Chapter 16
Josie stopped at her brownstone to change before her meeting with Holly. If they were traipsing through the wooded property, Josie needed a good pair of boots, and she certainly had boots to spare.
As she hung her dress back in her closet, exchanging it for a soft pair of jeans, a light sweater, and wool socks, warmth blossomed in her chest and her belly fluttered with excitement.
She wanted to kiss Adam again. Oh, she wanted to do more than that, but she’d never been overly forward with a man, and she wasn’t quite sure how to make her wishes known.
She supposed she could just tell him outright.
They were both adults. If she initiated more, he’d take it from there, she was sure.
Today, she would be bold. Grabbing the box of muffins she’d purchased from a local bakery, Josie left her house with nervous determination.
Since Adam had invited her over afterward, and he lived just next door to Holly, she’d head right to his place.
Life was short and unpredictable, as she was so painfully aware, and she didn’t want to waste a second of it.
Her awkwardness and anxiety would not ruin this for her.
Distracted by her self-talk, she stumbled on her way out the door, dropping her laptop bag to maintain her grip on the muffin box.
“Seriously?” she mumbled under her breath as she regained her balance.
Self-consciously, she peered up and down the sidewalk, and froze when she saw the man from the funeral staring at her from underneath his dark glasses and baseball hat.
At least, she thought it was him. His uncanny resemblance to Charlie had her heart racing.
She took a step toward the street, but a city bus passed, and when it was gone, so was he.
Her hands shook and her pulse pounded. At a break in the traffic, she jogged across the street and peered around the corner, but he’d disappeared, and there were too many possible places he could’ve gone for her to continue chasing after him.
Unease spread through her body. This man was not a figment of her imagination.
He resembled Charlie, and he seemed to be following her.
Despite how unhinged it might sound, she had to tell A.J.
about this second incident. She wasn’t going to cancel on Holly again, though, so she took one last look up and down the street and then got into her car.
When Josie pulled into Holly’s driveway, the young woman was in her front yard weeding flowerbeds. She stood as the car approached and waved at Josie. Mind still spinning, Josie forced herself to take a few calming breaths before stepping out into the warm spring day.
“Hello, Holly. It’s so good to see you again,” she said, managing a sincere smile to go with the greeting.
“Josie,” Holly said in her light, breathy voice. “Come on in. You can put your things down in the kitchen.”
Josie followed the young woman into the house and dropped her laptop bag and purse on the kitchen table. Holly washed her dirt-stained hands, then turned to face Josie, a pained expression on her face.
“I’m so sorry about your brother,” she said.
“Thank you,” Josie whispered, blinking back the tears that threatened.
“A.J. told me what happened when he canceled your last appointment. If it’s too soon to be doing this, we could just have a cup of tea,” Holly said.
Josie cleared her throat. “I’d love a cup of tea, but I also really want to see your land and talk more about the project. Keeping busy helps.”
“How about if we walk and talk, and then come in for tea?”
“Sounds perfect.”
Holly’s thirty acres of property consisted of two large, open fields, several old growth trees, and a small brook running through the remainder of the woods. The land had a magical feel to it, and Josie knew it would be the perfect place for healing.
“It’s all buildable, but I’d hate to see these beautiful trees cut down,” Holly said.
“I agree. It would be a shame to destroy the spirit of this place. We’d have to consult with a contractor, of course, but I have to imagine we could build the structures on the fields and keep most of this forest intact,” Josie said.
“I’d like that,” Holly said.
They walked in silence. As Josie inhaled the scent of pine and listened to the rush of the brook and the chatter of birds, she felt her tension melting away and a sense of peace wash over her.
“Holly, this land is beautiful, and it’s a great fit for our project. Is there anything more you’d like to know?” Josie asked as they returned to the house.
“I read all the materials you sent regarding the scope of the project and the vision. I guess I’d just like to know a little bit more about the people it will serve. My son and I live here alone,” Holly said, her voice trailing off.
“I understand,” Josie said. “While some survivors of trauma, and people suffering from PTSD, do become violent, most do not. We will absolutely vet our patients and residents, and we won’t take on anyone who we deem a danger to themselves or others. Additionally, TSI will be providing security.”
Holly took in Josie’s answer as she filled the teakettle, pulled mugs from her cupboard, and arranged the muffins on a plate.
“Do you mind if I ask how you got involved with this?”
“Not at all. I’m friends with Jake Evans and Fiona Flynn. Jake works for TSI and…”
“Wait, the Fiona Flynn, lead singer of Madison Grace?” Holly asked, eyes wide.
Josie laughed. “The very one.”
“I love their music,” Holly said, and then her starry-eyed expression dimmed. “Fiona was abducted by that serial killer. I remember watching the live stream of her locked in a cage.”
A shiver went up Josie’s spine at the memory.
“No wonder she wants to build a healing center for trauma victims,” Holly said.
“Her experience was a big factor, and so was Jake’s. He was seriously injured in combat overseas and suffered severe PTSD.”
“He’s okay now?” Holly asked.
“Jake does what he needs to do to stay healthy, and he has a great support system,” Josie said.
“Sorry, I interrupted your answer. Guess I got star-struck at the idea that Fiona Flynn wants to buy my land,” Holly said, smiling.
Josie smiled back. “You’ll probably meet her at some point.”
“That would be amazing,” Holly said, pouring water into their cups and then taking a seat across from Josie’s. “So Fiona and Jake asked you to run the center?”
“They did. They know I’m a therapist, and I specialize in treating trauma victims. I also have my own past to deal with, and helping to build a place like this is important to me, too, personally.”
“Something bad happened to you?” Holly asked.
“It did.”
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me. I don’t mean to pry,” Holly said, regret clear in her tone.
“Please, don’t apologize. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if it made me uncomfortable.
While I don’t randomly share, I think it’s important for you to know how invested we all are in this project, and how much we believe in it.
” Josie sighed and sipped her tea before continuing.
“My father was abusive. He hurt my mother. Eventually, he killed her, and then he killed himself.”
“Oh, Josie,” Holly exclaimed, reaching out to squeeze Josie’s hand. “That’s terrible.”
Josie squeezed back and chose her next words carefully. “It was a long time ago, and I had a lot of therapy. I have emotional scars, for sure, but I have a really good life.”
Holly leaned back in her chair and intently studied the contents of her teacup. When she looked up again, with a haunted expression on her face, Josie gave her a gentle smile.
“If you ever want to talk, I can listen as a therapist or as a friend.”
“Maybe some time,” Holly answered.
Josie left it at that and reached for her laptop bag. “Let me show you some initial renderings.”
They spent another half hour discussing the plans, and Josie could feel Holly’s enthusiasm for the project grow.
“I think this is the right thing to do,” Holly said as Josie packed her laptop and files.
“I’m so glad you think so. I’m going to meet with the executive board, and we should have an offer for you by next week. Does that work?”
Holly nodded as she walked Josie to the door. “Do you think there’s anything I could do to help?”
Josie smiled. “We’re going to need volunteers for all sorts of things. Did you have something in mind?”
“Maybe gardening? Let me think about it,” Holly answered.
“I’ll be in touch soon,” Josie said with a wave.
As she backed out of the driveway, a satisfying sense of accomplishment filled her, but all too quickly, anticipation had her stomach in knots.
She only had a few minutes to get herself under control before she was pulling down Adam’s driveway.
He’d parked his SUV on one side of the garage and left the bay door open. There was no sign of Joan’s car.
Josie knocked softly on the door before opening it.
“Hello?” she called.
“In the kitchen.”
She followed the sound of Adam’s voice and found him already changed out of his dress pants and button-down shirt into sweatpants and a soft t-shirt. Josie wanted to bury her face in his chest and just inhale him. Instead, she stood frozen in the middle of his kitchen.
He’d been unloading a grocery bag, but when Josie didn’t move from her spot, he turned around.
“Hi,” he said, a welcoming smile on his face.
“Hi,” she whispered.
When she still didn’t move, he took a step toward her.
“Everything okay?”
She swallowed hard and nodded. Adam’s eyes panned up and down her body, taking in every inch of her before landing back on her face. Her pulse pounded and a wave of heat swept through her. She wanted him to touch her, needed him to touch her, but she couldn’t form the words to ask.
The look on Adam’s face changed. His playful smile faded, and he pinned her with a gaze so intense it made her knees shake. He stepped so close, she could feel his body heat, smell his skin, feel his breath on her cheek, but he didn’t touch her.