Lynn wasn’t sure what startled her: The sound of Sharon’s voice or the loud thuds she made as she sat items on the coffee table. She opened one eye from her position on the couch and squinted against the bright light overhead.
Sharon wasted no time in nudging Lynn’s legs off the couch, forcing her to sit up or crash to the floor in an undignified manner.
With a moan, Lynn glared at her friend. “Seriously? You couldn’t let a girl enjoy her sleep of oblivion?”
“Nope.”
As though Thai were in on it, he meowed and deftly jumped onto Lynn’s lap where he made himself comfortable with a rumbling purr.
Sharon handed Lynn a spoon. “I’ve got ice cream, Twizzlers, egg rolls, and pizza bites. Oh, and ice-cold root beer. Pick your poison.”
The selections were carefully laid out on the coffee table. “Lorelai Gilmore would be impressed.” She jabbed her spoon at the ice cream. “Can’t let it melt, can we?”
Sharon smiled as she handed over the carton. “That’s the spirit. So how long are you going to just hide out in your house and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist?”
Lynn ignored her for several bites. The combination of mint and chocolate melted on her tongue. This wasn’t going to fix anything, but there was no denying that chocolate never made a bad situation worse, either.
“It’s only been three days.” She nodded toward her window where the blinds were closed and curtains drawn. “I’ve seen a number of cars drive past, slowing in front of my house. And you told me that there were people milling around in the parking lot at the day care center. What else am I supposed to do?”
Sharon raised an eyebrow as though Lynn ought to know the answer already.
When Sharon had told Lynn about the extra people looking for her at the daycare center, she agreed to let Lynn take the week of vacation she’d accumulated, hoping that things would die down and Lynn could return to work after that.
Lynn wasn’t convinced. If these people had stayed interested enough for two years, another week wasn’t going to deter them.
Yes, she’d rather stay in her house, have the local grocery store deliver to her front door, and be glad she had nowhere to be.
Even if it meant constantly holding onto her phone and checking the screen just in case she’d somehow missed a call from Nathan.
Nothing so far.
She shouldn’t have been surprised, but not hearing from him and not seeing Mia at the center doubled her pain and loneliness. “Is Mia doing okay?”
“She is.” Sharon took a bite out of her licorice whip. “She’s missed you, though.”
Lynn almost asked about Nathan but stopped herself.
Apparently her thoughts were written on her face, because Sharon patted her shoulder. “Nathan has looked around for you, too. I told him you had taken a week of vacation.”
“I appreciate that.”
So Nathan knew where she was. He had her number. He was choosing to not contact her. It’d only been three days, but it was difficult to not let that sting. Everyone else had walked away from her—or pushed her away. Why shouldn’t he be any different?
“Hey, that ice cream had finally done it’s magic. Don’t go getting sad on me again.” She got a fresh Twizzler and tried to shove it into the pint of ice cream in Lynn’s hand. “He just needs some time. You can’t blame the guy.”
“I know.” It didn’t make waiting any easier, especially when one of the possible outcomes might mean not ever talking to him again.
~*~
Jeb couldn’t have been happier when he’d watched Bethany’s guy leave her house Sunday evening, especially when it was clear he was upset. Jeb’s plan to disrupt everything and push Bethany out of her comfort zone had worked.
There was one side effect he hadn’t counted on, however.
It’d been four days, and she still hadn’t left her house. Other than a quick glimpse of her when she answered her front door for groceries or her friend, he hadn’t even seen her.
She was free now. Free to be herself. Free of that low-life she was always hanging around.
She was free to realize just how much she loved him.
But she couldn’t do that stuck in her house. Bethany had to go back to work eventually, right?
By Thursday, he was getting more than a little impatient. After sleeping in his car outside Bethany’s house two nights in a row, he’d finally gone back to his hotel last night. A shower and change of clothes had been mandatory.
He also took the time to write a letter to Bethany. At the bottom, he signed it and taped one of her guitar picks to the paper.
Now he sat in his car across the street, waiting for the right time to leave the letter. The moment presented itself when pizza delivery arrived. Jeb jumped from his car, jogged across the street, and caught the driver before he’d even gotten out of his own car.
“Hey, fella. You mind if I take that in to her?”
The driver gave Jeb a quizzical look. “I’m supposed to deliver it directly to the person who placed the online order.”
The kid was young, and Jeb had a feeling a large tip would probably persuade him. He took a twenty out of his wallet. “I’ll give you twenty bucks if you let me surprise my girlfriend. I wanted to put an engagement ring on the pizza.”
Without hesitation, the driver smiled, took the money, and handed over the pizza. “You got it, buddy. I hope she says yes.” With a tip of his hat, he returned to his car.
Jeb glanced toward Bethany’s house, thankful for the first time that she kept her blinds and curtains closed.
Once the pizza delivery kid was out of sight, Jeb went back to his car, taped his letter to the inside lid of the pizza box, and closed it again. After getting a baseball cap from the back seat, he placed it on his head, pulling the bill down far enough to hopefully hide his features.
With his stomach in excited knots, he walked to her front door and knocked.
The moment she opened the door, he breathed in the fruity scent of her shampoo and savored being this close to her. Even if she didn’t yet know who he was. Yet.
“I was about to call and see what happened. You are fifteen minutes past the time I was told it would be delivered.”
It didn’t matter what she said, the words still sounded like music to Jeb’s ears. He wished he didn’t have to wear the hat or he’d be able to see her pretty eyes better. “Sorry about that. Boss said you could have the pizza free.”
That brought a smile to her face as she reached for the box. He didn’t want her to open it until she’d gone back inside and he escaped to his car. Hopefully she wouldn’t bother checking a free pizza.
“Thank you. I should at least get you a tip.”
“Nah. It’s all covered. Have a great night.”
“You, too.” She flashed him another smile and went inside.
Jeb jogged across the street again, ditched the hat, and moved the car. The last thing he needed was for her to spot it right after getting his note.
He headed for the hotel again. Sad to leave her behind, but bolstered by finally receiving another one of her beautiful smiles.
~*~
The smell of pepperoni and olives floated from the pizza box making Lynn’s stomach rumble in anticipation. She’d been eating mostly sandwiches all week and couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into some pizza for a change. She placed the box on the coffee table where a plate, napkin, and something to drink were already waiting.
With her favorite show on and paused, she sat down eagerly and lifted the lid of the box.
Her eyes immediately went to the guitar pick with her old name on it, and she dropped the lid again. The sound of blood rushed in her ears as her heart raced. She continued to stare at the box for several moments before opening it again, careful not to touch the piece of paper.
Hunger pains were immediately replaced with nausea as she read the note.
Bethany,
I’ve waited years to see you again. Know t
hat other guy wasn’t good enough for you. But I’m here. All you have to do is embrace your music again. Embrace who you once were. You’ll see how much we belong together. I’m always here for you.
Forever Yours,
Jeb
“This is a nightmare.” She shook her head, never taking her eyes off the box as though it might open up again on her own.
Had this Jeb been the reason she was bombarded at the restaurant the weekend before last? Or were hints of her whereabouts what brought him to the area in the first place?
Either way, it was clear he wasn’t going anywhere.
Perfect.
She’d call and report this to the police, although she knew what they would say. They’d take the report and regretfully inform her that there was nothing they could do since Jeb hadn’t done anything nefarious.
Instead, she dialed Sharon’s number. After briefly trying to tell her what happened, Sharon stopped her and said, “We’ll be right over. Don’t go outside until we get there.”
As if anyone had to tell Lynn that.
Thai rubbed against her shins, causing her to jump a foot. She glared down at him. “You’d be much more useful if you were a watch dog.”
Twenty minutes later, she ushered Sharon and Walt into the house before shutting and locking the door securely behind them. “Thanks for coming over. You guys didn’t have to do that.” She was glad they had, though. “Here, I’ll show you the pizza.”
Sharon and Walt read the note, a combination of shock and disgust on their features. Walt got his cell phone out and handed it to Lynn. “Go ahead and call the police. This needs to be reported.”
Lynn nodded and withdrew her own phone. “I know, I just wanted someone else to see this besides me. Especially since the police would probably take it all with them.”
She spoke to them on the phone while Walt snapped pictures of the pizza box and note.
When Lynn hung up, her friends waited expectantly. “They said they’d file my complaint, advised me to take pictures, and call if he does anything threatening.” Frustrated, she collapsed on the chair again and resisted the urge to give the pizza box a good kick.
Sharon frowned. “At least we have a first name. I really wish you’d come stay with us for a while.” She gave Lynn a sympathetic look. “Have you called Nathan?”
“He all but told me not to. Said he needed time to think.” Lynn shrugged as if it were no big deal. She didn’t convince herself, much less anyone else. “What? I’m not going to call as though I’m desperate. Or use this as a way to guilt him into talking to me.”
What she really wanted was for him to check on her, find out about the pizza, and get all indignant and protective on her behalf. Was that really so much to ask?
She’d gone over their conversation in her head again and again. She’d tried to see it all from his perspective and knew that, if roles had been reversed, she would’ve been hurt, too. She totally got it.
But that didn’t make it any easier.
Sharon put a comforting hand on Lynn’s shoulder. “He misses you, too. Trust me.” When Lynn turned hopeful eyes to her, Sharon continued, “He always looks around for you when he drops Mia off. And when he doesn’t see you, even though he knows you’re on vacation, he looks disappointed.”
Maybe it shouldn’t have, but that offered Lynn a little comfort. “How’s Mia doing?”
“She’s well. She misses you, too. She’s not nearly her happy, bubbly self this week.”
Lynn felt bad for the little girl. It’d been weird not going to work, but even weirder to not get her Mia hugs. “Not seeing them this week has been like torture.”
“Just hang in there, girl. This isn’t going to last forever. Meanwhile, since we don’t live that far away, you and I are going to carpool to and from work next week. That way you’re never alone coming in and out of your place.”
Walt agreed. “We can meet up with you over the weekend if you need to get groceries or anything like that.”
Lynn relaxed a little and smiled at her friends. “You guys are awesome. Thank you.”
Knowing she wouldn’t get ambushed on the way in or out was helpful. But if Jeb hung on this long, another week probably wasn’t going to dissuade him. And Sharon couldn’t take Lynn to work forever. “I wonder how much a couple of cameras at the front and back doors would cost? You know, the kind that records movement and things like that.”
Walt pulled his phone out. “Let’s take a look.”
Chapter Thirteen
A hand on his shoulder brought Nathan back to the present and Saturday dinner at Chess’s house. Only then did he realize he’d been staring at Mia and Anna playing with blocks on the floor. He turned his head to find Chess watching him with a concerned look on his face.
“I’m fine.” Nathan hoisted himself from the overstuffed recliner. “Just tired. Mia has developed an aversion to sleep the last couple of nights.”
“A phase.”
“Hopefully a very short-lived one.” Nathan yawned. Of course, he was having difficulty sleeping himself since his date with Lynn almost a week ago. If Mia hadn’t had him hopping last night, there was no guarantee he’d have been sleeping instead.
It’d crossed his mind that Mia might have been having trouble sleeping because she’d missed seeing Lynn at Little Lambs every day last week.
Or maybe that was just him.
He suppressed a sigh.
“Have you talked to Lynn at all?” Chess, always the blunt one.
Nathan had to admit he often admired that about him. “Nah. Sharon at Little Lambs said Lynn was on vacation this week. I figured maybe she needed the space.” As he said the words, he knew that he wasn’t being truthful and cringed. It was him who needed the space. He figured a few days would be good to think about their situation. Maybe gain some clarity.
Except the proverbial waters hadn’t cleared up one iota all week.
One glance at Chess revealed his older brother knew better.
Brooke walked over and wrapped her arms around her new husband’s waist. “For the record, she’s probably drowning in all that space you’re giving her. Trust me.”
Chess pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her closer. “There’s such a thing as letting too much time pass. It’s going to make it harder on Lynn, you, and Mia.” He tilted his head toward Anna and the little girl.
“I was hoping I’d have some things figured out this week. You know? Come to some conclusions and feel at peace with them.”
“How’s that working out for you?” Chess raised an eyebrow.
“Point taken.”
Joel announced his presence when he cleared his throat. “Sometimes, it’s impossible to reach a conclusion if you’ve still got unanswered questions.”
“I know you’re right. You’re all right.” He had a lot of questions. The problem? Lynn was the only one who would have the answers. It didn’t matter how long he waited or how much space he gave her. But seeing her again, being near her, wasn’t going to be easy, either.
He’d had many conversations with Chess about the ways Nathan’s adopted parents lied to him all the way through his childhood. Mia’s mother only increased his distrust. To discover Lynn had been lying to him all along, too, was hard to swallow.
Mia started fussing at Anna, shaking her head when Anna introduced a new game. Nathan moved to retrieve his daughter but stopped when Chess walked up to him.
As though he’d been listening to Nathan’s thoughts, Chess said, “Promise me you’ll talk to Lynn and get things straight before you lump her in with the others.”
Nathan nodded once, his thoughts spinning. He hadn’t considered that before, but Chess wasn’t wrong. As soon as Nathan heard Lynn hadn’t told him everything about her past, he’d assumed she was just like everyone else who had lied to him.
He was still convinced there was something Lynn wasn’t telling him. But he hadn’t given her a real chance to, either. Or at least given her some reason
to believe he’d be able to move past it all.
He sighed as he reached for Mia and tried to console his daughter. After being up half the night, she was no doubt ready for a nap.
Everyone else seemed to sense he needed some time to think. He moved to the room Chess used for a home office and walked back and forth as he rubbed Mia’s back. His daughter slowly relaxed against his chest until her even breathing announced she’d finally fallen asleep.
Only then did Nathan open himself up to the possibility that there was more to all of this than just Lynn lying. Was she as miserable as he was right now?
As Mia slept in his arms, Nathan prayed for himself and Mia. And then he prayed for Lynn.
~*~
Lynn glanced at the clock. Nathan and Mia would be at Chess and Brooke’s house for the family dinner right about now. Was it silly to feel lonely and a little left out?
She gently stroked Thai’s fur as she pretended to focus on the show on television. It was a good thing she’d seen it more than once before, otherwise she’d have no prayer of remembering what this episode was about.
After the whole pizza box incident, Lynn was happy to stay at home. Walt had installed a couple of cameras so she could keep an eye on the front and back doors. Even so, she was starting to feel a little closed in. It was one thing to choose to become a recluse, it was entirely another to be forced into her new role as shut-in.
Thai was practically snoring on her lap. Even though her own foot was falling asleep, Lynn refused to move and wake him. If only she could sleep so peacefully.
She had just returned her attention to the television when her cell phone rang. Unsure of the number, she went ahead and answered it. “Hello?”
“Bethany?”
Lynn blinked at the sound of her mother’s voice. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d spoken on the phone. “Mom? Is everything okay?”
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Your sister collapsed and they think it’s her heart.” Mom’s voice shook. “I felt you should know.”
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