Chapter 9 #2
I glanced over to Bash, who gave me an earnest smile. I hadn’t forgotten that he’d wanted me here as much as I’d wanted to get away. Something was up with Abigail, and I could feel Bash’s anxious energy around it. Whatever it was, he seemed confident that I could help.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, but then paused as I glanced back to the room Timothy was sleeping in.
“Timothy…”
“I’ve got him for the day,” Bash said. “I’ll take him around town and then to the hotel. The indoor pool is ready for a test drive. I’m sure he’d love that.” He clicked his tongue. “We’ve got an awesome waterslide.”
I couldn’t fight the smile that emerged. “He’s going to love that.”
Once the plans for the day were finalized, I went off to change into a basic pink t-shirt and jeans.
I threw up my hair into a ponytail before I put on some concealer and foundation.
It felt good to not worry about high heels or pressed suits.
I was already feeling the stress of New York melt away as I studied my reflection in the mirror.
Coming here was the right move. It was what I needed.
All of the stress came rushing back to me when my gaze landed on Noah as I made my way through the hallway to the front door.
He was standing off to the side like he wasn’t sure where he was supposed to go.
He had on a t-shirt and jeans, and his hair was mussed.
He must’ve just got out of the shower a few minutes ago.
His hands were shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, and his shoulders were slightly raised like he was stressed.
Seeing him just reminded me of my situation back home and how insistent the board was on controlling my life. I wasn’t a free woman, even though being in this small beach town almost made me believe I was.
“Ready?” Abigail asked. She approached me with a wide smile spread across her lips.
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Is Rambo coming with us?” She wasn’t shy as she studied Noah.
“I…um…er...” I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t want to say yes and force Noah to come with us if he didn’t want to. But I also didn’t want to say no and make him feel like he was being an imposition. So I just stood there, stammering, with the hope that Noah would jump in and save me.
But Noah seemed to be doing the same until finally he shrugged. “It’s kind of my job.” He flicked his gaze over to me for a moment before he returned it to Abigail.
She narrowed her eyes but then shrugged. “Fine.” She raised her forefinger and pointed it in his direction. “But you’re working when you’re there. You may be a bodyguard, but there’s no free lunch here in Harmony.”
Noah nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Bash?”
Bash appeared from the kitchen. “Yeah?”
“We’re heading out.”
“Don’t let Timothy sleep much longer, or he’ll never go to bed tonight.”
Bash nodded. “Will do.”
“If he gets worried about where I am, have him call.”
“Of course.”
Panic started to rise up inside of me. It wasn’t like I didn’t trust Bash, I did. I just didn’t like being away from my son in case he needed me or got scared. It was daunting being the only living parent to my child. If something happened to me, he’d be alone, alone.
Abigail slipped her hand through mine and started to guide me to the door. “They will be fine. Bash’s got this.”
I swallowed against the lump of emotions that had lodged themselves in my throat.
My entire body wanted to fight her on this, but I knew, deep down, Timothy was going to be fine.
He adored his uncle Bash, and it was important he had some one-on-one time with the man so closely linked to his father.
Timothy may have never met his dad, but through Bash, he would get a glimpse of the kind of man he had been.
Abigail didn’t let my arm go as we walked to her car. Noah kept pace behind us until we were just a few feet from the passenger door, and suddenly, he was hurrying around us. He pulled on the handle and had the door open before I could wave him away.
His hand remained on the top of the door as he stood off to the side. I glanced up to meet his gaze, but he remained focused straight ahead. I wanted to tell him that I could get in and shut the door by myself, but he didn’t acknowledge me, so I just accepted his help and climbed in.
Once I was seated, he glanced down like he was making sure that I was safely tucked inside before he gently shut the door. Abigail was already situated in the driver’s seat, with her gaze trained on me. Her eyebrows were raised, and I could see a million questions racing through her mind.
I just shook my head, unsure of what to say.
“Does he do that every time?” she asked as she shifted her weight so she could grab her seatbelt.
I did the same. “Sometimes.” I didn’t want her to think badly about Noah. He was just doing his job, even if I wasn’t really sure what his job description was.
“Sometimes?” She flicked her gaze up to mine as she shoved the tongue of the seatbelt into the buckle.
“Every time.” I shrugged. “Unless I beat him to it.”
She nodded as she turned to the steering wheel and pressed the start button.
Our conversation stopped as the engine roared to life.
Noah had opened the back door and was climbing inside.
We remained quiet as we rode to her shop and she pulled into the back parking lot behind the building.
I heard her chuckle as we all unbuckled and opened the doors.
“What?” I asked as I shut the door before Noah could beat me to it. I hurried around the hood to join her.
She just shook her head as a thoughtful expression passed over her face.
“Nothing.” She sighed. “Just thinking about the first time I met Bash.” She pointed at the pavement in front of her.
“I’d been unloading my trunk, and when I came back out to get some more boxes, there was this strange man rummaging in my trunk.
I told him I had no money, but he just stared at me like I was crazy, and a few seconds later, he emerged with a tiny chipmunk in his hands.
” She scrunched up her face. “I thought he was a crazy homeless man.”
I laughed, trying to picture the situation. I’m sure he looked like a bush man but had the heart of a golden retriever. Bash had been a mess, and I hated that I had contributed to his pain. I was so grateful that we’d come to a good place and he was back in our lives. “I could see that,” I said.
Abigail began to walk toward the back door, and I followed after her. Noah kept up the rear.
As soon as we were inside the shop, Abigail didn’t hesitate to start handing out assignments. She handed Noah a broom and instructed him to sweep the entire front of the store then she handed me an apron; we were going to make blueberry muffins.
I was embarrassed because I’d never been a very good cook or baker. It was a talent I’d always wanted, but had never realized. My life had been corporate for so long, and I just hired out the day to day. I was hopeful that, with Abigail’s assistance, I could keep that weakness a secret.
We were elbow deep in measuring out sugar and flour when I glanced in her direction. Now was as good a time as ever to ask her about her life. In my head, I could see Bash staring at me with wide eyes, pushing me to initiate a conversation.
“So, how are things going?” I asked as I grabbed the nearby butter knife so I could level out the flour I’d just scooped up.
Abigail had been studying the recipe book in front of her, with a few measuring cups in hand. She glanced at me before returning her attention to the recipe. “Good. Business is great. I’ve had to hire more help.” She snorted. “Construction guys are hungry.”
I nodded as I dumped the flour I’d just leveled into the mixing bowl. “That’s good.” I paused. How did I ask her about her personal life without asking her about her personal life? “And…other places? How are things going there?”
Abigail glanced over at me a few times as she scooped up some white sugar and dumped it on top of the flour. “Did Bash tell you?”
I shook my head as I scooped another cup of flour. “Not really. Just told me that you might need a friend.” I peeked over at her. “And I’m a friend…right?” I held my breath as I waited for her to respond.
Truth was, I really didn’t have friends.
There was something about success that alienated people from you.
They always say that money changes people when they make it, but they never talk about how the people around you change.
Jealousy and cattiness had become the norm for me.
Everyone wanted something, and I’d stopped trusting that they had good intentions.
With Abigail, it had never been like that. She was…easy. Our friendship, although in the baby stages, was a breath of fresh air. She had Bash, which mean she didn’t need me. And I liked that. I liked knowing that she wasn’t talking to me to get ahead. She liked me for me.
Or at least that was what I wanted to believe. Right now, her silence had me sweating bullets. I didn’t want our friendship to mean more to me than to her. The last thing I wanted to do was creep her out.
“Right?” The question slipped out of my lips before I could stop it. I’d meant to keep my insecurity inside, but panic had set in.
Abigail glanced up at me, and suddenly her stoic expression morphed into one of embarrassment.
“Of course!” She nodded fervently. “Of course, we are friends.” She smiled at me as she bumped me with her shoulder.
“Sorry, I’m just struggling with my sister, and I got lost in my thoughts.
” She stilled her body as she met my gaze once more. “You are my friend, Emery.”
My heart began to soar. “Good.”
When she didn’t speak right away, I bent down so I could meet her gaze.
If we were friends, then it would only make sense for her to tell me what was going on.
If we were friends, then she shouldn’t get offended if I pushed her.
So I gave her a soft smile and asked, “So, do you want to tell me what happened with Sabrina?”