“So you’ll be back home then?”
“No. And here’s the thing. I will help you but I have to do so on my terms.”
“Of course. You know I’ll do anything I can to accommodate you. You’ve helped me so much. Without you—”
She’d first met Yvonne in a therapy session at The Lighthouse women’s shelter—where she’d been a resident when she’d first moved to California, and then later, a volunteer.
“I’m...in hiding,” Jenna said, surveying her surroundings as she reached the Garden of Renewal, an exquisite piece of natural art set apart from the rest of the Stand’s property by a forest of trees. She’d never been inside the Garden. And didn’t go now, as there were sure to be other residents inside, sitting on the benches, enjoying the waterfall she could hear from the edge of the trees.
“From Max?” Yvonne sounded horrified.
“No! Of course not from Max. But he doesn’t know where I am and he can’t know,” she said. “This is nonnegotiable, Yvonne. You said someone has already been there asking about me. You won’t know where I am or have a way to contact me. I’m not going to put you in the position of lying about that part. I will keep in touch with you. We’ll have to find someplace safe for Olivia’s therapy, someplace no one would think to look. It’s vitally important that I can trust you not to tell anyone when or where that happens.”
“Of course, I’ll do whatever you need me to do, you know that.”
Making arrangements to be in touch with the other woman after surgery, Jenna finished with, “I’m sorry it has to be this way....”
“Don’t you dare be sorry. This isn’t your fault. And the fact that you’re still willing to help us...”
“I...thank you.”
“You’re in danger from your abuser aren’t you?”
She’d known there would be questions. Yvonne wouldn’t let a fellow survivor hide without support.
“I... Max and Caleb... I’m not good for them. I need them to be free to pursue a life without me.” It was what she’d written in the note she’d left. She had to stick to her story.
But as she said the words, as she ended the call, Jenna was bereft. Each step she took was a step further from Max. She’d left him free to pursue a life without her.
Which opened the door for another relationship. She’d only been gone a few days, but there was no end in sight at this point. And what woman wouldn’t want to step into her shoes?
Max was not only a financially solid, kind and decent man, he was also deliciously sexy. And a doctor to boot.
Thoughts tumbled one on top of the other.
Max didn’t like to be alone. Women rarely left him alone.
He also had a son to raise. One who needed a mother.
As she once again contemplated the dangerous possibility that Max could replace her before she had a chance to complete her mission, Jenna faltered.
If he did find someone else, she’d have to find a way to be happy for him.
Jenna put one foot in front of the other and walked on.
CHAPTER NINE
CHANTEL CALLED SUNDAY morning just like Max had known she would. He’d just settled Caleb in his chair with breakfast.
“Things were busy here last night,” she said, “but I wanted you to know I’m making enquiries, trying to find someone I know who knows someone in Las Vegas.”
“Whatever the cost, if you need to hire someone...I realize you can’t just drop everything for this,” he said, pacing the living room while his son sat at the kitchen table with a glass of milk and a pile of vanilla wafers in front of him.
Not the best breakfast, but not the worst, either. At least Caleb was eating. And watching a cartoon on the tablet that was propped up on the kitchen table.
His parenting skills sucked at the moment. He got that. But a guy had to do what a guy had to do.
And right now he had to find his wife.