Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
“Here,” Colin said, taking a plate from Maren at the kitchen sink. “Let me finish up.”
“No, that’s all right.” Maren held onto the plate. “I’ve got it.”
“But you made lunch. It’s only fair I clean.”
“Really, it’s fine. I need something to do, anyway.
” She gave him the soft smile that he was beginning to hate.
It was tinged with sadness and stress at the edges.
She was always so chipper, even when facing danger, and especially when talking about or interacting with Juni. But now, she had to be exhausted.
Who wouldn’t be?
Colin had been watching Maren unravel for three days, ever since Carla drove off in her Subaru. Not in any dramatic way. She wasn’t breaking down or falling apart. Just—unraveling, like loose threads pulling free one at a time until he could see the strain underneath.
She’d been grateful when Arden brought clothes.
Maren had smiled and thanked her and she and Juni tried everything on with Juni clapping her approval.
But Colin had seen her face when she thought no one was looking.
He’d watched her finger the sleeve of a shirt that wasn’t quite her style and adjust the waistband of jeans that almost fit but not quite, and were growing baggier as the days went by.
She wore them anyway. What choice did she have?
That’s part of the problem. Her choices are so limited. She’s gotta be feeling boxed in.
Maren had called her supervisor and given her the story about a family emergency in Iowa, asking for more time off.
Medical coding work that usually kept her hands and brain busy had evaporated.
She’d cooked three meals a day and made batches of cookies.
She’d reorganized the safehouse kitchen cabinets twice, weeded the gardens, and cleaned the entire house top to bottom.
The rest of her time went to making sure Juni was feeling happy and safe, and for the most part, she was.
Juni was adapting well to her new—if temporary—life.
The cookies helped.
But Maren was not adapting. It didn’t help that her car was sitting in Iowa with Carla DeVivo keeping an eye out for a couple of days before flying back home. So far, no sign of being followed.
Colin had watched Maren stand at the front window that morning, coffee mug in both hands, staring at the empty spot in the driveway where the Subaru used to be.
She hadn’t said anything. Hadn’t cried. Just stood there for five full minutes before Juni called her name and she turned away with that same damned smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
That was the moment Colin decided to make the call.
“How about you let me finish the dishes while you get Juni down for her nap, then go take a nice, long shower?” he told Maren, grinning. He’d made her the same offer a couple days ago and Maren had joked about how bad she must smell.
Today, she didn’t even bother joking. She nodded, dried her hands, and went outside where Mac was keeping an eye on Juni. Colin was pretty sure Mac was still trying to wrangle a tea party date out of her.
Colin waited until Juni was down for her nap and Maren had gone to take her shower. He stepped out onto the back porch and pulled out his phone.
Gina answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then why are you calling me instead of Kyle?” He heard a smile creep into her voice. “People usually only call me when there’s a problem.”
Fair point. “I need a favor.”
“There it is. I’m listening.”
“Maren’s…at loose ends,” Colin said. “The police back in San Diego have no leads on who broke into her house and don’t seem to care.
She’s cleaned the place twice, cooked every last scrap of food, and the garden looks like it’s being professionally maintained.
She has no job, no car, and she’s wearing someone else’s clothes.
And, she’s barely eating and losing weight.
Don’t get me wrong; she’s grateful for everything, and she’d die before complaining or asking for anything else, but she’s also…
” He paused as he searched for the right word. “She’s disappearing, Gina.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Gina said. “We can make the most comfortable safehouse in the world, but it’s still going to feel like a prison after all that adrenaline burns off and reality sets in.”
“Exactly.” Colin closed his eyes, relieved that Gina understood. “She needs to feel like herself again. Even just for a few hours.”
“You want to take her out.”
“Yeah.”
“In public.”
“With Nettie’s help,” Colin said. “If she’s available. Disguise Maren well enough that we can move around Lyons without pinging every camera between here and Denver. That’s the favor I’m asking, if you can contact her.”
Gina was quiet for a moment. Colin could almost hear her thinking.
“Nettie’s in Boulder on a job,” she said finally. “She can be at Watchdog by ten tomorrow morning. You thinking shopping? Lunch?”
Colin’s heart felt ten times lighter. “Whatever Maren wants.” He shifted his weight. “Let her choose. Let her pick out her own clothes, eat somewhere that isn’t this house or Arden’s kitchen—not that she’ll find anything better than her own cooking or Arden’s.”
“That’s true,” Gina said, an obvious grin in her tone.
“Let her be a person instead of a principal.”
“This is very…thoughtful of you, Colin.”
“Well…it’s my job to make sure she’s comfortable, especially being my boss’s family.”
“Mmmm.”
She knows. Of course she knows how I feel. Shit.
“Charlie’s free tomorrow,” Gina continued. “She can run bodyguard duty. Two women shopping looks normal. You can hang back at Watchdog with Juni.”
Colin felt suddenly disappointed. He’d intended on going.
He told himself it was to make sure Maren was safe, but really, he wanted to see the light come back into her eyes.
He wanted to know who Maren was outside of what amounted to limbo, watch what she chose to wear, and eat, and see and do. He wanted to know her.
“ I’m on security detail. I’m going with them.”
“Colin—”
“I’m going with them,” he repeated, quieter. “I won’t hover. But I’m not letting her go out there without me.”
“You’ve got it bad.” Gina sounded amused.
Dammit. “Are you going to help me or not?”
“Of course I’m going to help you.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Ten a.m. at Watchdog. Nettie will bring her kit. Charlie will clear her schedule. And Colin?”
“Yeah?”
Shit. She’s going to tell me to back off. To be professional, to stop—
“This is a good thing you’re doing.”
Colin exhaled.
“She deserves to feel normal,” he said quietly as he looked back at the safehouse. He needed to figure out how to tell her without making it feel like charity. “Even if it’s just for one day.”
“She does,” Gina agreed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She disconnected.
Colin pocketed his phone and went back inside to surprise Maren. He couldn’t wait to see her smile.