“Ma’am, I have to leave now.”
“Tell me your being here has nothing to do with my ex,” Senetra said softly, needing to hear the words from him, one last time.
“I don’t even know your ex. My presence has nothing to do with him.”
She glanced at the pilot. “I’ve changed my mind,” she told him.
Senetra saw the relief on Alex’s face and in his stance.
“Let’s go to a coffee shop and talk,” he said, hailing a cab.
A cab stopped beside them. Ever since the incident, Senetra had been running on adrenaline. As soon as Alex opened the door, her knees buckled and she sank gratefully onto the seat.
They were silent on the short drive. Alex directed the cab to a restaurant they had seen earlier in the day. Although it was after nine, the sun was still bright. Senetra felt drained. It was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other.
Alex asked for a quiet corner table and the waitress led them across the darkened room. They ordered coffee and just sat peering at the menu with unseeing eyes.
“I’ve known who you were from the beginning,” Alex said without preamble.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“People don’t change their identity for no reason. The obvious reasons are the witness protection program, running from the mob, not that it would work in that case, and spousal abuse. There are many scars on you. I came to the obvious conclusion. Spousal abuse.”
“I don’t remember meeting you. How do you know me?”
“I saw you at a charity fund-raising function three years ago. I went with my cousin,” he said. “The moment I saw you, you took my breath away and I started walking across the room toward you. I wanted to meet you. I was a few yards away, and Timothy approached and escorted you to a couple.” Alex shook his head. “I berated myself. You were dripping with diamonds. There was no way I was even in your league.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all this from the beginning? It would have sav—”
Alex shook his head. “Because you would have bolted, just as you did today. I wanted to give you a chance to know me, to earn your trust. Then I planned to tell you when you were ready to open up to me.”
“I wouldn’t—”
“You would have left.”
Senetra nodded. He was right. She hadn’t been ready to date back then, much less trust anyone who knew about her past. Senetra sighed and began to relax enough to read the menu. The waitress arrived with their coffee and they gave her their order.
When the waitress left, Senetra began to tell Alex about her life with Timothy. Halfway through, he moved to her side of the table and put an arm around her shoulder. Taking her hand in his, he rubbed it, giving her comfort.
The more she talked, the more enraged Alex became. He almost wished Timothy was here so he could punch his lights out.
“Did you reveal my name to anyone back home?” Senetra asked when she finished. “My real name?” Obviously, she was still concerned that she might have to move.
“No. They know you by Regina.” Alex swallowed hard, warring with his conflicting emotions. He knew she’d had a hard time. But how could she think for a second that he’d turn her over to that piece of scum? Didn’t she know him at all?
“How could you ever think I’d harm you? Why didn’t you stay and talk to me?”
“Fear of discovery is second nature to me. When you whispered ‘Senetra’…there was no way you should have known that name and I just panicked.”
“Don’t you know I love you? And that I could never hurt you?”
Senetra had to close her eyes briefly against the pain she saw in his eyes.
“I never thought I could feel this way about a man again, but I knew going in that I came with a lot of baggage and that I’d have to live an abnormal life, even though I tried to make it as normal as I could. This thing is not going to leave. Timothy is wealthy and has all kinds of resources,” she said.
“A couple of months ago I got a letter from someone back home,” she continued. “A private investigator is searching for me. He’ll find me eventually. It’s impossible to get lost entirely.”
“In that case he’ll find you any place else you go.”
“I know. And I know that I have to stop running at some point. For now I’m safe, but I always have to be aware. An abuser like Timothy isn’t going to get ‘help.’ As far as he’s concerned, divorced or not, I belong to him. He won’t stop searching until I’m dead. And if you get in the way he could have you killed, too.”
“Then we can take care of things once he gets here.”
“This isn’t the Old West. He won’t be open about it.”
“Why don’t I contact my cousin to find out what’s going on? And then we can form a plan from there.” Alex squeezed her hand. “You can’t run for the rest of your life. At least he can be arrested in Homer. He doesn’t have his protection engine in place. His money isn’t going to help him there.”
Senetra didn’t want to be uprooted time and time again. She wanted to settle down. She wanted to be able to call her mother, make sure she was okay. She didn’t know how this could end well, but at least she had to try.
She squeezed his hand. “It feels good to be able to share this with someone. I’ve felt so alone.”
“You’re not alone, Senetra.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m capable of directing my own life. It’s just…Thanks for being here, and I’m sorry I cut your trip short.”
“I planned the trip so we could be together. We’re near the end anyway.”
They checked into a hotel for the evening. It was nine in Homer, six in Milwaukee. While Senetra was in the bathroom, Alex called his cousin, who finally answered on the fifth ring. “This had better be good,” he said.
“Hey, stranger,” Alex said.
“Alex?”
Alex heard the groan of the mattress as his cousin sat up.
“What’re you doing in bed this early?”
“What do you think?” his cousin Pete asked. “Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Alex assured him.
“My mom told me you visited your folks for Easter. You should have dropped by here on your way back.”
“Didn’t have time. But I have a reason for calling you. Do you remember Timothy Blain?”
“Of course I remember him. They gave him a big send-off.”
“Send-off? What are you talking about?”
“He’s dead.”
“Dead?” Alex felt like a parrot. If he was dead, who was searching for Senetra?
“He died in March, man. You need to come home so you can keep up with the news. His girlfriend of the moment killed him while he was dragging her up the stairs to beat the heck out of her,” Pete said. “The family is trying to have her prosecuted for his death. She may do some time, but the women’s groups are in an uproar. They’ve gotten her a good lawyer, one that’s stressing abuse and that she acted to protect herself. She had a few bruises, but since she never reported any abuse previously, she might have a battle on her hands. You know how popular Timothy was. He knew all the right people.”
It sounded like the Timothy Blain Senetra had described, but Alex had to make sure.
“Are you sure Timothy Blain, the one we saw at the benefit, is dead?”
“Of course I’m sure. There have been a million articles in the papers.”
“Well, that’s news. I’ll talk to you later.”
Alex shook his head. Could it actually be that simple? His cousin would have no reason to lie to him. He could always look it up on the Internet. Timothy must have died after Alex did the Internet search on him.
When Alex ended the conversation, Senetra was coming out of the bathroom.
“What did you find out?” she asked.
“Timothy’s dead.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Dead?”
He explained everything in a few quick sentences.
“I
can’t believe he’s been dead since March. But if he’s dead, who’s searching for me?”
Senetra sat on the bed beside Alex. “Maybe it’s my mother searching for me to give me the news.”
“More than likely.”
“But she wouldn’t hire an investigator. I can call her.” Senetra took out her cell phone and the room went quiet. She tried her mom’s home phone first. Nothing. Then she tried her mother’s cell phone and Dorothelia answered on the second ring.
“Mama?” she said, and listened. “It’s really me. I just found out Timothy’s dead.” Tears streamed down her face. She felt horrible for rejoicing in her ex’s death, but suddenly a terrible weight lifted from her shoulders as her mother confirmed Timothy’s death.
Overjoyed at hearing Senetra’s voice, her mother was crying on the other end.
“It’s really true. I still can’t believe it,” Senetra said to Alex, but continued to listen to her mother, who told her she was in Virginia with her donor’s father.
After a minute she lifted her mouth from the phone. “She’s at my donor father’s house and I have two half sisters,” Senetra said. “They want me to come to Virginia. My mother’s getting married.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll catch the morning plane to Anchorage and get a flight from there. I’ll call you back with the details.” She hung up.
Senetra sat stunned. “I can’t believe it.”
She knew the constant fear that had become second nature wasn’t going to leave immediately.
“We have something to celebrate,” Alex said, kissing her.
“It just seems so…All this time he was dead and I was worried that he’d find me.”
Chapter 13
Senetra and Alex landed at Dulles and made their way to the luggage carousel. A group of strangers were waiting with her mother. As Senetra ran to Dorothelia with her arms open, she caught a quick glimpse of the distinguished-looking man standing close beside her.
Her mother moved forward. “You’re here, really here. You look so good,” she said, grabbing her in a tight hug.
“I still can’t believe it.” Somewhere in the back of Senetra’s mind she heard Alex speaking to the people around her, but it all came out in a blur.
She and her mother parted and as they wiped the tears from their eyes they were laughing at the same time. “And no more running. You can come home.”
“Oh, my God,” Senetra muttered. “I can’t believe this. Mom, you look so good.” She looked her old self again and there was a different aura around her.
Dorothelia clasped Senetra’s face between her hands. “And so do you. You look rested. That weary look is gone. Oh, Senetra.” Her mother started to cry again and they were in each other’s arms again until they heard a deep chuckle.
“Are you going to share my granddaughter, Dorothelia?” an indulgent voice asked.
Her mother leaned back and wiped her eyes again. “This is your grandfather, Senetra. George Avery.”
“Welcome home, granddaughter.” George pulled her close to him. He smelled of cherry pipe smoke and warmth.
“Thank you.”
“And these are your sisters. Noelle and Jasmine.”
Noelle’s reddish hair swung around her shoulders, but Jasmine’s was cut short. Even though she’d spoken to them the night before, she still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that she had sisters—that they shared the same paternal genes.
“And their husbands, Colin Mayes and Drake Whitcomb,” her mother continued.
There were hugs all around and Senetra was overwhelmed. Coming from such a small family as she did, all these people were unnerving.
Alex had been introduced to everyone except her mother.
“Alex.” Senetra beckoned him over. “Mom, this is my friend Alex Wilson. And this is my Mom, Dorothelia Jackson.”
Alex hugged Dorothelia. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mrs. Jackson. Senetra has missed you. She talks about you all the time.”
“I’ve missed her, too.”
One moment she was all alone, well, not really alone. The Alaskans had embraced her into the folds of their arms and let her into their families, but now she had real family—sisters and in-laws and a grandfather. She glanced at him again and wondered what to call him. Last night her mother had told her he was marrying her, so he’d be both her stepfather and her grandfather.
Senetra stifled a moan. If she ever told anyone his relationship to her without the history, they’d think she was from one of those mixed-up crazy homes.
Family.
She could live any place she wanted to. She didn’t have to hide. There was still shakiness in her limbs. She wondered if she’d ever be able to relax again after her experience with Timothy.
The guys grabbed the luggage and George led the way out of the concourse. The outdoors heat was all encompassing—like being smothered in a damp blanket.
“My God,” she said. “Alaska has ruined me. It gets warm in the summer, but I’m not prepared for this. Last night I wore a coat.” Senetra was going to scout out a shopping center, and soon. All her clothes were geared to her Alaska trip.
“Quite a difference, isn’t it?” her mother said, then whispered, “I like your young man.”
Senetra glanced at Alex. He was talking to George. “How can you tell? You just met him.”
“He’s different. A mother can tell,” she said. She’d disliked Timothy from the beginning.
They were hustled into a ten-seat limousine and the driver whisked them toward Middleburg. While acquainting herself with her new family, she gazed at the surroundings. She’d never been to this part of Virginia before, although she’d come to Washington with Timothy for political functions, and she and her mother had vacationed here one summer. But they had stuck mostly to D.C. and the many museums.
“I think this calls for a toast.” George pulled out a bottle of champagne. Glasses were filled and passed around.
“My family is together at last.”
Alex was given a room next to George’s. Senetra’s was upstairs.
“I think your grandfather wants to keep me as far from you as possible,” he said as they met at the foot of the stairs that evening.
“No doubt,” she said, glancing around. “Will you look at this place? My God. What a lovely home.” Her bedroom alone was larger than the two bedrooms combined in her apartment. This house was even more elaborate than the one she and Timothy had lived in and he was always taunting her about his upper-crust family and their money. And yet, for all its grandeur, her grandfather’s home felt comfortable. Her grandfather. She still couldn’t fathom it. How eagerly he’d stepped in to find her. Even spent money for an investigator to help a donor child he didn’t know existed until a few months ago.
Senetra was saddened that she’d never meet her birth father. If he was anything like his dad, he must have been an amazing man.
“The stables are impressive. He has some prime horses out there,” Senetra said.
George beckoned them to a comfortable den. This must be the room he had spent most of his time in. Her mother was already there, and plates of hors d’oeuvres and drinks were already set out on tables.
“I hope you don’t mind, dear, but I’ve taken the liberty of planning a little celebration party this weekend,” George said. “Noelle’s and Jasmine’s families are coming in on Thursday.”
A fist clutched in Senetra’s stomach. A party? Parties instantly thrust her back to Timothy. Timothy would observe every move she made so that he could complain about them and punish her once they returned home. She still had a ways to go, she realized. Her grandfather was wealthy, but he wasn’t like Timothy. She relaxed a fraction. But would he like her?
Senetra sipped on the wine he handed her and smiled her thanks. Before Timothy she never second-guessed herself. She didn’t worry about whether the people who should love her would stop if she did the wrong thing or talked to the wrong person or made the wrong comment.
/> The counselor she saw after she first left Timothy said change and confidence would take a while, but it would come back. Parties in Homer hadn’t intimidated her. The people were less formal, everyday people.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Senetra said. This was a new day. She was good enough.
“In two days, I’m flying to Milwaukee to see my lawyer. I also asked if he could arrange for me to talk to the lawyer who is representing the woman who killed Timothy,” Senetra said.
“Are you sure?” her mother asked.
“If they need me to testify, I will. She must have lived through hell with him.”
“I think that’s commendable. Dorothelia and I will go with you.”
“I appreciate it, but I know you’re busy here. I can take care of it.”
“But you have to face his family. I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Alex is going with me,” Senetra said. Alex had been a rock. He’d taken another week off to make this trip with her. But she knew she could handle Timothy’s family if she needed to.
Senetra spent two days in Milwaukee. Her lawyer informed her that she now owned the house she and Timothy had shared, as well as the rest of his estate. To his family’s dismay, he’d refused to change his will.
“Here’s the key,” her lawyer said.
“I’ll go there today,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to,” her attorney informed her. “I can handle everything for you.”
She shook her head. “I need to go.”
At first she thought she’d never go back to Wisconsin. But she had to know if one of the books her father made for her was still there.
Her hand trembled as she stuck the key in the lock. Alex placed his hand over it. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
Senetra nodded and they twisted the lock together. She’d expected things to be different. Different furniture, paintings, antiques. But it was all the same, down to the vase on the foyer table, holding flowers now dried and shedding. The water in the vase had evaporated.
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