by Dawn Atkins
Beth Ann felt bad for him and embarrassed, too.
“You know what I did? I got back into my car with balloons bobbing every which way and I cried like a baby. That’s how sad I was.”
She felt even worse.
“Can you imagine how glad I was when Serena’s mom told me you’d called Serena? I told Serena to talk more to you, but her mother threw away her phone. Can you believe that?” He shook his head. “I found you after all, so that’s old news.” He smiled like he’d won a prize. “It wasn’t your fault your mom made you run, Bethie. She didn’t realize that I’m better. I’m not mad about prison either because the judge saw the mistake and let me out. So that’s all over and we’ll start fresh.”
He made it sound okay, and she felt a little less scared. Her arm began to sting from the scratches. Her body wasn’t so shocked now.
“Feel better?” he asked.
She nodded. He could see her fears and feelings so easily.
“I wrote you a lot of letters in prison, but your mom kept them from you.”
She didn’t know about any letters.
“I was afraid of that,” he said, reading her face. His eyes got angry, but he smiled at her. “But it’s okay now. I can say it all in person now. The first thing—and I didn’t put this in my letters because it’s just between us—is about the night of the accident.”
She sucked in a breath, scared of what he would say.
“You left the door unlocked for me when you went next door so I could talk to your mom and we could have Family Night at Carcher’s. Do you remember that?”
She nodded, her heart jumping into her throat.
“Except your mom wouldn’t listen to me and she fell and bumped her head.” He looked hard at Beth Ann. “Did you tell your mom that you let me in the house?”
She shook her head.
“Because you were afraid she’d be mad, that she’d blame you for the accident, right?”
“Yes,” she whispered, feeling dizzy and nervous and scared.
“She might blame you, but I don’t. You did what I asked you to do to help our family. So don’t give that one more thought.”
“Really?” It was like he’d gotten into her brain and saw the blackness about The Terrible Thing and washed it all away. Tears made it hard to see.
“You poor thing. I want to hug you, but I bet you need more time to get used to me.” He sounded so sad, but he was right.
He even understood that.
“We’ll just keep this our little secret, okay? Mommy can be unforgiving at times. So, that’s two secrets I’m keeping for you, isn’t it?”
There was a funny look in his eyes, like he’d cheated and seen her poker hand and knew he could beat her. That made her uneasy.
“How about you pay me back a little? Can you do that?”
“I guess.” What did he want?
“All I need you to do is help me to talk to your mom, let her know that you trust me and want us to be a family again. She’ll be jumpy at first, you know, but if you show her everything’s fine that will help all of us.”
“I’ll try,” she said, taking a jerky breath. Maybe it would be okay once her mom knew about the pills and how her dad wasn’t mad about prison.
“Good. Because I have so many great plans for us. I found us a new house. It’s not quite ready, so we’ll stay with your grandmother until then.”
“We’re going to Grandma Price’s?” That would be amazing.
“Grandma Warner’s. Grandma Price’s house is too…well, small.”
“Oh.” Her heart sank. She didn’t like Grandma Warner. She had mean eyes and made suggestions that made Beth Ann feel small and stupid and clumsy. Maybe they wouldn’t stay there long.
“Is the new house near Grandma Price? Can I go to my old school?”
“No, no. It’s in Sacramento.”
“Oh.”
“But you’ll love it. And you can pick out your furniture and decide what colors to paint your room. Won’t that be nice?”
She nodded, looking down.
Her dad was silent for a moment. “Would that make you happy? To live in Barstow? Go to your old school?”
She raised her eyes to him.
“Maybe I’ll see if there’s a house there we might like.”
“That would be great!” It made her want to sing. She’d have her old life back, but in her own house with her mom and her dad.
Then she thought of something else. “Can I bring Louis? The cat?” That would make it almost perfect.
He hesitated. His eyes went back and forth, but he said, “If it makes my little girl happy, it makes me happy, too.”
“That’s so great.” She almost wanted to hug him now. She’d have Louis and Serena and her old school and a new house with furniture she picked out and they’d never have to run again.
“And tonight, we’ll stay in a resort with a water slide. You still like water parks, don’t you? You’re so big. I miss the little girl you were.” He looked so sad that her stomach jumped.
“I like water parks a lot!” She used to ride on his shoulders as he walked into the deeper part, so she felt like she was flying over the water.
“Good.” He looked at his watch. “Okay. The diner closes in an hour. Your mom should be back around then. Here’s the rest of how you’ll help me. You can tell time, right?”
She nodded.
“We want the cook and dishwashers gone, so let’s make it four o’clock. I’ll be waiting on the porch at four for you to come get me and we’ll go up and surprise your mother.”
“Surprise her?” Her mother might freak out.
“Don’t say a word now. You keep my secret and I’ll keep yours.”
“Okay.” She swallowed over a dry throat.
“That’s my big girl. Are you all packed to go?”
“Not yet.”
“Get to it before your mom gets here. And don’t forget your swimsuit.”
Beth Ann climbed down from the tree and went to the café, a fluttery feeling in her stomach. He’d made it sound so easy, but it didn’t feel easy.
How did he know when her mom would be back? And that they were packing to leave? Her fluttery stomach turned upside down.
She wanted to lock the café and never let her father inside. Keep my secret and I’ll keep yours. She had to do what he said.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EVAN WAS WAITING for Cara at the café delivery door when she got back from her wasted trip to Tucson. He handed her the keys and took off for his shift at the bowling alley.
Inside, she saw he’d left buns to be bagged and a messy kitchen.
She blew out a breath, irritated all over again. She’d wasted an entire afternoon on a fool’s errand. Commercial Kitchens leased kitchen space, period, the leasing agent told her. He seemed honestly puzzled by the claim that someone had told her they wanted to sell her pastries. If someone had scammed her, it wasn’t him.
Since she was there, he gave her a tour of the facility and she talked to a woman who rented space to make fruit tarts she sold wholesale. The idea had gotten Cara thinking. She’d need a business loan, but someday she might try to sell her good-luck buns herself.
That would have to be down the line. Right now she needed to pack before Jonah and Rosie returned in a couple of hours. She trudged up the stairs, dreading the goodbye supper she’d promised Jonah. She should have said no, but there’d been this look on
his face, as if when he returned he would have figured out how she could be safe and they could be together.
Which was impossible and they both knew it. She wasn’t sure she had the stamina for another goodbye. She already felt raw and lost and alone without him.
Up in the apartment, she put the café keys on the kitchen table, then removed Rosie’s apartment key from her keychain. Her fingers tightened around the bear Jonah had whittled. It was always warm to the touch, as if he’d embedded his love into its very grain. It had a calming effect on her. So did the rocking chair. If the bear was Jonah’s protective spirit in her hand, the rocking chair was his loving arms wrapped around her.
They would load it into the trailer tonight and in the morning, she’d drive away from this place and the people she’d grown to love forever.
Cara ate a green jelly bean for luck. She would need it. She went down the hall to check on Beth Ann. Her daughter jumped up from the bed like she’d been caught doing something wrong.
“What’s the matter?” Cara asked.
“Nothing. I’m all packed.” She looked feverish.
Cara touched her forehead. Clammy. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m going to watch a show, then go out and get Louis and be right back.”
“Okay…” What had gotten into her? She’d been sad about the move, not jumpy like this.
Rosie’s chicken-shaped kitchen timer was clucking on Beth Ann’s nightstand, set to go off in fifteen minutes. Cara looked at her watch. What would happen at four o’clock? Maybe the show Beth Ann watched?
Very weird.
She noticed a plastic sack next to the clock. Inside, Bunny sat on top of the comic books Rosie had given Beth Ann. Bunny was back, signaling Beth Ann’s need for comfort.
It couldn’t be helped. Cara would make it up to her once they got to Phoenix. As she left, she noticed the peace-sign night-light. That might help. Bending to get it, she saw Beth Ann’s puzzle box in the wastepaper basket. Why had she tossed it? The box rattled, so she clicked the secret buttons, opened it and found…a cell phone and power cord.
Beth Ann had a phone? Why? And why didn’t Cara know about it? Her heart racing, Cara powered it on and scrolled the calls, finding Serena’s number more than once. Beth Ann had talked to Serena.
Furious, Cara took the phone into the living room to confront Beth Ann, but she wasn’t watching television. Cara went downstairs after her. She was heading for the café door when she heard voices. Through the glass, she was horrified to see Beth Ann looking up at Barrett, who was holding her hand.
Cara’s heart lurched in her chest and her legs turned to liquid. She shoved the phone into her pocket just as they entered.
“Cara!” Barrett said. “You spoiled our surprise.”
“What are you doing here?” she choked out.
“I came for my family,” he said cheerfully.
He’d aged dramatically. His hair was gray, his face gaunt and lined, his eyes sunken. He was thinner, but she could see huge biceps under the half sleeves of the silk shirt he wore.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Beth Ann said. “He takes pills so he can’t get mad. And he forgives us and everything.”
Barrett gave a false chuckle. “Let’s not blurt out all our news at once, Bethie. How about we sit?” He motioned toward a booth. Hearing him use that nickname made Cara feel ill.
“Go on upstairs, Beth Ann,” she said in as steady a voice as she could manage. “So your father and I can talk.”
“She needs to be part of this,” Barrett said, steel lining his words. “She’s been left out too long.” He led Beth Ann to a booth and she scooted in. Barrett motioned for Cara to sit opposite her, his smile as bright as the polka dots of the new upholstery, but cold as ice. His gesture caused the hem of his shirt to snag on something.
A handgun in a holster.
She gasped.
Barrett noticed and adjusted his shirt, looking to be sure Beth Ann hadn’t seen. “You can’t be too careful these days,” he murmured to Cara. “Please…sit.”
Cara crossed in front of him, her blood slowing to sludge. She was in a nightmare trying to run in quicksand. She sat down and Barrett hemmed her in, an arm across the back of the bench.
“Now isn’t this better?” He squeezed her shoulder, a gesture that he meant to appear affectionate but was intended to show her his power over her.
Cara’s head felt as though it floated six inches above her neck. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt her ribs. The rest of her had gone numb.
She forced herself to think, to analyze escape options that wouldn’t frighten Beth Ann. She had the phone in her pocket. She could call for help.
For now, she would go along with Barrett. As long as they didn’t cross him he should remain calm.
“Don’t be mad, Mom,” Beth Ann said in a small voice, looking at her with worried eyes. “Please.”
Cara managed a smile. “I’m not mad. Just shocked.”
“We expected that, didn’t we, Bethie?” Barrett shifted his body so he could look straight at Cara. “On the other hand, I was disappointed to learn that you hid my letters to my daughter.” He made a tsk sound. “Not kind. Not kind at all. She was frightened of me.”
Cara didn’t speak. Didn’t dare. She needed to orient herself, prepare for what came next.
“But I forgive you,” Barrett declared smugly. “For all of it—for prison, for never writing back, even for running away. You’re breaking the law, you know, keeping my daughter from me. I could have you arrested.”
“No!” Beth Ann’s eyes went huge. “Please!”
“I’m just making a point,” Barrett said. “As I said, it’s all forgiven now.”
He was manipulating Beth Ann to control Cara. It was outrageous, but she forced herself to speak calmly. “Isn’t it risky for you to leave California while you’re on parole?”
His face went very still, like it had before he slapped her the first time. Had she gone too far?
He closed his eyes, then opened them. They burned with rage, but he smiled. The effect was chilling. “I appreciate your concern, but I obtained permission to travel to Arizona to assess a business opportunity. It was for you, as a matter of fact. I’m investigating ways for you to sell your famous rolls.”
“It was you? You set up the meeting?”
To get her away while he talked to Beth Ann. He was cunning. She knew that. How could she ever outsmart him?
“That’s how we found you. Your lucky rolls.” He babbled on about how his mother had been at a spa and seen the news, but he was clearly lying. She realized Barrett had probably lied constantly when they were married, but Cara had been too naive to see. At least she’d matured that much.
“Kudos on your success,” he continued. “I want you to know that I can support you in your little hobby, as long as it doesn’t interfere with our family.”
She could hardly believe this was happening. Barrett sounded like they’d had a minor spat and would go on as before.
He no doubt wanted to take them with him. If she could delay until Jonah and Rosie got here, there should be enough confusion to allow her to get Beth Ann away from him.
“I’ve changed, Cara. That’s what you need to understand....” He kept talking, his voice hypnotic, explaining that he had a condition that made him lose his temper, but he had mental techniques and pills that corrected it.
She didn’t buy one word. She’d seen the malevolen
t predator behind the charming facade, like a dark figure passing a lit window. She would not be fooled again.
“Now he can’t get mad,” Beth Ann threw in.
Barrett chuckled. “Not quite, Bethie, but close. I also discovered what you have, Cara. I had lots of time to read in prison, as you can imagine.” He paused and fury flashed like lightning in his eyes. “You have histrionic personality disorder, characterized by excessive emotionality, hysteria and paranoia. That’s why you see danger where none exists. It wouldn’t be fair to blame you. Just like you can’t blame me for my condition.”
“He can’t help it, Mom. But he fixed it.”
Barrett smiled. “Very good, Bethie. And Cara, I will pay for your therapy and the medicine you need to manage it. All’s well that ends well.”
Meaning he would drug her into submission.
Despite the horror she felt, Cara kept a neutral face while Barrett spun his twisted tale. If anything, he’d become more dangerous, pretending forgiveness when what he had to want was revenge. Her poor daughter didn’t have the tools to realize that. For her sake, Cara had to placate the armed monster at her side.
She flashed on a memory of Jonah’s eyes, full of warmth and kindness. So different from Barrett. How had she ever compared the two men?
Her time with Barrett had made her doubt her own instincts. Jonah had helped her see her strengths.
“Beth Ann and I want us to be a family again,” Barrett said. “I know that’s what you want, too. So, will you give us a fresh start?” He gave her that sunny smile she couldn’t believe she’d ever fallen for.
She had to buy more time. “This is a lot to think about. How about I fix us some supper? We can catch up while we eat.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have time.” He glanced at his watch. “In fact, your mother’s waiting for us just outside town in a rental car.”
