by Lisa Jordan
“No thanks needed. Your family needed you. It was the least I could do. After all, you offered me a second chance when no one else would.”
“We serve a God of second chances.”
“I’m sorry about costing you a family from the Kids & Canines training class.”
Leona waved away her apology. “Good riddance, I say. If they can’t show grace and respect toward my best girl, then I don’t need their business.”
Zoe straightened. “Leona, you can’t afford to turn away business because of me.”
“Sure I can. Zoe, listen to me. You have amazing skills, and it’s about time people started seeing and benefitting from them.” Leona reached down to her side and pulled a sheaf of papers out of the bag by her feet. She pulled off the binder clip. “While I was at my parents’, I emailed a letter of apology with a discount coupon for a future class. I also expressed my thanks for your willingness to step in at the last minute. I asked the parents to fill out an evaluation form.”
Leona leafed through the papers. “Here are a few comments. ‘Zoe showed patience and skill with our dog and with our daughter.’ Here’s another. ‘Zoe’s approach helped my son get our dog to sit after only one lesson, strengthening his confidence.’ Here’s one of my favorites. ‘Zoe’s charm and one-on-one training helped my daughter overcome her fear of our dog.’”
Leona dropped the papers into her bag and turned to Zoe, smiling. “I’m so proud of the work you’re doing here, Zoe.”
“Thank you, Leona.”
“No, thank you, Zoe. You’re the most talented dog handler I’ve seen in years.”
Like a withered plant thirsting for water, her battered spirit was showered by Leona’s words, soaking her with hope. She smiled, but didn’t move, almost afraid that if she did, then the feeling would disappear.
Now if only she could stop aching for Sully.
Zoe stood and leaned against the railing. “Thanks for letting me know, Leona. I appreciate it.”
“I want you to take the rest of the week off, paid. It’s the least I could do for all you’ve done.”
Three days off? What would she do besides spending it moping about Sully?
“That’s very generous, but I’d prefer to work. Seriously.”
“Girl, you are seriously dedicated.”
More like stupid. Stupid to fall in love with a guy who painted her with his ex’s brush.
Tires crunched on the gravel. Zoe leaned back to see who was coming and spied a black sedan.
Sully.
What was he doing here?
Her heart picked up speed, but she forced herself to remain calm.
Seconds later, he rounded the side of the cabin with his head down and hands shoved in his pockets. He did a double take when he saw her on the front porch.
He wore jeans with a rip in the right knee and a flannel shirt over a navy T-shirt. Circles shadowed his eyes. Lines etched his forehead and around his mouth. At least she wasn’t the only one who looked like death.
Leona stood and gathered her bag and cup, her eyes zipping between the two of them. “Well, I need to get to work. Think about what I said, Zoe. Take advantage of the downtime.”
Zoe gave her a quick hug. “Thanks, friend.”
As soon as Leona walked to her car and backed out of the parking space, Zoe squared her shoulders and faced Sully, her insides a trembling mess. “You’re the last person I expected to see this morning.”
He pressed one foot against the edge of the bottom step and rubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, well, I tossed and turned all night. I acted like a jerk last night and wanted to apologize. I was stressed-out from being at that hospital with my dad, and then those pictures...”
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. A coil of hurt unfurled in her stomach. “You made assumptions and wouldn’t let me explain.”
He met her glare with a steady gaze. “In my line of work—and after being married to an alcoholic—I’ve heard more excuses and explanations than you could possibly imagine. So I guess I’ve become a bit cynical.”
“Ya think?”
He threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know what else to say, Zoe.”
“How about believing in me? You were so quick to defend me before, but now you have doubts?” Tears simmered behind her eyes, but she wasn’t about to let him see her cry. A slow burn simmered in her veins. Her heart throbbed. “I am not your ex-wife. I’ve been working hard to overcome my past.”
“I’m sorry.”
“My friend Gina called and asked me to meet her at The Sassy Cat. I couldn’t violate my sentencing agreement, so I parked in the lot next to The Sassy Cat. I never entered the bar, nor did I step foot on the property.”
“But the pictures—”
“Forget those pictures, Sully. I’m telling you I wasn’t inside that bar. I never had a drink. That bottle was Gina’s. I took it from her and grabbed her to keep her from face-planting on the pavement.”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“About this—yes, you are. I know you’re stressed about your dad. I can forgive that, but you didn’t even give me a chance to explain. I thought you of all people believed in me, Sully.”
“I do, Zoe. I do. But those photos were pretty incriminating.”
“They definitely did their job, didn’t they?” She didn’t even try to ease the threads of sarcasm that tightened around her words.
“I screwed up. I hope that doesn’t change things between us.”
Was he serious?
“Of course it changes things.” She tossed her hands up and paced the length of the porch, her voice growing louder and words coming faster as she moved. “It’s apparent you don’t trust me. At least not about this. You’re just waiting for me to go back to that old life. You’re expecting me to be like Val and choose the bottle over you.”
“No, Zoe. It’s not like that.” He jogged up the steps and reached out to touch her.
She jerked away. “Don’t touch me. Yes, it is, Sully. I truly thought we were going somewhere. I was beginning to see a future for us. Now I’m the one who was the idiot.” This time she didn’t try to hold back the tears that slid down her cheeks.
Tires crunched on the gravel driveway.
She went weeks without visitors, and now she had at least three in one day.
Two doors slammed. A pair of uniformed Shelby Lake police officers rounded the corner of the cabin.
Her limbs trembled. Pressure built up behind her breastbone as her heart picked up speed.
What were they doing there?
Zoe recognized one of them as the same one who delivered the custody petition to her parents. Officer Reynolds. And the other was Sully’s neighbor who confronted him at the go-kart track. Turner.
Sully stepped in front of her. “Guys, what’s going on?”
“Step aside, Sullivan.” Officer Turner elbowed past him and withdrew cuffs from his utility belt. “Miss James, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent...”
She tuned out the rest of the officer’s Miranda warning as he slipped the handcuffs on her wrists, the shackled metal spiraling her back in time. But, unlike the last time she was arrested, this time she was innocent. Her eyes darted from the officer to Sully, who watched with sorrowful eyes.
“But I didn’t do anything.”
Why wouldn’t anyone believe her?
The Jacobys finally figured out how to get their revenge. She couldn’t go back to jail, but there was no way she could prove she was innocent. Gina had been too drunk to remember anything, so it was Zoe’s word against everyone else’s.
As the officer tucked her into the back of the patrol car, she shifted a glance to Sully.
The despair he wore cinched what she�
��d realized upon waking that morning—there was no hope for a future with him.
* * *
Caleb stared into his cooling cup of coffee, still trying to make sense of what had happened this morning.
Seeing Zoe in handcuffs caused his stomach to churn. There was nothing he could do about it.
Was she as innocent as she claimed?
After leaving the cabin, he had driven to The Sassy Cat and parked in the lot next to the bar. From what Zoe said, it was possible for her to be close by and help her friend without actually stepping foot on the other property.
So why was he so quick to accuse her?
Didn’t matter now. She wanted nothing to do with him. The future he imagined with her evaporated like the morning mist over the lake.
The door to the suite in the family house across the street from the hospital opened, and his sister walked in carrying fast-food bags. The scent of grilled burgers and French fries singed his nose.
Sarah had come back to his place early that morning to grab some clothes. She offered to keep the girls while he went and apologized to Zoe. When he returned, she convinced him to pack up the girls and bring them to the family house. Seeing the smile on Mom’s tired face wiped away any indecision he may have had about pulling Ella out of school for a couple of days. Mom and Sarah promised to help take care of them. Between the three of them, they could take shifts sitting with Dad and entertaining the girls.
Dad remained in the cardiac unit to monitor his heart activity after the stent had been placed. Too bad there wasn’t a fix for Griffin’s broken heart.
Sarah laid a hand on his shoulder. “Why are you looking so mopey? Dad’s going to be fine. The doctors are pleased with the outcome of the procedure. The next seventy-two hours are just monitoring his heart activity.”
Caleb dragged a hand over his face and set his coffee on the side table. “I have no doubt about Dad. He’s too stubborn to let something like a heart attack slow him down.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
He hadn’t told Sarah what happened this morning. Instead he had hurried to gather clothes and toys for the girls, hoping by keeping busy he wouldn’t feel the guilt gnawing him from the inside out.
Caleb pushed to his feet and walked to the front window overlooking the street. He shoved his hands into his pockets and watched the traffic. People entered and exited the hospital. A jackhammer pounded up chunks of asphalt as a road crew redirected the road patterns so they could fix the street.
He blew out a breath, then turned to his sister who joined him at the window. “You were right, Sarah. Just try to hold back your gloating.”
“What was I right about?”
“Zoe.” He told her about the pictures, his accusations, his attempt at an apology and then Zoe’s arrest.
“Caleb, I’d never gloat about anything like that. I’m so sorry you’re hurting.”
“I feel so helpless.”
“What happened wasn’t your fault. Besides, you need to protect the girls.”
“Zoe would never hurt them.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she’s not like that. She loves them. She takes care of animals. She helps her family at Agape House. She teaches little girls how to get dogs to sit. She reads her Bible on the porch in the rain.” The more he talked, the more a pain gripped his chest.
“Then why did you freak out about the pictures if you believe that?”
“Because I’m an idiot. I was stressed-out about Dad and tired from the drive. And, yes, I’ve had some reservations, but they’re more about what others would think or say, not about how I feel about her.”
“Why are you telling me and not her?”
“There’s this little thing called family. You may have heard of it?”
She shoved her elbow in his ribs and smiled. “Jerk. Seriously, though, our family won’t fall apart if you leave for a while to talk to Zoe. Mom and I will take care of the girls.”
“You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”
“Dude, that’s what family’s all about. Just let us help. I’m sure the time will come when you can pay me back, but for now, go fix that girl’s broken heart.”
Caleb shoved his hands in his pockets. “What if she doesn’t want to see me? What if it’s too late?”
“You’re not a quitter, so don’t give up now. If she’s truly the one, then fight for her. Prove you believe in her.”
He looked out the window and reflected on what his sister just said. Other than using his words to convince her, he wasn’t sure what else to do or say.
His eyes drifted over the street. Something caught his attention. He squinted, and then a smile spread across his face. He turned to Sarah. “I know how to prove Zoe’s innocent.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Other than just taking her word for it?”
“This will prove it to the judge.” He pointed out the window. “There’s a security camera on that pole. I know there’s one facing the parking lot Zoe was in. I saw it earlier, but it didn’t register until now.”
“Good. Now get out of here and go play hero. You have a lot of sweet talking to do.”
After talking with the girls about where he was going and promising to come back, Caleb headed for his car. Zoe was definitely worth fighting for. Now he’d convince her they were worth fighting for, too.
Chapter Fourteen
Dressed in flannel pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt after her shower, Zoe padded downstairs with Harper at her heels, hoping she’d never have to feel a prison uniform against her skin again or hear the clank of cell door being closed, trapping her within its restrictive confines.
Unfortunately her days in the courtroom weren’t over. After she had been arrested and booked, she spent the night in temporary holding. Thankfully she had been one of the first to go before the judge this morning.
She had called her parents yesterday before being escorted to her cell. Seeing them in the courtroom this morning filled her with shame at having to put them through the same business again. Dad must have called his attorney, because Ralph Emerson appealed on her behalf. The judge set her bail, which Dad thankfully paid. Otherwise, she’d have to stay locked up since she hadn’t saved up enough yet. She hated being more indebted to him, but what choice did she have? Now she had to wait for her arraignment hearing.
In the meantime, she was determined to bind up her broken heart and put one foot in front of the other to show the judge today she was innocent of the accusations. First, she needed an infusion of caffeine.
She started the coffee, and while it brewed, she took Harper outside and grabbed the morning paper. With no internet or cable at the cabin, the paper allowed her a glimpse of what was happening in the community and around the world.
Zoe poured a cup of coffee into her favorite mug, added a splash of milk and carried it to her favorite corner of the couch.
She unfolded the paper and took a sip as she smoothed out the front page. It read: “Agape House—Convict Rehabilitation or Ruin?”
Zoe jerked up, sloshing coffee on her thigh. Her heart hammered as her throat threatened to close. She slammed her coffee on the table. Ignoring the spilled coffee on her leg, she gripped the newspaper with two hands.
A grainy black-and-white photo of Zoe and Gina in The Sassy Cat’s parking lot was shown under the bold headline. Another photo showed Gina being taken out of her trailer on a stretcher.
The article stated the background of Agape House—how her family had worked with the community to have it open before her release. Then the article went on to give details about her arrest and conviction four years ago, including a picture of her in handcuffs.
The article questioned whether Agape House was truly a benefit to society, or if it was offering ex-convicts a stepping stone back i
nto their former lives.
Heat infused her face chased by a clamminess that slicked her skin. Her blood boiled.
This article wasn’t responsible reporting with its misleading information and half-truths. The only solid facts were that Agape House was founded by her family before her release and her conviction charge. Everything else was conjecture and lies by a “reliable source” close to the family.
Whose family? Not hers, that’s for sure.
Tabloid journalism.
Didn’t the Shelby Lake Gazette hold itself to a higher standard? What was that editor thinking by approving this article?
But headlines sold, and this one was a doozy.
Davis Jacoby had to be behind this.
Her attempt to help her friend had combusted. Zoe worked her tail off to become the kind of person who could hold her head up with pride, but all she managed to accomplish was bringing more shame to her family.
What was going to happen to Griffin when he heard about this? He didn’t ask for any of this, yet he had to deal with the rumors and whispers.
Not to mention her parents, her dad’s insurance business, Ian and Agnes. All of them would be the subjects of town gossip and tainted because she’d tried to help a friend. And Sully would read the article, and it would only reaffirm his suspicions all over again.
Her chest tightened. Her breathing came out in irregular gasps. The feeling like she was falling swirled through her head, making her feel woozy. She tossed the paper on the cushion and dropped her head between her knees.
Sully said she needed to stop running and stand up for herself, but he didn’t get it. Staying here created problems for those she loved.
She needed to leave this town and not look back. Make a fresh start where no one knew her name.
But where would she go?
Didn’t matter. Any place had to be better than here.
But what about Griffin? Her parents? Ian and Agnes? Sully and the girls?
She’d miss them all terribly, especially Griffin. With very little money and no destination in mind, she couldn’t take him with her. Besides, he’d been doing so well in her parents’ care. He’d be better off without her.
