by Jean Oram
Even if she could trust Zach, believe he was on the right side, there would always be the fear.
“And it will be better if just you and Xavier are on the run, without anyone at your side to help?”
“Yes,” Catherine replied, determined not to think about what it would be like. How exhausting and terrifying it would be now that she’d already been found once.
“Zach’s going to worry about you no matter where you go. He’s going to track you, keep an eye on you.”
Catherine’s heart hurt, thinking about him.
“That’ll leave an additional trail,” Ginger said. “Even for a fantastic agent. Being retired, he doesn’t have access to full agency resources. His shadowing won’t be as tight.”
“I see what you’re doing,” Catherine said.
Ginger smiled. “Is it working?”
“No.”
She was going to disappear, not just from her life, but from his, too, because that’s what you did when you loved someone with all your heart.
Zach watched Catherine get off the bus in the city of Dakota, a few hours from Blueberry Springs. He’d sped the entire way, passing the bus just before town and letting out a sigh of relief for not losing her. It had been a risk, taking a few minutes back home to deal with Jerry, then tying up a few other loose ends.
She hitched her diaper bag higher on her shoulder and held Xavier protectively. There weren’t many people in the bus station, the streetlights casting shadows and making her look vulnerable and alone as she headed inside the building.
She glanced around as though expecting him to be there. To intervene. To stop her.
Or maybe she was making sure nobody familiar was shadowing her, waiting for their moment.
And that was why he was here. He would shadow her for however long it took for him to ensure her safety, while he convinced her to come back into his life.
He watched to see if Ginger got off the bus. She’d climbed on at the last minute back in Blueberry Springs, surprising him with the move. She didn’t exit it now.
Through the terminal’s long windows Zach saw Catherine enter the ladies’ room. He stood outside in the shadows, hunching his coat up over his ears, as he waited for her to come back out.
When she didn’t appear right away, he figured she was changing Xavier.
He shifted, making sure he had a good visual of the door and hadn’t missed her. Nobody who’d come or gone through it matched her description. Too tall, too short, too skinny, too pregnant. His vantage point was good. There were no other exits. Not even a window to climb out. She had to still be inside.
After about five minutes, he moved away from his spot. Determined to walk right into the ladies’ room to find out what had happened to his wife, he had to sidestep a pregnant woman with short black hair who’d just exited the station.
Something about her tripped a switch in his brain and his steps slowed. He looked over his shoulder, but the woman was moving quickly now. Not waddling in the way he would expect for a woman as far along as she was. And her baby bump was too high. She was hiding something. Or someone.
Xavier.
The woman was Catherine.
Catherine forced herself not to break into a run. Zach had followed her to the city. He was on her trail.
What was she going to do? Her heart was hammering so hard her chest hurt.
He hadn’t recognized her. How could he say he loved her, and then walk right past her without something about her triggering his awareness?
She wanted to take solace in the security of her disguise, but her heart broke with every step she took away from the man she loved. The man she had wanted to raise her son as his own.
She reminded herself to remain vigilant, to keep her eyes up and trained on people, to watch their comings and goings with suspicion. Her time in Blueberry Springs had worn down her constant state of awareness, and she felt the adrenaline kick in as she tried to be ever alert.
She had exited the bus station, and now walked around the building, planning to take a route she’d seen from the bus. She’d walk through the square and into the grand hotel backing onto it. She’d then exit out a side door, heading through whatever mazes she could find, doubling back until she was certain she wasn’t being followed.
She froze as she spotted her cousin Jerry standing near the drained fountain in the middle of the wintry square, buildings rising up on either side of him. His hands were deep in his pockets, and he was shifting from foot to foot. There was a lit up Christmas tree behind him, piles of snow along the edges of the cleared footpath, a man standing in the shadows kept an eye trained on Jerry as he smoked a cigarette and laughed with someone. Associates? She glanced left and saw another man waiting along a wall, his face in shadows as he talked into a phone.
How had Jerry escaped? Was Zach okay? Scott? Logan? Who had he hurt to free himself? Who had he harmed to ensure he was here right now? Were those two men his associates? Were there more watching from the shadows? Ready to spring on her if he failed to catch her?
She forced herself to keep moving, confident he wouldn’t recognize her. As she drew nearer to him, she looked over her shoulder, seeking Zach’s comforting large build. He was nowhere to be seen.
She hesitated, feeling alone and vulnerable.
You’re in disguise, she reminded herself. Zach didn’t even recognize you.
She added an extra waddle to her step, and moved past her cousin.
“Excuse me,” he said, when she was shoulder to shoulder with him, a mere two feet separating them. She didn’t know whether to flee or to stop. “Do you know the time?”
She shook her head, her eyes on the brightly lit entrance to the hotel. There was a doorman there, his head bent as he did something on his phone.
“I was supposed to meet my cousin here,” Bucket said. “To tell her that I don’t know her.”
Confused, Catherine met his eye.
“I don’t know her,” he said again, his voice shaking. He began backing away and the men she’d seen in the shadows took a step closer. “I don’t know her. It’s like she never existed. I’ll tell everyone she’s dead. Tell her that, Patty. Tell her that she just…” He swallowed hard. “That I took care of her. Just tell her that I don’t know her!” He was practically shouting now, tripping over himself as he scrambled to get away from her.
Catherine stood by the fountain for a long moment after her cousin had scurried out of sight, the men from the shadows catching up with him in seconds, surrounding him in a cluster as they moved him out of sight.
Behind Catherine slow footsteps approached on the cold bricks.
She turned, ready to fight or flee.
It was Zach. He stopped a few feet away. He had his hands in his coat pockets, and all he said was, “I told you you were safe with me. Now do you believe me?”
16
Catherine was sobbing in Zach’s arms. He led her to his car, where it was warm and safe, settling her in the passenger seat. He’d brought Xavier’s car seat, she saw, a presumptuous move that made her want to throw herself right back into his arms all over again. But instead of asking to put Xavier, who was sleeping against her chest, into the carrier, he simply gave her a moment to decompress, seemingly not expecting her to come home with him.
Home.
Everything about being with Zach felt like home, and it made her cry harder.
He’d chased off the scariest person she knew.
He was trained to keep people safe, and he had stepped in without being asked and protected her.
He was exactly the kind of person she needed in her life. He was the man she’d been waiting and hoping for, the one she’d given her heart to despite her vow to never trust or let anyone in ever again.
“Was Jerry the cause of the break-ins around town?” She hated to think that she’d not only brought him to Blueberry Springs, but that he may have left the people she cared about fearing their safety.
“No. Scott caught the
thieves this morning. They were from a town or two over. Pretty good, but not good enough to avoid getting nabbed.”
She sat quietly for a moment.
“And for the record, it wasn’t me,” Zach said.
“I know,” she said quickly, embarrassed to have even considered that it could have been Zach causing the break-ins, and even more so that he’d been able to read her earlier thoughts about it.
“Logan and Scott brought Jerry here to talk to you, to assure you he was no longer going to pursue you. Scott, Logan, and the city officers who helped them as backup still have Jerry in custody. Scott will lay charges on your behalf, but ultimately your cousin will likely be sent back to the UK to continue his sentence. Plus some.”
Catherine nodded, relieved that Jerry wasn’t on the loose once again, and that he hadn’t hurt anyone. “Good.”
“I think you should call your father,” Zach said.
“What? No. No.” She found herself reaching for the door handle.
“Just to confirm where things sit. So you know it’s over and nobody’s going to come looking for you.”
He was holding his cell phone out to her. She looked at it for a long moment. “I don’t want him to know where I am.”
“Do I look stupid?” Zach asked, his expression so unimpressed that she laughed. “It’s a burn phone issued via my old agency. Logan had one on hand.” Zach paused, his lips pursing as though he was ticked about something his friend had done. “The signal’s untraceable. And anyway, it’s not like your dad has caller ID in jail.”
Catherine turned the phone over in her hands. “What do I say?”
“What do you think you need to say?”
She wasn’t sure. Zach passed her a piece of paper with a phone number and prisoner number written on it. Catherine felt the familiar shame weigh on her as she thought of all her father had done.
“I don’t think I can.” She had typed in the number, hit the button to connect the call, then clicked off. “And besides, it’s too early in the morning over there.”
“It’s not. And I’m right here with you,” Zach said gently. “This is your closure. For you and Xavier. Otherwise you’ll always be wondering if someone else is going to come.”
This was her chance to have her happily-ever-after and stop running.
She stared out at the dark night for a long moment, trying to rebuild her courage. Instead, she found herself thinking about Zach. He had been fierce and determined today, but gentle and strong, too. She hoped that at the end of this night, she’d feel safe enough to return home with him, to spend the rest of her life at his side.
To have that chance, she needed to make this call.
She hit Redial and this time kept the phone to her ear until someone picked up.
With her heart slamming ruthlessly against her ribs, she gave them her father’s prisoner number and waited for several long minutes as he was brought to the phone.
“Daddy?” she said, hating the way her voice sounded so small and trembling. Mixed emotions flooded through her. It didn’t matter who he was or what he’d done, he was still her father. He was still the one who had taught her how to ride a bike, how to stand up for herself with pushy boys. He’d been there for her, as misguided as he was corrupt, but in her corner even if he didn’t understand her.
“Patty?” His tone was urgent. He sniffed loudly, his voice shaking as much as hers. “Patty, is that really you?”
“It’s me.”
“Are you safe?” he asked.
The concern in his voice made her throat tighten as she choked out a yes.
He let out a loud, shaky exhalation. “I was so worried. When you disappeared I called in every favor I could, which wasn’t easy considering my predicament. Nobody could find you.”
“I was hiding.”
“I’m so glad you’re safe. Do we need to end this call?”
“No. We’re okay. I have someone on my side who knows how to take care of business.”
“Patty?” There was concern and confusion in his voice now and she laughed.
“No, Daddy. He’s on the other side.” The legal side. But most of all, he was on her side. She smiled at Zach, already glad she’d made this call. He deserved a really big kiss for setting this up for her.
“I should have told you to quit that nightclub.” He added quickly, panic edging his voice, “Bucket lost his mind while he was in here. He broke out and he’s coming for you. He’s convinced you’re alive, and that you put him in here. He thinks you were behind all of this, but I know you’re not. Everyone knows you aren’t. I made it clear you were to be kept clean of all of this, but he’s not listening to reason.”
“Bucket won’t bother me, Daddy.”
Her father’s sharp intake of breath made her laugh. “I didn’t ice him.”
“You’re the one thing I’ve done right in this life, aren’t you?”
Tears streamed down Catherine’s face and she said with a wobbly voice, “Pretty much.”
They both laughed.
“Everyone who’s in here knows it wasn’t you, Patty.” Her father’s tone told her he was winding up the call. “If you’re ever in the area, feel free to stop in.” He added quickly, “That’s not fair. Don’t feel like you have to come visit.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” she said, before ending the call. She hadn’t told him he was a grandfather, but she figured that could be for another day. Today, this was enough.
She turned to Zach. “Take me home.”
17
Zach stood at the front of the church, waiting for Catherine to come down the aisle.
They were having a wedding. One that would fulfill Catherine’s dream, and would ensure the legality of their online union, too.
A wedding even though he still hadn’t proposed. When the ladies had begun finalizing the reception plans for the wine and cheese, Zach had taken Catherine over to Ginger’s shop and told her to pick out a gown.
She’d frowned at him and he’d leaned over, whispering, “Let’s have a wedding before the reception. Small, private. Get that little tuxedo for Xavier. Get the dress. We’ll beg Olivia to put a rush on it. Let’s do this right.”
She’d tipped away from him so she could take in the sincerity of his suggestion. Then a slow, wide smile had graced her beautiful face and she’d thrown herself into his arms with a laugh.
He’d held her, knowing that they were merely at the beginning of something truly magical.
He adjusted his bow tie now and waited for Catherine to appear. Ginger, one of the two bridesmaids, was in the doorway, waiting for her cue to come down the aisle. She grinned at Zach and flashed him a thumbs-up.
Xavier was already halfway down the aisle, handsome in his stroller, a string of drool threatening to mar his perfect tux as one of the flower girls pushed him and the ring cushion toward the front of the church.
Family.
Real life.
He’d done it. He glanced at Logan, who was behind him, standing as best man.
Logan gave him a lift of his chin in silent support.
“Thanks for having my back,” Zach said.
His friend nodded, before his gaze drifted toward his wife, who was coming down the aisle in a gorgeous red satin dress that hugged her curves. Ginger was followed by Jill, but the bridesmaids weren’t what Zach was focused on, knowing that Catherine would soon be coming through that doorway.
After what felt like forever, the music changed, and a woman in a white dress appeared, her smile brightening the entire room as she came toward him, her blue eyes locked on his.
His wife. His partner. His friend. His soulmate.
He found himself coming down the aisle to meet her halfway. She had a long veil that trailed down her back, but the piece covering her face was short and soft, and he flipped it up, kissing her right there in the middle of the church. Their few guests laughed and cheered at his break in protocol.
Zach never wanted to stop kissing his
wife, but when he forced himself to break the connection, she smiled, her eyes glittering, her heart completely open. “You’re such a rule breaker.”
“Speaking of which, I need to ask you something.”
“I’m busy right now. Can I just say yes and renege later if need be?”
He dropped to one knee. “Catherine, will you marry me?”
She gave him a dry look and stuck out one hip, the light catching on the beaded design along her bodice, enhancing her curves.
He held up the engagement ring he’d been carrying around for weeks, assuming he’d find a chance before now to give it to her. Her mouth dropped open and he saw in her expression that he’d done the right thing.
“We really have issues with doing all of this in order, don’t we?” she said, and held out her trembling left hand.
He clasped it and repeated, “Will you marry me?”
“Only if we have the wedding immediately.”
He grinned and slid the ring on her finger. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes.”
She slipped her hand in his, and they walked to the front of the church, ready to be married, legally bound in ways that their hearts and souls already were.
Catherine stood beside Zach in Brew Babies, which had been decorated to the hilt, looking festive and beautiful with streamers and balloons. Classy. She smiled for a photo, no longer worried that it would be uploaded to social media, and that someone would use facial recognition to track her.
She was free.
Freer than she had ever been in her whole entire life, and it felt good. It felt as though she could fly, swooping above the mountain peaks that surrounded the tiny town.
She was home.
She was family.
She was love.
She had a man who knew exactly who she was and loved her just the same.
Turning to Zach, she said, “I love you.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”