Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
T ressy
I’d been listening with half an ear to the commotion around me, still trying to figure out why I felt like I’d stepped onto a movie set.
The women surrounding the booth all looked like models. Perfect hair and makeup, silk blouses and jeans that looked like they’d been painted on. But tastefully. And some of these women wore Louboutins. Maybe my bias was showing, but I didn’t realize that women in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania dressed in designer clothes to go to a roadside bar.
Then again, maybe I just felt like a half-dead cat left by the side of the road, even if I was wearing my own designer gown and Louboutin heels.
Just thinking about my feet made them throb even more than they already were. I didn’t know how far I’d had to walk carrying Krista, but I wouldn’t have stopped until I got her out of the cold.
I couldn’t believe my car had blown a tire. It was like the most stupid plot twist of a bad horror movie. And I should know because I’d been in a few pretty damn bad horror movies in another life.
But, of course, it had to be so damn cold I could see my breath. Why the hell was it so cold? It was mid-October. It wasn’t supposed to be freezing. At least, it hadn’t been in New York when I’d buckled Krista into her booster seat, and we’d driven out of the city as fast as I could, headed for…wherever we’d ended up.
I hadn’t been thinking of anything more than getting away. From my mom, my sister, my ex. From everyone who wanted something from me.
Damn my mom for guilting me into doing that damn concert. I never would’ve agreed to it if I’d known what she’d been planning.
And now I was stuck in…
I focused my attention on the nearest woman, a blonde who looked like she’d just stepped off a film set. Maybe there were hidden cameras somewhere. Or maybe I’d just lived in New York City too long because when I’d first seen this place, I’d figured everyone here would be wearing overalls and shitkickers.
Well, the joke was on me, in more ways than one tonight.
“Excuse me. I’m sorry, but where exactly are we?”
The blonde, whose name was Romy or Ronny or something that started with an R. “Well, we’re not quite within the city limits, but we consider anything within twenty miles part of St. David.”
“Is this…Pennsylvania?”
The look the woman gave me made me think I’d guessed wrong. “Honey, how long were you driving?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
The women went quiet, and I felt the gaze of every single one of them in the semicircle around me. I wanted to squirm but forced myself to be still. I wasn’t used to being in the spotlight anymore. I’d spent most of my teenage years in it and the last eight trying to avoid it at all costs. It’d kept me and Krista safe from prying eyes. Sure, every now and then some member of the press would want to do one of those “Where are they now” interviews, but I always turned them down. I didn’t want to talk about my past.
The brunette in the booth across from me—I thought her name was Crystal—reached across the table and put her hand over mine.
“Is someone chasing you? Someone you don’t want to find you? Trust me, some of us have been there. We know what to do. We can help. If you want.”
I blinked, pretty sure Crystal had just asked if I wanted to disappear. First of all, no one had ever offered to help me before. I’d always been the one people came to for help. Well, for money, anyway.
These women were offering to help with seemingly no ulterior motive. But everyone had an ulterior motive. No one offered anything for free. There was always a catch.
“No, no one’s chasing me.” At least, I hoped that was true. I didn’t think my mom would actually send someone after me. Even with this much money on the line, Bebe Meyers wouldn’t want a public scandal. Unless it earned her more money, then she’d be all for it.
Crystal didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push.
“Okay. Then how can we help you tonight?”
Reflexively, I looked around the room, but I didn’t see the man who’d caught me in his arms. I did see Krista smiling at Mitzi, who held Krista’s hand as she talked an older couple.
“Oh, don’t worry about your daughter.” Crystal’s voice soothed. “She’s perfectly safe. You’re with the Devils now. They may look like a bunch of heathens, but they won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I blinked up at Crystal. “Devils? ”
Crystal grinned and nodded toward the other side of the room, where the “heathens” were gathered. “The St. David Devils. Otherwise known as the ST Double-Ds.”
I could not have heard that correctly. “Excuse me.”
Crystal’s grin widened. “The Devils are the worst team in the Northeast Professional Hockey League and the most fun you’ll ever have at an ice rink.”
Should those words mean something? My brain must’ve been addled by the cold, because nothing was making sense.
“Don’t sweat it, sweetie.” Crystal waved it off. “You don’t look like you’re from around here. When you live in the middle of nowhere, you take your entertainment where you can get it. So, why don’t we find you a place to stay tonight?”
“Oh, that would wonderful. If you’d give Krista and me a ride to the nearest hotel that would?—”
“Yeah, I’m afraid that’s going to be a problem.” Crystal’s grin finally disappeared. “We’re a one-hotel town, and it’s totally booked. The season starts tomorrow, and we’re playing the Stags and…” She drew the last word out to about five syllables, “you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.”
“There’s only one hotel?”
I couldn’t wrap my head around that. How could there only be one hotel? I had definitely passed several before I’d gotten off the turnpike. But there’d been an accident and the GPS had suggested another route, and I’d followed it blindly. Until somehow, I must’ve taken a wrong turn that left us stranded here…in the middle of fucking nowhere .
And now we had nowhere to sleep tonight?
“Oh yeah, but don’t worry,” Crystal continued. “You’ll have a place to stay. Pretty sure it’ll be better than the hotel.”
“Wha—”
“Tressy? Hi, I’m Raffi Lawrence. I understand you’re going to need a place to stay tonight.”
I turned to see an older woman smiling at me, holding out her hand. I took it without thought, something I never would’ve done in New York or LA. You never let a stranger touch you. Unless you were on the red carpet or in a public space filled with rich people where lots of people were watching.
Yes, I lived in a fucked-up world.
But this woman had a friendly smile on her pretty face, dark hair shot through with silver. She was probably mid-fifties, laugh lines around her dark eyes and carrying a few more pounds than any fifty-year-old I knew, because all of the fifty-year-olds I knew were more worried about what they looked like than if they smiled or weighed more than they had when they were a teenager.
And she exuded an air of kindness that couldn’t be faked.
“I guess we do. Crystal told me there’re no hotel rooms available?”
Raffi waved that away. “You don’t have to worry about that. We have plenty of room at our house for you and Krista.”
I blinked. This woman wanted to take me and my daughter home with her? She had no idea who we were. We could be grifters. Or worse. “Oh, no, we couldn’t?—”
“Yes, you absolutely can.” Raffi’s voice made it clear she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Trust me, it’s not an imposition. We have people stay with us all the time. Since our youngest left for college, that house is way too big for just the Colonel and me.”
Did she say Colonel? “Oh, but?—”
“The boys and Rain have their own places now,” Raffi just kept talking, patting my hand, “and honestly, I miss the company. We see them almost every day, but I miss the chaos. Though I would never tell them that. So, I don’t want you to worry about not having a place to stay. Now, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but anyone in this bar can vouch for me and the Colonel. You’ll be perfectly safe with us.”
Crystal touched my shoulder, drawing my dazed attention. “Miss Raffi’s absolutely right. This is the best solution. You and Krista need somewhere to sleep tonight. And honestly, hon, you look like you’re about to fall over.”
Crystal wasn’t wrong. I felt like I could just close my eyes and fall asleep right here. But I couldn’t because I had to make sure Krista was taken care of. My daughter needed me, and we certainly couldn’t sleep on a park bench. If this place even had a park.
We needed help, and I couldn’t be picky about it because, apparently, I’d blown a tire in the literal middle of fucking nowhere.
Where the hell had I gone wrong?
About twenty years ago, sweetheart.
Ugh, why did my inner sarcastic bitch sound like Carrie from Sex in the City? Seriously, it was annoying as fuck. And Sarah Jessica Parker was the absolute sweetest person in the world.
Which didn’t mean a damn thing right now when I was about to fall flat on my face on the table in exhaustion. But…I didn’t know these people. I didn’t know any of these people. I couldn’t just leave with this woman. I had Krista to consider.
As if she’d read my mind, Crystal laid her hand on my shoulder and leaned in closer. Was she going to tell me to run? We had nowhere to go?—
“Tressy, I know you don’t know any of us, but Miss Raffi and the Colonel are two of the best people in the world. You can ask anyone in this place. They’ll all give you the same answer. Mitzi,” Crystal glanced up at the woman currently holding my daughter, “back me up.”
Mitzi nodded, her expression serious. “Absolutely. You’re dead on your feet and the little one here needs to get some sleep. You will be fine.”
I looked back at Crystal to see if she was trying to signal me to run. Instead, she nodded, her lips curved in an understanding smile.
“You’ll be fine with Raffi and the Colonel. Honest. ”
It wasn’t like I had that many options. I’d given my car keys to a man I didn’t know. The cold must have addled my brain. And now I was about to leave with a woman I’d just met.
I forced a smile. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate the offer.”
Miss Raffi—where the hell did these people think they lived? Stars Hollow?—nodded, her smile softening the faintest bit. As if she knew exactly what I was thinking. Maybe she did. People in small towns were like that. They were gossips and busybodies, and they knew everything about everyone. At least, they had in every show and movie I’d ever been in. But that had been a long time ago. Things changed.
I’d changed. I was no longer a gullible child whose mother ruled her life.
No, you’re a mother who ran when shit got too much to handle.
Shit.
“Tressy?”
My attention snapped back to Miss Raffi, and I realized she must have said something.
“Yes, sorry. I…” Drifted off? Ignored her? Went into a coma? “Sorry.”
Miss Raffi’s smile returned, lighting her dark eyes. “I asked if you’re ready to leave.”
For a brief second, I thought about the man who’d caught me when I’d stepped through the door. For some reason, I wanted him to tell me everything would be okay. Which was ridiculous. I didn’t need a man to tell me what to do.
“Yes. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
Miss Raffi held out her hand. “Then let’s get you and that adorable little girl out of here.”
Oh god, I really hoped I wasn’t going to regret this.
I took a breath and took the other woman’s hand.
“Let me introduce you to my husband then we can get going.”
“Get a good night’s sleep,” Crystal said as I slid out of the booth. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Just have Miss Raffi give you my number. You can contact me at any time. You want to talk at two a.m., I’m your girl.”
I nodded, my brain not really processing complete thoughts at the moment. As if she’d read my mind, Raffi took another look at me as I stood.
“On second thought,” she said, “let’s just get you home so you can get some rest.”
I glanced at Mitzi, still holding Krista, who’d fallen asleep, her face slack, little lips parted. Raffi and Mitzi waited for me to stand, Raffi looking as if she wanted to reach for me but unsure I’d take the help.
God damn my feet hurt. I wasn’t sure I’d make it far without help. So I took her hand and let her lead me outside to an aqua-blue Mercedes SUV parked just to the left of the entrance. Raffi opened the back driver’s side door. The thought that the color was custom floated through my foggy brain.
“Don’t have a booster seat because my slacker kids haven’t provided me with grandchildren yet,” Raffi gave Mitzi the side eye at the other woman’s snort, “but I figure you can hold her in the backseat. We’re not going far.”
Too tired to ask any questions, I just nodded and slid into the backseat, reaching for Krista. Mitzi put her in my arms then closed the door as Raffi got into the driver’s seat. The car started with barely a hum, and Raffi put the car in drive. I wrapped my arms tightly around Krista, resting my cheek against her soft curls and?—
“We’re here.”
My eyes flew open to see Raffi smiling at me from outside the open car door. Jesus, I must’ve fallen asleep. How long had I been out? We could be anywhere. Even as tired as I was, I could feel anxiety rush back in.
“Oh, hon.” Raffi’s mouth curved in a slight grimace. “I can tell you’re scared. But honestly, you’re perfectly safe here. Come on in and let’s find you a bed.”
Raffi reached for Krista, and, after a split second, I handed her over, knowing I was too tired to carry her safely. My baby was getting big. And no longer a baby.
Swinging my legs out of the car, I stood…and my mouth dropped open.
Okay, was I still sleeping? Dreaming? I didn’t know what I’d been expecting when Raffi had invited me to her home, but it hadn’t been a freaking mansion. Like a literal mansion with huge double wooden doors and columns and about twenty windows. It reminded me of a lodge I’d stayed at years ago in Colorado.
“Don’t let the outside fool you.” Raffi beckoned to me from the wide wraparound porch, wooden rocking chairs and benches, decorated with pumpkins, hay bales and mums. “It may still look like an inn from the outside, but it hasn’t been for almost a hundred years.”
Raffi opened the front door, and warm light spilled out, practically calling out to me. I released an unconscious sigh. I was so damn tired. I just wanted to shut off my brain.
“Come on, sweetheart. You’re about to fall asleep on your feet. Everything’ll seem better in the morning.”
I didn’t think that was true. But right now, I didn’t want to think about the mess I’d left behind. I didn’t want to think about anything. I just wanted to get my daughter into a bed, curl up around her, then maybe this heart-pounding anxiety would ease just a little.