by Kate Benson
“Which is exactly why I don’t want to do that yet,” I agree. “She just broke out of a rehab facility for patients with emotional and addiction disorders. What do you think will happen if the police find her before we do?” I ask. “Even if she’s had time to calm down and is ready to hash things out, they’re not going to listen to her.”
“He’s right,” Chase agrees. “If they catch up with her first, they’ll just lock her up someplace a hell of a lot worse than where she just left and none of us will be able to do anything about it. This entire situation will steamroll into an oblivion of shit if that happens.”
“Exactly,” I nod. “If we don’t hear anything soon, we’ll revisit filing a report, but right now this needs to stay close. At least until I get back.”
“Get back?” Sophie asks, her head whipping around to face me. “Where are you going?”
“The last place she was happy,” I swallow hard, simultaneously wishing the memories to both remain and cease as I face them once more. “I’m going to Paris.”
Chapter Thirteen
Analise
I’m not sure how long I lie there, how long it takes for me to fall asleep, but by the time I wake, the light seeping in from outside has begun to fade into darkness.
I immediately welcome it.
I rise from the floor and take a quick glance around me, the trees outside casting a shadow across the living room that scared me as a child only comforting me now.
I take a moment to secure the dusty old curtains covering the front windows. After, I move toward the kitchen, lighting two candles and placing them strategically, giving myself enough light to do what I need done.
I’m still slightly drunk, so I take my steps slowly, swallowing the same emotion I let consume me when I first arrived as I make my way toward the back of the house. When I step through the back door, I’m barraged with memories all over again, this time bittersweet.
I shake those away, too, still not willing to feel.
If I let in the good, the bad will inevitably follow.
I can’t let that happen again.
Not yet, at least.
With a long and heavy breath, I push my feet forward until I reach the old shed out back. My eyes dart toward the car I’d parked behind the old, low-hanging trees at the back of the property. It looks untouched, still concealed and I let myself breathe easier for a moment as I unlock the door to find what I need.
It doesn’t take long to find the small stack of dry firewood. For a moment, I’m grateful Drake had kept his promise of helping Jack make sure my parents’ house was taken care of, but I don’t let the feelings linger.
“At least he kept his word about one thing,” I whisper to myself, the anger and hurt radiating through my chest.
Between my lack of appetite, the remnants of the medication I’d been on and the onslaught of emotions still coursing through me like a wildfire, I stagger slightly as I move a few large pieces toward the house. It takes some patience, something I’ll readily admit I’m short on right now. However, in less time than I think, I’ve managed to build something small enough to go unnoticed. Hopefully, it will also be enough to keep the house warm for the rest of the night.
The sun is setting quietly over Camden as I make my way around the house. I secure the shed and make sure I’m still alone, that no one has found my temporary hiding place. I come to a slow stop beneath the old willow tree that laid claim to this property decades before any of us ever did and I take a seat on the swing, staring out into the horizon. The feel of the small plank under me as I sway in the breeze is familiar yet brings little comfort to my heart.
I’m not sure how I got here, how all of this became my life.
Right now, I’m not even sure the answer to that question matters.
While there’s a huge part of me currently being consumed by anger and resentment, there’s the other part that’s resigned to the fact that he’s with my best friend. That all those texts I sent to Chase did was force them out of hiding and straight into each other’s arms. Maybe I should be grateful to be rid of them both, but as I sit beneath the same tree that gave me shelter watching the oranges and pinks fall over the earth, I don’t feel better about anything. How can I feel better when it all feels so alien?
I guess I can’t.
I can’t and somewhere deep down, I know I won’t as long as something inside me is still searching for clarity that may not exist.
Moments pass and finally, I lift from the seat, my feet moving of their own accord back toward the house. My mind is elsewhere, stuck on the same memories that have dominated my thoughts for days. I’m so consumed, I almost don’t notice the footprints leading to the porch in the dark. I glance back out to the gravel and for the first time, I see the tire tracks I’d missed before in my mind-numbing grief.
Someone’s been here.
Something deep within my soul tells me it was my husband, but I shake it immediately as I shut the door behind me.
If Drake, or anyone else for that matter, cared enough to come for me, why do I feel so alone?
Drake
“Sir?”
The flight attendants voice pulls me from my thoughts, the same thoughts that have been coursing through me for days on end.
Or maybe I should say thought.
There’s only one thing on my mind right now.
Analise.
“Sir, we’re preparing for takeoff,” the attendant continues, her eyes softening as they take in my disheveled appearance. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“No,” I answer low, the rasp in my voice making it sound alien, even to me. “Thank you.”
“Certainly,” she smiles back, though it doesn’t change the compassionate edge to her gaze. “If you think of something, be sure to let me know,” she continues, pulling a nod from me as I secure my seatbelt and move my gaze to the window.
The sun is setting, the same sun I’d watched glisten over her hair so many times as it took my breath. Images from our honeymoon flash across my mind, the way she laughed with such freedom as she settled across my lap on the balcony just outside our suite as we watched the sun descend back into the earth. Her arms wrapped around me, her head nuzzled into the crook of my neck as we watched the world turn dark before our eyes.
“I love you, husband,” she’d whispered, her lips pressing to my jaw and pulling my gaze to hers.
“Hmm… I love you, wife,” I’d hummed, swiping away the tears streaming over her cheeks. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, Sir,” she promised, tucking herself back into me. “Happy tears. I’ve never been so happy in all my life,” she whispered sweetly, pressing her lips to my neck before gazing up at me once more. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Thank you for coming with me,” I replied, brushing her chocolate hair away from her eyes. “Thank you for belonging to me, my sweet Analise.”
“It’s an honor to belong to you,” she sighed, her eyes falling closed in contentment as she held on to me, the sunlight drifting away ever so slightly from her olive skin. “I’ll follow you anywhere, Drake Mitchell. I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”
“Me, too, baby,” I whisper gently to myself as the plane begins to lift from the ground. “Me, too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jack
“Hey babe,” I say as I come to a slow stop at the light, doing my best to stifle a yawn. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Jenna replies. Her soft voice echoing through the speakers soothes me almost instantly. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just on break and hadn’t heard from you in a little while, so I thought I’d check in.”
“That’s sweet,” I sigh, smiling small to myself as the light changes and I hit the gas once more.
“Yeah? Well, I try,” she teases, broadening my smile. “Any luck?”
“No, not yet,” I answer, hating the words.
I’d already called her with an update after Drake left and had spent the da
y searching all over Corpus for any sign of Ana, but with no success. To say I’m worn out on every level is the understatement of the century.
“Just keep breathing,” she reminds me. “She’ll call you soon.”
“I hope so,” I reply, clearing my throat of the emotion still residing there. “I’m not far from your mom’s house, so I’ll call you once Eli and I get back to the apartment.”
“Thanks, baby, but you don’t have to do that,” she argues gently. “You’ve had a rough couple of days, and I wasn’t sure how late you’d be, so she’s keeping him until my shift is over.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I can be there in five minutes and there’s no way I’m sleeping yet.”
“No, I know, but you need a break. Why don’t you come up and see me at the bar? I’ll buy you a beer and you can take a load off for a while.”
“I don’t know, baby,” I breathe. “I really should keep looking around here to see if I can…”
“You’ll be no good to anyone if you run yourself ragged,” she cuts me off. “You’re burning out, Jack. You need a break. If you don’t take one, I’m going to annoy the hell out of you until you do, so you might as well just get it out of the way. I don’t want to be that girlfriend, but I’m not beyond nagging the shit out of you.”
“Wow!” I laugh, her concern warming my heart. “Listen to you getting pushy.”
“Well, what the hell do you expect?” she counters. “I’ve barely seen my boyfriend in two days, and it’s been a horrible day. Will you please come?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my eyebrows crinkling together in concern as I take the turn that will take me to her. “Why’s your day shit?”
“It’s nothing. Just my boss is getting on my ass about stupid crap and… it doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you when you get here. Just stop arguing with me and come up here already!”
“Well, what if I don’t want to?”
“Why the hell wouldn’t you want to?” she counters, causing the corner of my lip to curve up. “Did you miss the part about me missing you and the free beer?”
“No, I heard you, baby, but if I appease you, you might not be in the mood to boss me around later,” I tease. “It’s pretty fuckin’ hot, baby.”
“Don’t worry. I’m always in the mood to boss people around,” she promises playfully. “Now get your ass up here and give me some attention.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am,” I husk out, the giggle leaving her lips telling me I don’t have to see her cheeks to know they’re radiating with crimson. “I’m already on my way.”
Jenna
“Sergeant Walker, reporting for duty,” he husks from the other end of the bar, making my mouth spread into a wide beam as I turn and move toward him.
“At ease, handsome,” I smirk, reaching up on my toes to meet his lips over the bar. “Pull up a stool. I’ll grab you something.”
“Okay, but gimme one more,” he replies, reaching for my neck and holding me there, making me laugh against his lips as he showers my face with affection. A patron from the other end of the bar beckons me and he reluctantly releases me, sharing my sigh. “I guess that’ll have to do for now.”
“I’ll be right back,” I promise, popping the cap off his beer and setting it in front of him, savoring in the way his lips turn up slightly on one side and his lopsided grin widens along with mine.
A moment later, I make my way back over to him and am grateful for the light mood he’s been able to find. We spend the next half hour making small talk, me doing all I can to distract myself from asking him about his day and where it’s taken him for fear of bringing his stress back full force.
When I spoke with him earlier, actually any time I’ve spoken to him since all of this happened with his sister, he’s not been himself. Instead, he’s been wrapped up in worry, rightfully so. I understand it, but I also know there’s only so much worry one heart can take. I know I can’t fix all of this, but maybe I can help give him a couple of hours where he isn’t consumed by it.
“I know you want to know about where I’ve been all day,” he begins, seeming to read my thoughts. He releases a sigh as he leans over the bar, exhausted. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, babe,” he promises, taking my hand in his for a moment before he brings it to his lips to give my fingers a gentle kiss. “But is it alright if we wait until later? On the way home or even in the morning?” he asks. “I’ve got nothing to hide. You know where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing, I just…” he trails off, shaking his head. “I think you were right. I just need a couple hours to not think about this shit. It’s been driving me crazy, Jenna.”
“I think that might just be one of your best ideas yet,” I reply quietly, my eyes moving from our linked hands to find his already staring back at me. “In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d accuse you of reading my mind there, Sarge,” I wink, making him return my small smile. “So, yes. I’ll agree on one condition.”
“Hmm?”
“You don’t have to talk to me about anything stressful all night, but in return, you have to promise to take me on a date soon.”
“Where you wanna go, sugar?” he replies, his lips still turned up, but morphing into a sultry, seductive smile before his eyes trail over my body and move back to mine, winking as the beer bottle lingers in front of his full lips. “I’ll take you right now.”
“Oh, my God,” I manage in a rasp, my knees weakening almost instantly. “Stop it. You’re going to get me fired.”
His laughter comes out easily and tugs at me deep, his eyes never wavering from mine.
“Hey, you started it,” he chuckles, though his eyes still trace me without shame. “But yes. I’d love to take you on a date. Any night you choose, baby. We’ll do whatever you want.”
“Thanks,” I manage, moving away from him to tend to a customer. I’m heading back over toward him when the office door behind the bar swings open, revealing my boss.
“Jenna, did Fiona get here?” he asks, pulling a nod from me.
“Yes,” I answer. “She’s out on the floor getting an order. Do you need her?”
“No, I need to talk to you,” he replies, the sound of his already gruff voice not much more pleasant than usual. “Have her cover the bar for a few minutes. I need to see you in my office.”
“Yes, sir,” I nod, forcing a smile.
He ignores it, instead pulling the door shut in time to miss my eye roll. I gesture toward Fiona, asking her to come up at the same time I move back toward Jack.
“Everything okay?” he asks, making me shrug in response.
“Hell, if I know,” I admit, drying my hands on my apron before taking it off and handing it to him. “Would you hold this for me until I get back?”
“Of course,” he nods, taking it from me and thanking me for the fresh beer I push over the bar toward him. “Don’t stress, babe. I’m sure it’s fine. You never do shit wrong to anyone.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t really matter much to him most days,” I sigh, swallowing my annoyance. “But thanks.”
“Chin up, buttercup,” he winks, his use of the antiquated term making me smirk. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Hey,” Fiona says, her voice breaking his spell on me for a moment as my eyes move toward her. “You need me?”
“Ron needs to see me about something in his office,” I sigh. “Can you cover the bar for a few minutes?”
“Eww,” she says, her face morphing into an expression that quite perfectly describes how I’m feeling at the thought of being in a small space with our boss. One look into her blue eyes tells me she already understands. “Yeah, girl. I’ve got you.”
“Thanks,” I answer, giving her a friendly pat on the arm before I move toward his door.
I tap on it quickly, yet quietly, a small part of me hoping he won’t hear me at all, and I can just finish my shift and go home, avoiding this altogether. As he calls out with a cranky mumble, demanding I come i
n, I’m reminded I’m simply not so lucky.
“You wanted to see me?” I ask as I poke my head inside.
“Yeah,” he replies, spinning around in his dingy office chair that’s probably as old as I am. “Close the door.” Dammit. “Sit down. This is probably going to take a minute.”
I glance around the small space, at a loss for where I’m supposed to sit until finally leaning against the edge of the file cabinet in desperation.
“Is everything oka-”
“I’ve been looking at these numbers, Jenna, and sales are fucking ridiculous,” he cuts me off, his voice filled with annoyance. “What the hell? Are you pissing people off or watering down the drinks or something?”
What the actual fuck?
“No,” I shake my head. “Not at all.”
“Well, then explain this shit to me,” he demands, gesturing toward the outdated spreadsheet. “How did our sales drop seven percent in less than two months?”
“I’m really not sure,” I admit. “I know losing Mel really hit us hard. When she and the guys were playing here on the weekends, we’d make up for the slow midweek sales, but without her…”
“Didn’t you tell me you had something else lined up?” he cuts me off again. I try to answer, but he doesn’t let me. “If I’d known you weren’t even trying to resolve this, I’d have taken care of it myself.”
“I did find a local girl, but she fell through. Something about scheduling issues,” I explain. “I’m still looking.”
“And?”
“And I’ve been a little preoccupied with my son, but…”
“You said you had this, Jenna,” he interrupts again. “That’s why I gave you the promotion. I was about to hire someone, and you told me you’d step up. If you need me to hire someone else and cut your hours…”
“No, Ron. I’ve got it,” I shake my head, taking my turn to interrupt him this time.
