying to dismiss this train of thought.