“I’m talking about heading back to San Diego because there are some things I need to check out. Things I didn’t remember until this morning.”
“Okay, so why is everyone so glum about it?”
“Because, babe, it’s not safe and we can’t protect McCoy when he’s there.”
Throwing her hands up in the air, Ryley huffs. “Archer, yes I’m looking at you, too, Nate … you guys, come on. Tucker is a big boy and if he needs to go back to his home then you let him.”
“Thanks, Ryley.”
She sends a wink in my direction.
“But what about meeting with your PI?” Cara is the logical one. “She’s already uncovered things the others couldn’t, or wouldn’t. I’m sure she’ll have more.”
“I won’t be gone long. I just need to check out a few things that I didn’t before.”
“I’ll go with you. You can’t fly yet, but I can escort you on the plane. I’ll have to make a few calls, but it can be done.”
“I can take the bus,” I say to Cara. “I don’t want to take time from you and Nate.”
Cara brushes off my statement and gets up from the table.
“I’ll go, too. EJ and I haven’t seen my parents in a while, and I can do some wedding stuff down there.” Ryley’s words cause Evan to freeze. The Archer brothers are going to kill me.
“Ry—”
“Don’t, Archer. If, and that’s a big if, Frannie is there, which I doubt she is, I’ll be with Cara. EJ will be safe at my parents.”
He sighs, knowing he won’t win this battle with her.
“Okay, we’re all set,” Cara says when she comes back into the room. “Tucker McCoy, your under arrest.”
“For what?” I balk.
Cara shrugs. “Don’t know, but I thought it’d be funny to say that. Either way, you’re in my ‘custody’ although that doesn’t really mean anything since we just faked the documents.”
“Gotta love the government.” I’m trying not to laugh at the situation, but it’s funny. I can’t fly because the government doesn’t accept that I’m alive, but yet they let a Federal agent escort me on the plane. It’d be easier if they just gave me my driver’s license back.
THE REST OF MY day went on as if I never heard the name Ted Lawson. I focused on my tasks, greeted each customer, made the best sandwiches, and did it all with a smile. When Chloe’s classmate came in to get a milkshake while she waited for her dad to get off, I happily made it and listened to her talk about her day and what her and Chloe did during recess. Her chatterbox mouth and sweet smile reminded me why I did what I did—to save my daughter.
When Laura returned and the nighttime crew showed up, I hesitated at the counter, staring at the newspaper. I didn’t want to touch it for fear the dirtiness of Lawson would get on me and taint the life I’ve built, but I had thoughts of sitting in the courtroom during his trial so I could see his smug face as his verdict is read. But I won’t. I’ll never see him again and if I do, I’ll kill him.
My drive home is quick, which doesn’t allow me much time to decompress and gather my thoughts before I see Ray and Chloe. I have to keep a straight face, show that I’m solid so he doesn’t ask questions. Ray needs to see that I’m his doting wife despite how I’m feeling on the inside.
When I enter the house, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread surrounds me. The benefit of being married to a teacher is that he’s off before I am and can start dinner. It’s how we’ve always done things and I’m not complaining. Dinner was never my forte anyway.
“Dinner smells good,” I say as I step into the kitchen through the mudroom. One thing I had to learn when it comes to living in New England—there are extra doors and odd rooms. While most people enter through a front door, homes here have two and you use the one attached to the mudroom so you can take off your coat and shoes before you enter a home. It took me a long time to remember that.
“Hey, you.” Ray comes to greet me, taking my bag and setting it on the back of the chair. He gives me a soft kiss and I try to return it, but my feelings are muted right now. If he notices he doesn’t say anything.
“Dinner, which is pot roast, will be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“Okay, I’m going to go upstairs and check on Chloe.”
“Wait, before you go.” Ray reaches out and grasps my wrist, keeping me from leaving the kitchen. “I heard from Bob today. He said that Adam came in for lunch.”
Everything in me turns cold. Of course Adam is going to share with Bob, Ray’s friend, that I freaked out at the store today. We live in a very small town where word spreads fast.
“Yes, Adam comes in almost every day. Why would today be any different?”