Maid by Mistake

by Miley Maine

  The story did not surprise me at all. I expected no less from Tyler.

  Once she was done describing how he became sheriff, she patted my cheek and we got to work. Forty-five minutes later, I was wiped out. “Sit down,” she said. “You deserve a little treat.”

  “It’s not a traditional pie for the holiday, but it’s a nice pick-me-up,” she said. “And it’s my best dessert.” She pulled a dish out of the refrigerator. “It’s my key lime pie.” She dug around in a large bag that she’d brought with her, and pulled out paper plates and plastic forks. “No extra dishes.”

  While I watched, she cut a slice and added a heavy scoop of whipped cream to the top. She sat the plate in front of me. “Now. Try that.”

  Despite my worry over Tyler’s long absence, my appetite was back in full force. I put one hand on my stomach as I eagerly cut into my slice. I savored the tart taste of the lime on my tongue, contrasted with the sweet flavor of the whipped cream.

  Little baby, your grandmother is an amazing cook. I could eat this all day.

  I swallowed and licked my lips. “I think you should have done all the cooking today,” I said.

  She laughed. “I’m glad you like it. But it’s not everyone’s favorite. Besides, I’ve cooked plenty of Thanksgiving meals. Tyler said this was your first.”

  “It was. I --” I stopped talking as my phone buzzed. Hoping it was Tyler, I grabbed my phone.

  I need a ride home from the ER. Tell Barrett to come get me. He didn’t answer his phone.

  That was all the text said. There were no details, no context, nothing.

  Like hell I was going to tell Barrett. I was going to get Tyler myself. I stood up so fast I got dizzy and had to grip the edge of the table.

  Tyler’s mother was at my side instantly. “What is it?”

  I held up my phone, letting her read the text. “Oh dear,” she said. Her arm came up around me again. “It’s okay. Whatever happened, it’s not too bad if he’s leaving the ER. Right?”

  She was correct, but it didn’t make me feel much better.

  Be there soon, I replied.

  Tyler must have been heavily medicated, or else he’d have demanded to speak to Barrett himself, on my phone.

  I dumped the empty paper plate in the trash.

  “I can go with you,” Mrs. Whittaker said.

  “No, you stay here and enjoy the rest of your day. I’ll get your son, and bring him back home.”

  She hugged me, a full body hug. It would have been bliss, if I hadn’t been so worried. She must have forgotten that I was on lockdown, and not allowed out without an escort. However, I was not about to take Barrett away from protecting her and Abigail. I slipped out of the house undetected.

  Stomach churning, I got in my BMW and headed toward the hospital, which was about thirty minutes away from Pine Hills.

  The ER wasn’t crowded. The ERs in Chicago were always chaotic. Maybe Thanksgiving in a rural area wasn’t a holiday that caused a lot of excitement.

  It didn’t take long for a nurse to take me to Tyler. He lay on a bed with his head wrapped up in a white bandage. His shirt was off, and a thick white bandage was also wrapped all the way around his torso, and there were scratches all over his hands.

  I rushed toward him. “What happened?”

  “It was Christopher.”

  “You knew when you left.” I didn’t even need to ask; I could see the truth in his eyes.

  “Yes. I knew.”

  “That’s why the detective came to get you.” I looked around frantically. “Where is he? Is he okay?” If one of Tyler’s co-workers was killed because of me, or even badly injured, I’d never get over it.

  “He’s fine. He’s at the station, handling the paperwork. He’s been on the phone with the Chicago PD and the FBI.”

  “So Christopher is in custody?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I sank into the hard plastic chair by his bed. “How are you? Were you shot?” It didn’t seem likely, unless it was just a graze.

  “No. I was able to get the gun away from him. But he stabbed me.”

  I bowed my head and rested it on the edge of the mattress. “I’m so sorry.”

  He tangled his hand in my hair. “It’s my job. And I told you, I’ve had worse. This piece of shit is far from the worst I think I've dealt with.”

  “That war wasn't my fault. This is.” I lifted my head to glare at him. “This part of your job wouldn't exist if I hadn't come here.”

  “Nothing about this is your fault.”

  “It absolutely is my fault. I brought this asshole to your town.”

  He put his hand under my chin and lifted it. “You think it makes me feel any better to think of you alone somewhere, running from this monster?” He closed his eyes briefly. “I’m trained, Ava. I know what I’m doing. And he still got me.”

  I sniffed again, trying to hold the flood of tears at bay. I was in love with Tyler. There was no denying it now. I wanted to be with him, and I wanted to raise our child together. We just couldn't get our shit together, and neither of us was in the habit of telling the truth at all.

  I opened my mouth to confess the truth about Jenny, and to tell him I was pregnant, but he sat up and scowled. He looked all around the room. “Where is Barrett?”

  “I left him at the farm with your mother and sister. Before you get mad, he didn’t know I was leaving.”

  He fell back against the pillows and closed his eyes. “I’m still going to kick his ass.”

  While we waited for the discharge papers, I sat and held Tyler’s hand, just grateful that the man I was in love with had survived the attack from a mobster who wanted me dead.

  Thanks to Tyler, I was still alive, and so was our baby. I just had to find the right time to tell him he was going to be a father.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Tyler

  This fucking sucked. I was supposed to be protecting Ava, and I was doped up on pain medicine. It was bad enough that I had to leave all the legwork to the detective, now I couldn't even drive. When Ava parked the car at my house, Barrett was waiting for us on the front porch. “Tyler! Good to have you back man.”

  “We’ve got all the pie out for you,” my sister said. “Ava’s pecan was magical, the pumpkin was great, and the cherry cobbler smells amazing but I’m too full to eat it. And mom snuck a key lime pie over here for Ava. She might let you have a piece now that you’re all scuffed up.”

  My mom came up and put her hands on my cheek. “Hey honey, are you feeling okay? Do you need to lie down? Everyone was so excited that you’re coming back they planned board games and desserts.”

  Everyone stared at me expectantly. One glance into the living area showed the stack of board games they had dragged out.

  I felt like shit. I was not going to be playing any games. And Hell, I hated disappointing my family and my friends. But I had to get them out. Now. It wasn’t smart for all of us to be in one place.

  “I’m sorry everyone. I did make an arrest today. But I’m afraid the conflict may not be over. For your own safety, I need you to go home.”

  A collective groan rose up.

  “Believe me, I'd rather be here with all of you stuffing myself, but it's not a good idea.”

  “We’re happy to get out of your space for a while, but we all had a few after dinner drinks,” my mother said.

  Abigail piped up too. “I don’t think any of us are fit to drive except for the fire chief.”

  Since he had his kid with him, I wanted him out now. “Where is Joe?”

  “They just left,” Barrett said.

  “Good I’m glad.”

  “Barrett, would you mind staying with my mom and sister tonight?” I had police crawling all over town, but no one had been able to find Carl yet. I had a feeling he was going to try and come after Ava tonight. I didn’t need any extra people to protect. Come to think of it, it would be best if Ava went with Barrett too.

  “Not a problem, but I do h
ave the overnight shift tonight at the station,” Barrett said.

  “I've already called and gotten some backup from Oak Lake Police Department.”

  He nodded. “Then we’re all set.”

  In the background, I heard my sister giggling. “Ava could you run me by my house?”

  “No,” I said. “That's not a good idea.”

  “It’ll be fine,” I heard her say. I wanted to argue, but the drugs were slowing down every cell in my body. I fucking hated the feeling of being out of control.

  “Ava. I want you to stay with Barrett too.”

  She kissed my cheek. “No. He has two people to watch out for, and I am not going to leave you.”

  My knees went weak, and I swayed. Hoping no one saw, I put my hand on the wall to steady myself. “I don’t want you here. I want you safe.”

  “Too bad.” She took my arm, and guided me to the couch, forcing me to sit down. “I am not going anywhere.”

  She got up. She had her car keys in her hand. Everything seemed very far away. “Ava. Please. Stay with Barrett. I can’t lose you. I love you.”

  I couldn't keep my eyes open any more.

  She pressed her lips against my mouth, but she didn't say the words back to me.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ava

  Oh hell no. Tyler had just told me he loved me. But he was on powerful narcotics. So did it even count?

  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his eyes had closed. I’d tried to shake him back awake, so I could tell him that I loved him too, but he was sound asleep.

  Just as we’d arrived home from the ER, my burner phone had rung. It was Jenny again.

  I was now convinced that it was Jenny I saw in the store a few weeks ago. I didn't know how she got down here, I don't know if she rode with Christopher, or if she followed him. All I knew was that I had to find her. I needed to get her away from those criminals before she was either arrested or killed. If Christopher was here I had no doubt that Carl was too.

  Now would be the perfect time to tell Tyler the truth about Jenny contacting me. But I'd lost the opportunity, he was passed out on the couch. I did not want to leave him alone.

  I wanted to concentrate on the car drive to Abigail's house, but she was chatty when she was buzzed. “Tyler really likes you,” she said. “Do you like him?”

  “Of course I do. He's a great guy.”

  “He's never been like this with any woman before. I think he's really into you.” Abigail sighed happily. “Wouldn't it be great if you both got married and you were my sister-in-law?” she asked.

  I was pretty sure I'd ruined any chance of that happening. But it was a really nice thought. And I was charmed that Abigail would want me as a family member.

  While she rambled, I called Jenny on my burner phone again.

  Once again, no answer.

  I watched Abigail make it safely into her house. I even went up to the front door and made sure she locked it behind her. “Drink some water okay? And don't open the door until Barrett’s here okay?”

  “Okay!” She yelled from inside.

  Satisfied that she would listen to what I said, I pulled my car back on the road. I cruised down Magnolia Street, avoiding the potholes that were made worse by the recent rains. The air was crisp and cool and I lowered the sunroof. In Chicago on Thanksgiving, the air would be far too cold to drive with the sunroof down.

  As I turned right onto Oak Street I glanced at the rearview mirror. There was a car following me. Shit. There was hardly anyone on the roads here today. If they were following me it was for a reason.

  The car was a black sedan. Nondescript. There were dozens like it, even in a town as small as Pine Hill.

  My heart picked up. Had I led someone to Abigail's house? Had I put her in danger? I was such an idiot. Why had I not learned my lesson and listened to Tyler? If I got his sister killed, I deserved whatever punishment he doled out for me.

  I grabbed my regular phone and dialed Barrett's number. I didn't bother with polite greetings. “Where are you?” I demanded.

  “I'm in Abigail's driveway. Why, what's going on?”

  “Is Mrs. Whittaker with you?”

  “Yes.”

  My heart slowed a little. They would be fine. “Okay. I don’t want to keep you. Just go in and get her okay?”

  “You sound weird. What's going on?”

  “Nothing. I'm fine I just wanted to check on Abigail. I shouldn't have taken her home alone, or left her there while she was tipsy.”

  “That's great, I'm glad you're worried about her. But I'm worried about you. If something happens to you, there won't be anything left of me to find once Tyler gets done with me.”

  “Barrett, you’re a good friend to him. And to me too. I’ve got to go.”

  “Ava, you tell me where you are right now.”

  Dammit. I could no longer concentrate on the road and talk to Barrett. I hit the ‘end’ button and dropped the phone.

  Fuck.

  My instincts have been correct. Someone was following me. But it wasn't Jenny. At this point I would have welcomed her chasing me.

  The truth was much worse.

  It was Carl.

  My father’s other partner.

  And he wasn’t going to let me get away.

  He accelerated the car.

  He got so close to me that I could see his vile face through the windshield. “You shithead,” I screamed. I’d made a home here. I had a family. I was in love. And now this bastard was trying to take it from me.

  Then he bumped into my car. My breath caught in my throat as my car jolted to the right. My small BMW had enough power to stay on the road, but a dinkier car might have spun right off.

  I accelerated. Surely my luxury coupe could outrun his generic sedan. I sped up, hitting sixty, but we were now on a residential street. Around this area, people were constantly jogging, riding bikes, and walking dogs. I wasn’t going to hit one of them to save myself.

  So it looked like outrunning the car wasn't an option. It was Thanksgiving Day, so the streets were quieter than usual but every now and then I spotted families gathered on front porches. They spilled out into the front yards. Maybe if they were there to witness what happened, Carl wouldn't be quite so awful.

  I had no choice but to crash into his car.

  I made sure my seat belt was tight and made sure the bottom strap was around my hips, and not over my stomach. I put my hand over my abdomen. “I’m so sorry, little baby. I really don't want this to hurt you. I'm going to do the best I can. After this, I'm going to start being completely honest with your father, and hope that nothing like this ever happens again.”

  The baby was obviously too small to react in any way, but I liked to imagine him or her understanding.

  This was a wakeup call for me. I was done making decisions alone. Now I had a family to include in my decision making.

  I took a very deep breath and tried to relax my body. I'd always heard a car wreck was more harmful if you tensed up. But staying relaxed when I was deliberately aiming to crash my car was a tall order.

  I held onto the steering wheel with both hands and yanked it to the right, slamming my car into his.

  Metal against metal screeched, and I flew sideways.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tyler

  I woke up with a groan as Sadie licked my hand. A stabbing pain erupted along my side, which made sense -- I’d been stabbed.

  The house was quiet. Too quiet. Ava?” I called out. “Ava? Where are you?”

  No response.

  I had a vague memory of Ava leaving with my sister. Of her pretty face right in front of mine telling me that my sister was buzzed and couldn't drive home.

  “Dammit. Ava. I fucking told you not to leave without Barrett. Why can’t you listen?” I said all of this to an empty house. Well, empty except Sadie. She lay next to me with her chin propped on the couch, wagging her tail.

  I struggled to sit up. This was far
from the worst injury I’d suffered, but the drugs had left me groggy. Once I was upright, I dug my phone out of my jeans pocket.

  No missed calls. Only a text from Barrett saying he had my mom with him, and he was headed to my sister’s house. At least one person would listen to me.

  I opened the app that allowed you to track the location of a contact, but nothing for Ava showed up. I’d added her weeks ago.

  I made sure the volume was turned up on my phone and stuck it back in my pocket. I pushed myself to my feet and began to pace. I couldn’t drive like this. But I had to get out of this fucking house and go find her. I reached for my phone again to call my neighbor and ask for a ride.

  It was pathetic that I’d let myself get stabbed by some mobster, when I’d made it out of a warzone. But my pride didn’t matter right now.

  Just as I was hitting the ‘call’ button for my neighbor, someone banged on my front door. I ended the call and hobbled to the front door as fast as I could.

  I felt every twinge. Now that I was up and walking, I realized the drugs had worn off. I was just groggy from sleeping in the middle of the evening.

  I pulled open the door, expecting Ava. But it wasn’t her.

  It was a young blonde woman. She was sobbing and saying something, but I couldn’t understand the words. Her hair was dirty and matted. Her face was gauntt, and her clothes barely fit her thin frame.

  I could probably get her to a shelter tonight. If none were open, I’d just have to get her a hotel room until I could get her a place to stay, unless she was mentally ill. In that case, I had a friend at the hospital I’d just left. If she was an addict, I had a friend who could get her admitted into a rehab program. “I think you have the wrong house, miss, but if you…”

  She started talking again, and I still couldn't understand her, but I was able to make out the name, ‘Ava.’

  “Slow down. Do you know where Ava is?”