Rescued By A Perfect Stranger: A Single Dad, Age Gap Romance (Bearberry Bay - Rescue Series Book 4)

Chapter 27

~~ Lorelai ~~

”Thank you for taking time to meet with me, Mrs. Corbyn,” I turn back, closing her office door. I allow my nervous hands to shake for a split second, but then I squeeze them into tight fists and release the emotion with the unclenching and turn back.

I”ve been here two months now, proving every day I can handle administrative tasks in addition to settling any conflicts between students and teacher, teacher and teacher, teacher and parents. She”s slowly relinquished control over those situations entirely and has given over the opening and closing to me, too.

“Are you asking for a raise already? I can’t afford to pay you more right now.” She sniffs and adjusts her position in her seat.

“No, ma’am.” I lower myself into the padded armchair in front of her desk. “I want to thank you for giving me the past couple of months to learn the ropes. You took a risk on me fresh out of school with no real-life experience.”

“I was understaffed, and you were the sole applicant.” Mrs. Corbyn’s words sound out like punches with the door closed to the chaotic atmosphere in the common room where two classes are having lunch.

“How is Mr. Corbyn?” Empathy softens my voice.

She sniffs. “Well, that’s really none of your business, but if you must know... That pathetic excuse for a nurse they sent left him in his chair for hours again.”

“I’m sorry. That must be difficult for you.”

She tips her face down, and I notice gunmetal gray tendrils escaping her normally tidy bun and a small stain on the collar of her otherwise fastidious outfit. “It has been. Our daughter comes when she can, but she has the children to look after. I don’t have enough time in my day.” She looks up at me, and her face is softer than I’ve ever seen it. “Even with the extra you’ve taken on, there isn’t enough time. I haven’t said thank you. Or told you that you’re doing an excellent job.”

“Thank you for saying that, Mrs. Corbyn. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to fit into Bearberry Bay. I’ve fallen in love with these kids, this place, the logistics of running the day to day. I’d like to buy the school.” I slide the folder I’d brought in with me across her desk. “This is my offer. It would allow you to retire early without any loss of income.”

Her mouth had dropped open as soon as I said the word “buy”. She snaps it closed now with a click of teeth. “You—” Confusion covers her face. “You want to buy the school?”

“Yes, Ma’am. My attorney prepared the documents, but please take the time to have them looked over. My attorney will also verify the funds are immediately available.”

“I— I don’t know what to say. This is unexpected.”

I stand. “It’s okay. You can let me know.”

I close the office door behind me and get lost in the Friday shuffle of classes and parents and last-minute tasks that need doing before the weekend. The teacher in the one-year-old class needs to leave early for an appointment, so I fill in. But I see Mrs. Corbyn leaving with the folder tucked under her arm. At least she didn’t set it on fire!

After closing, I ride back to the BB and change into jeans and a leather jacket I picked up at the Army Surplus a couple of towns over.

My stomach is giving me fierce growls for skipping lunch, and I run through dinner options in my head as I head back outside. I’m reaching for the helmet draped over the handlebar by the chin strap, when a rough hand grabs my elbow.

Icy panic flows into me, freezing all movement. It isn’t like me to be caught so unaware. My body is paralyzed with apprehension.

“Hey, sis!” Bray’s familiar voice sinks in. He’s come around in front of me, and I soak in the changes the last few years have made. He’s older, obviously. His hair has darkened, and I can’t tell if that’s an occurrence of nature or the fault of the grime and grease covering his tangled copper curls. His face is lined, and fresh sores are open along his jawline. He grins, showing the same overlapping front teeth I remember, but there are clear signs of decay.

“Bray! What are you—”

He pulls me in for a squeeze, and I automatically hold my breath. When he releases me, I see the manic in his eyes that has ruined the few brief reunions I’ve had with my brother. The shine in his eyes, the tremor in the hands he tries to hide by shoving them into his pockets. My heart flutters. It still can’t harden enough not to care.

“Lai, that attorney tracked me down.” He nods and pulls out one hand to scratch at a sore on his neck.

“He told me Meemaw left you some money for me.” He smiles again and I catch a shadow of the young boy, clever enough to keep his baby sister fed. “Just came to get it.”

I keep my voice low. “It’s in a trust, Bray. The attorney has to make any payments.”

“That half-ass attorney?” his volume escalates. “Shyster says I have to go to rehab to get any payments!” He’s yelling now, and I look around to see if anyone is watching. He notices and lowers his voice again. ”I know you can get it.” Now he sounds like a child cajoling a parent into buying ice cream.

I shake my head, and he grabs my arms with both hands. “I need some of that money, Lai!”

I back up a step and his hands fall away. “I can’t get it, Brayden.”

“Then give me a loan for now, Lai. You got plenty.”

“I can’t give you money, Bray, but I know a nice facility—”

“You want to lock me up, too, Lai? I didn’t expect that from you. My own sister.” He rocks back and forth on his toes now and runs his hands through his hair, pulling at the strands.

I move slowly, putting my hands into my pockets like they’re cold. Really, I’m palming my bike key.

“Bray, I’ll help you. You know I’ll always help you. But I can’t give you money or we lose it all. Nan’s will specified that.” He doesn’t need to know she and I discussed how best to keep me safe from exactly this scenario.”

He’s pacing now back and forth, and I take another step away and toward the bike.

“You don’t have to tell anyone Lai.” He’s getting angry, which equals unpredictable. “You can just get the cash and hand it to me. No paper trail.”

I’m close enough to the bike, I pull the keys out and hold them with my body between my hand and Bray, so he can’t see me find the ignition by feel and slide the key in.

“Lai, get in the car!” he gestures to a faded-blue Nissan with rust spots around the door edges and the trunk tied down with a rope. “We can go to the ATM right now. No one will know.”

I don’t move.

“Lai! Come on!”

He reaches for me, but I step to the side and slip onto the bike. The Yamaha starts up as quickly as it has every time. I’m in gear and twisting the accelerator just as Brayden reaches out to grab my arm.

I look back and see him running for his car. I take the road out of town, checking over my shoulder every few minutes. He’s following me. What the hell! I had just wanted to escape the situation. I didn’t expect him to chase me down.

A few streets later, I buckle my helmet at a red light, and he slams to a stop beside me. “Get off the bike, Lai!” He screams over the bike engine. I shake my head. “Get off, Lai. Or I’ll make you!” My hands are shaking. I think he might actually get out of the car in the middle of the road.

The light turns green, and the Yamaha leaps ahead with a touch. I take a quick right, thinking he won’t be able to make the turn from the other lane. His tires screeching, he manages to fling the car around the corner. I give the bike more gas.

Where can I go? I’m on the opposite side of town from the sheriff”s station and the hospital. Would he really try to force me into the car?

The road I took happens to be the winding road up to the cliffs, and I know there are some tight turns coming up. I slow down at the first switchback, and I hear him coming up behind me.

I move all the way to the right, and I see the Nissan pulling up fast. Too fast. Too close. He swerves toward me, and I give the bike more gas. But it’s too late. The side mirror on the passenger side of the car slams my elbow forward, and the front bike wheel turns straight into the cliff side. I feel my body flying as the rear wheel of the bike comes up off the road. I’m weightless for a long second. I expect to hit the rocks, but instead my back hits hard on the edge of the road, the leather of my jacket sliding me several feet through the loose gravel.

I lie still for several minutes trying get back the air that was knocked out with the impact. I hear the car stop, the door screech open, and footsteps coming toward me. But then they back away, the door slams shut, and he races away. All I can do for a few more minutes is breathe. In and out. In and out.

I test out my limbs and they feel unbroken, and I push carefully to a sitting position. When everything seems fine, I pull off my helmet and stagger to my feet. I’m probably going to be sore tomorrow, but I think I’m ok.

The bike, though. The bike is destroyed. I’m surveying the heap of twisted metal wondering who to call. The low rumble I had ignored turns into a truck coming around the bend. That must’ve been what chased Bray away. The driver pulls over and gets out, but the setting sun is shining right into my face and I can’t see who it is.

“Lorelai?” I recognize James’s voice. He runs to me, circling me, lifting my arms, running his hand over my stomach, pressing with searching fingers, inspecting me for injuries. I’m so relieved to not be alone, I launch myself at him, and sobs erupt from my body without permission. He catches me and holds me against his chest, one arm under my ass and one rubbing my back like I’m a kid.

“I got you, Chipmunk. I got you.” The nickname makes me sob even harder.

In the month and a half since our meeting at the Thai restaurant, we’ve seen each other a handful of times. Down the table at the group dinner, picking up Emilie, once on a Saturday passing each other at the bakery. We were polite, friendly even. But I felt the weight of the intimacy between us, and I was left with a puddle between my legs each time.

He hasn’t pursued me.

I’ve been busy getting things set up to make the offer on the school, going over back up plans with the attorney, and inserting myself into life here.

I hadn’t known just how much I was missing him.

Until the pet name left his lips.

Now I want to hold on for dear life.