by Hollis Wynn
I open the closet that is next to the washer and dryer and pull out all the stuff that’s shoved in there. I’ve always used it for a cleaning closet and tucked the vacuum, broom and mop and other stuff in there. The top shelf holds cleaning products and a bucket.
Once I have everything moved into the bathroom, I take the broom and sweep the walls, making sure there are no spiders anywhere, when I notice the wall bends when I touch it.
“Shit, did I break something?” I murmur to myself and make a mental note to ask Penn if he knows a handyman who can help fix the wall.
Squatting down, I maneuver my way into the closet and feel around wondering if the paneling is loose or if there is a bigger problem. I run my hands up and down the wall until I touch the back right corner where the wall meets the shelf and feel a latch.
I push and pull until the latch breaks loose and the wall swings in, revealing a set of stairs.
“What the hell?”
I’ve been coming here for most of my life and didn’t know this existed until now. My eyes adjust to the darkness in front of me, and I stretch my body forward to see what awaits me. I say a quick prayer it’s not full of spiders and other critters. Taking a step forward, I hold on to the walls next to me and feel a light switch. Flipping it up, the space floods in bright white light, and everything is extremely clean.
Glancing right to left, I slowly descend the stairs and stop at the bottom. The floor is smooth concrete, and one side is full of shelves holding loads of food, bottled water, and even personal care products. In front of me is a bed with a couch at the foot and to the left is a small kitchen area with a round table, fridge, and utility sink.
I walk around touching things and wondering why this is here, when I find a door tucked behind the stairs and find a tiny three-piece bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. Well, at least if someone were down here they wouldn’t have to pee in a bucket.
Across the room I see a door close to the bed. Thinking it’s a closet, I open it expecting to see someone’s clothes, but what I find is a dark hallway. Curiously, I step in feeling the walls for a light, but before I locate one, I come to another door. This one is heavy, but I push it open, walking into another room that is set up similar to the one I just left.
“What on earth have I stepped into?” I say out loud. Thankfully, no one answers me, or I’d really lose it.
Instead of hanging out, I make my way back to the bunker under my house when I hear Penn calling for me. I close the door and rush back up the steps and into the closet.
“There you are,” he says when I exit the closet. “Looks like you found Gramps’s secret hideout.” He smiles, and I want to throttle him. How could he keep this secret from me? Would he have ever told me if I hadn’t discovered it on my own?
“Sure did and apparently you knew about it and didn’t tell me.”
He nods and chuckles. “I assumed you already knew.”
“Well, you know what happens when you assume, don’t you?” I stick my pointer finger into his chest while laughing. He grasps my wrist and pulls me into his body, gently pressing his lips to mine. I suck in as much air as I can before allowing my body to lean into his.
His magic lips caress mine, parting them and deepening the kiss. If this is his way of apologizing for being mad at me, then he can be mad every day.
He pulls back, releasing his hold on me, and I stand there staring at him as my fingers touch my swollen lips.
“Damn,” is all I can say.
He doesn’t miss a beat before questioning me. “Would you like some help putting all this back?” he asks, pointing to the stuff lining the hall and the bathroom floor.
“No, thank you. I need to find new homes for some of it, but I would like you to explain what the hell I just found.”
Chapter Seventeen—Pennington
“Before your parents died, they came here and talked to Gramps. They were concerned that someone your father had targeted was coming after them. So, they asked Gramps to build an underground bunker that they could hide out in if need be. Since the area is so hilly, it was an easy fix for Gramps to get someone to do the concrete work.”
She stares at me, and I can tell she’s wondering about the mechanics of how all this worked without people realizing what he was up to.
“Since many thought Gramps eccentric, the townspeople assumed he was building a bomb shelter. They weren’t that far off considering that what is under this house could stand up to a small bomb. He had the walls built out of cinder blocks and every hole is reinforced with rebar and filled with concrete. The floor was poured by hand, bucket by bucket to give it a smooth feeling.”
She steps back and begins picking up the stuff littering the floor and organizing it while I continue.
“He tapped into the plumbing from upstairs and built the bathrooms and kitchens for each side. He was determined that if your family needed a place to hide out, that you could do it here and be safe.”
I stop and watch her as she methodically sorts things into two piles. One pile she places back onto the shelf in the closet and the other goes into a trash bag she pulls from under the sink.
“Don’t stop now,” she says.
I step back out of her way and lean on the edge of the bar. “Gramps knew that if someone was after your parents that there was a strong possibility that someone would come after him too, which is why he built the hallway between them. He wanted to make sure that each family would be safe.”
“But why the long hallway? Isn’t that a waste of space?” she asks me.
“Technically no. On our side, there is another door in the corner, and it leads into a small room. That’s where Gramps kept his secrets. It’s also where he kept his guns, go bag and all kinds of other stuff that he didn’t want anyone else to find.”
I watch her put the broom and mop back in the closet and then wheel the vacuum cleaner into the extra bedroom and roll it into the closet before closing the door behind her.
“But I thought he stored all his stuff in the garage outside?” she asks, tilting her head to the side in an inquisitive manner.
“Oh, he stored tons of stuff outside, but it’s the things he collected that aren’t that important. Though if anyone started looking it would send them on a wild chase and they’d never find the important stuff.”
“Ah” is her only response before Ainsley screams.
Bella glances down at her watch and past me and to the sink. I watch her turn on the hot water and scrub her hands before pulling a bottle out of the dish drainer. I decide that I’ll go take care of Ainsley, so we don’t both have to listen to her scream.
“Hi, sweet girl,” I murmur to her as I pull her out of her bed. “Are you wet?”
It doesn’t take me long to change her diaper and get her dressed before allowing her to snuggle into my neck as I pat her bottom.
Walking back into the kitchen, I question what her birth name is. “How did you know her name was Ainsley?” I ask Bella as she tests the bottle to make sure it’s not too hot.
“I don’t know what her name is. When the news broke that Sharpe’s granddaughter was missing, they never said her name. It wasn’t like I was going to call him up and ask.”
“Gotcha. So, you named her yourself?” I question her.
“Yep. I couldn’t very well walk around with a baby that didn’t have a name. Could you imagine the flags that would throw up?”
She’s not wrong about that. Zoe had the girls’ names picked out almost as soon as she found out she was pregnant. I won’t assume that all women are like that, but sure enough, the baby can’t leave the hospital without a name. Or can they?
“Makes sense,” I say, handing her off so that Bella can feed her. I watch her get Ainsley comfortable before placing the nipple on her lips and she begins sucking.
Bella settles into the couch before continuing. “Laken said that Sharpe offered a twenty-five-thousand-dollar reward for the return of his granddaughter but that th
ey still haven’t mentioned her name. Since I’m the one taking care of her now, I named her. No matter what happens in the future, she’ll always be Ainsley to me.”
“I’m glad that you guys found each other.”
Chapter Eighteen—BellaRose
The week flew by and I’m standing in front of the bathroom mirror in the only nice thing I brought with me, because Penn decided we needed a night out. All three of us.
Ainsley is dressed in a yellow dress and bloomers, while I am wearing a black sundress and flip flops. It’s not what I’d normally wear on a date, but it will have to work.
Penn knocks on the door, and I lean out of the bathroom yelling “come in” while I finish putting my hair up. I don’t know who decided that a messy bun was sexy, but I would like to thank them. They just made my normal hairdo okay to wear in public.
“You ready?” he asks following the sound of Ainsley’s coos to us.
“Almost. I need to get her bag ready, and then we can go. Have a seat on the couch, we won’t be long.”
He nods and does as he is told.
I load her in the carrier seat and place it on the bar while I get all of her things together. I am still learning about time management with a baby and since we rarely get dressed up to go out, I make a mental note to add thirty minutes to whatever time I think it will take for a task.
“I’ll load her up and meet you out there,” Penn says, picking up her seat and sweetly speaking to her.
“The keys are in the dish by the door,” I remind him. He winks at me and heads to the garage.
I take a few moments to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. First, Ainsley now Penn. Is God trying to give me the family I’ve always wanted or is he going to blow my life up and send me to prison?
Running back into my bedroom, I grab the box of jewelry that I stashed in the side table and grab the box with my mother’s diamond and sapphire ring. It will be nice to have a piece of her tonight.
The drive to The Chicken or the Egg Cafe is quick. I wonder if Penn sees the irony like I do that we’re having an evening date at a breakfast café.
Since Miller Creek is a relatively small town, there are limited places to eat and the Egg, as the locals call it, has great food no matter what time of day it is. Plus, The Lemon Drop bar is attached to it, so we can sit on either side and still have fabulous food.
It’s early enough yet that it’s not super crowded, so we’re able to commandeer a corner booth that gives us enough space to spread out and fits Ainsley’s seat.
The waitress brings menus and some water for us while we look everything over.
“What are you eyeing?” I ask Penn. “I’ve never had a bad meal here.”
“It all looks good, but I’m thinking about a chateaubriand with the garlic mash and a salad. What about you?”
It’s then that I remember he tends to eat healthy most of the time. Food is something that I take the time to enjoy, so I never hold back.
“I’m going to try the creamy mushroom risotto and the roasted brussels sprouts.” My stomach growls on cue, and we both laugh.
“Looks like we got here just in time,” Penn says.
We order and chat about how things are going. He’s been driving back and forth to Austin this week for work, and I have missed him. I’m shocked at how quickly I got used to him being around. Considering I’m an only child and have lived on my own for so many years, I didn’t think I’d like to have someone around as much as I do.
“I notice you’re wearing your mom’s ring tonight,” he comments as he lifts my hand, bringing it up to his lips for a sweet kiss.
“It felt like the perfect time to wear it.”
The electricity that is running from his body to mine through our hands is extremely powerful, and I don’t want to let it go. Penn holds onto my hand until the waitress brings our food.
“Chateaubriand, medium rare for you,” she says, setting the plate down in front of him. “And the mushroom risotto with roasted sprouts for the lady.” She steps back from the table and says “enjoy” before walking off.
While we eat, Penn questions what I’d be doing this summer if I didn’t have Ainsley.
“Honestly, probably much of the same. I like to spend a couple of weeks here during the summer. It’s the way I recharge after a long year of teaching. Sometimes Laken and her family will come and stay with me. It’s a great way for us to feel like we’re on vacation without having to spend a ton of money. Plus, I have great memories of coming here when I was growing up, and I wanted to share that with someone.”
“That makes sense. I wish I had spent more time here when Gramps was younger, but things were out of my control then. Plus, we lived in California and the travel cost was outrageous. Once I was assigned to Austin, I made a point to come out and spend the night at least once a month.”
Ainsley allows us to finish our meals and chat before she wakes up and begins fussing. I push my plate across the table and pick her up and cuddle her, and she settles quickly.
“Oh my goodness,” the waitress says when she stops to pick up our plates. “You can’t even tell you’ve had a baby.”
My cheeks blush and I quietly respond with “thank you” as she turns and walks off.
“That was unexpected,” I say to Penn.
“You handled it beautifully.”
Damn this man. My heart beats in double time when he’s around.
“I’m going to take her to the bathroom and change her.,” I say, trying to pick up her seat.
“I’ll get it,” he says, sliding out of his side of the booth and picking it up. He sets it down on the other side and holds his hand out for me, assisting me.
The bathroom is small but clean and I’m becoming quite efficient at changing diapers quickly. I finish up and use an extra wipe for my hands. I haven’t mastered the art of washing my hands while holding a baby, especially in a restaurant.
Walking back through the bar, I notice the changes that they’ve made this past year. There is new art on the walls and the place has had a fresh coat of paint. This is the opposite of most bars. If I didn’t know better, I’d think JoAnna Gaines had a hand in this decor.
“We’re nice and clean now,” I say when I approach the table. Penn holds his hands out and I hand her over to him.
“I’m going to wash my hands, then I’ll grab us some drinks,” I say after I set her bag down on the bench. “What would you like?”
“Get me a Suds Monkey IPA if they have one, please.”
“Will do. Be back in a few.”
When I make it to the bar, it’s not crowded at all and I’m able to order quickly. “I’d like a Lemon Drop and a Suds Monkey IPA please.”
“Is that all?” the bartender asks.
“Yes, please. Could you put it on our tab?” I ask and turn slightly, pointing to the booth in the corner. “We’re in that corner.”
“No problem,” he says while he fills the beer glass. I watch as he makes my drink, and a man steps up next to me at the bar.
He doesn’t wait for the bartender to acknowledge him and before demanding a drink. “I’d like a Belvedere with a twist.”
His voice seems familiar, so I step back and turn toward him. Immediately I suck in a sharp breath realizing that Kaiser Sharpe is standing next to me. What are the odds of this happening?
The bartender places our drinks in front of me, and when I pick up the beer with my right hand, he places his hand on mine, stopping me.
“My, what a beautiful ring that is.” His voice is deep and rough, just is his touch.
I try to pull my hand away from him, but I don’t want to spill the drink or make a scene. “Thank you.”
My whole body is shaking, and I try to keep control of my words, so he doesn’t know the effect he has on me. His voice causes shivers to run down my spine. I knew this guy was scary, but it’s the first time I’ve come in contact with someone who immediately petrifies me like Kaiser does.
“Could you tell me where you got it?” His voice is more demanding than questioning, and I hesitate before answering him.
“It was my mother’s,” I say, trying to pull my hand out from under his. “If you’ll excuse me.” I step back, holding on the drink in my left hand, planning to leave Penn’s there if Kaiser doesn’t let go quickly.
“She has wonderful taste. Does she live nearby?”
This man is full of questions and even if I didn’t know who he was, I wouldn’t tell him. “My mother has passed on. Have a good night.”
I reach over and grab Penn’s drink before turning and heading back to the table. My insides quake as I weave my way through the tables to our booth. Instead of moving all of Ainsley’s stuff, I slide in next to Penn, placing our drinks on the table in front of us.
“Did you notice the guy that was next to me at the bar?” I ask him, my voice quivering.
“Yes, I recognized him when he turned around and his eyes followed you all the way here.” I glance at Ainsley’s face and she’s fast asleep again which is great for us.
“Can we leave now?” Thankfully, I don’t have to explain to him why I’m ready to grab her and run out of here.
“Absolutely. Take her and head out to the car. I’ll pay the bill and grab all the stuff.” His calm voice is a balm to my nerves.
I don’t wait and I cover Ainsley with a blanket before walking out the front door and locking us in the back seat of the car. I hold on to her, allowing the tears to flow.
Does he know she is his granddaughter?
Is he here to find me?
What will happen to her?
All kinds of questions run through my head as we wait for Penn and pray Kaiser doesn’t find us first.
Chapter Nineteen—BellaRose