“This is the new spin I learned in ballet this week, Miss Maddie. Look, look!” Cady did a lopsided twirl that sent her red pigtail braids flying.
“That is amazing,” I said as I wiped down another table. “Maybe you can show me how when I’m done.”
Cady bobbed her head up and down. “I can totally-wotally show you! I tried to get my best friend, Charlie, to do class with me, but he says he doesn’t like ballet. You could do it, though!”
I chuckled at the image of me wearing a tutu in a ballet class with a bunch of five-year-olds. “Hey, is Charlie’s last name Hartley?”
She nodded her head enthusiastically as she twirled some more. “Charlie Landon Hartley. We’ve been best friends since the first day of kindergarten.”
My heart clenched at that. Would Cady fall head over heels for Nash’s nephew and have her little heart crushed if he didn’t feel the same?
Aspen grinned down at her daughter. “Never seen two kids ask for more play dates.”
I chuckled. “The Hartleys are good friends of mine. Charlie is the cutest and so nice.”
Aspen’s smile widened. “I’ve only met Charlie’s dad, Lawson, and Charlie’s two older brothers, but they seem great.”
“Lawson’s the best. Luke and Drew can be troublemakers, but they’re good kids.” I swiped my rag over the last table. “I think that’s it.”
“The kitchen is all clean, so I think we’re good to lock up,” Aspen agreed.
I looked over at her. “Thanks for coming back after picking up Cady. You really didn’t have to—”
She reached out and squeezed my arm. “You aren’t alone in dealing with this. And I know you’d have my back if the roles were reversed.”
I’d had to walk Aspen through a brief overview of what was happening with Adam since there was a chance he could show up here again. She’d been understanding and empathetic. She’d also told me I wasn’t going to be closing alone anytime soon.
“I like working at the café,” Cady added helpfully. “I’m a good worker.”
I laughed and booped her adorable little nose. “You are the best worker.”
Her little chest puffed out. “Did you hear that, Mama?”
“I did.” Aspen lifted her daughter into her arms. “I think you’ve earned an ice cream sundae for dessert. What do you say?”
Cady pumped her fist in the air. “Yes, yes, yes!”
I grinned. “Sounds like a good reward to me.”
We grabbed our purses and headed out. We were only parked a few vehicles apart, and Aspen waited while I climbed into my SUV. I gave her a wave, and she got Cady into their station wagon. I waited until Aspen was behind the wheel and then pulled out.
As I wove my way back to the cabin, I breathed a little deeper. I’d been on edge all day, just waiting for Adam to show his face. But I hadn’t seen a single glimpse of him. Hope flared somewhere deep. Maybe work had called him away, and he’d forgotten all about me. It was a naïve hope, but it was far better than the alternative.
I turned into my gravel drive and made my way to the cabin. Searching the surrounding area, I didn’t see any signs of another soul, so I got out and hurried to the door. Unlocking it, I stepped inside and locked it again. Air whooshed out of me. Home. Safe.
I looked around the space and took in all the new furniture. Warmth spread through me at what these pieces would always signify: friendship, care, and love.
Crossing to the couch, I flopped down onto it. My ribs barely protested now, so I knew they were healing. I set my purse down on the coffee table and pulled out my phone. Unlocking it, I scanned the messages. My heart sank as I zeroed in on one.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Come home with me or your best friend loses his badge.
My stomach twisted, and saliva pooled in my mouth. This wasn’t happening. But I should’ve known it wouldn’t take long for Adam to resort to threats.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. This wasn’t Atlanta. Adam didn’t have pull here. But the Hartleys did. Their family had deep roots and were probably the most well-respected residents in town. Adam might try to mess with Nash, but he wouldn’t succeed. Still, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t make Nash’s life miserable for a while. That idea had guilt swirling in my belly.
Tires crunched on the gravel, and I leapt to my feet, hurrying over to the window and peeking outside. Two police department SUVs made their way down the drive and parked. Nash slid out of one, and Lawson the other.
I crossed to the door and opened it as they climbed the front steps. “Hey.” My gaze swept over both of them. Nash’s expression was unreadable. Something about that made me sick to my stomach. “Is everything okay?”
He nodded. “Just a long day.” He pressed a kiss to my temple as he moved inside. “I’m gonna grab a shower and get changed.”
“Okay…”
Nash disappeared down the hallway before I could say anything else.
I sent Lawson a worried look.
He gave me a reassuring smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You got any soda around here?”
“Sure. Coke work?”
“That’d be perfect.”
I grabbed two sodas from the fridge and met Lawson in the living room, handing him one.
“Thanks,” he said as he lowered himself to the couch.
I toyed with the tab on my Coke before cracking it open. “I met Charlie’s best friend.”
Lawson’s expression lightened at that. “Cady’s a real firecracker.”
“She told me she’s trying to convince him to join her ballet class.”
Lawson chuckled. “If anyone could, it would be her. He’s a goner for her. I’m just not sure he realizes it.”
A pang lanced through me. “That’s pretty cute.”
Lawson nodded, glancing down the hallway. “We had a word with Adam this morning.”
My stomach cramped as I tried to remember the timestamp on the text I’d received. It was sometime after eleven. Likely after their visit. Even though I had a brand-new number.
I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and handed it to Lawson. “I saw this when I got home.”
A muscle fluttered under Lawson’s eye. “I was worried he wouldn’t get the message. Is it okay if we access your cloud account again so we can log the text into evidence?”
“Sure. I’m so sorry, Law. I know this brings all sorts of issues you don’t need—”
“Don’t you dare apologize for that asshat.”
The corner of my mouth kicked up. “Asshat, huh?”
“You got a better word for him?”
“I’m kind of partial to douche canoe.”
“It certainly has a ring to it.” The amusement faded from Lawson’s expression. “You need to be careful. For right now, I don’t want you alone.”
“I am being careful. And I have a feeling you’re helping out with that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many cops popping by The Brew for their break.”
Lawson’s cheeks heated. “It’s just people who care about you wanting to help out.”
My first instinct was to feel embarrassed and ashamed that everyone knew what had happened. But I took a moment and reined in those instincts. The officers at the CRPD were doing this because they cared. I had people in my corner, and it was time I remembered that. “Thanks, Law.”
“You know I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“I do. And it means more than I can say.”
Lawson glanced down the hall again, where sounds of the shower drifted. He swallowed, his throat working. “Nash blames himself. I didn’t realize it until today. Didn’t know how much it weighed on him.”
I sat up straighter. “What are you talking about?”
Lawson looked back at me. “He blames himself for not seeing what your father was doing. For not seeing this thing with Adam. For not protecting you.”
My hand fisted around the Coke, the aluminum crackling under my grip. “What?”
Lawson nodded. “I knew he took what happened all those years ago hard. Knew he was protective of you. But I didn’t know he carried this much guilt. He’d kill me for saying anything, but I know only one person can help him beat back that guilt.”
Me.
Pain shredded my insides as if a rabid animal had been let loose in my chest. “I didn’t know.” I’d known he was upset when I was in the hospital. Hell, he’d barely left my side for the year after. But blaming himself?
Lawson squeezed my knee. “None of us knew. He’s good at hiding things and playing the life of the party.”
“But he’s so much more than that.”
“You’ve always seen that—who he truly is.”
I’d thought I knew Nash better than anyone. “I should’ve seen this.”
Lawson’s expression gentled. “He didn’t want you to.” Something passed across Lawson’s eyes. “I think you two hide what’s most important from each other. Maybe all it’ll take to break through is one of you being brave enough to state the simple truth.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. There was only one truth I was keeping from Nash Hartley. That I’d been in love with him for longer than I could remember. And that was the most terrifying truth of all.
