Chapter 9
Micah pulled out of the hospital lot with Naomi in the passenger seat, the glow from the entrance fading in the rearview mirror as they headed back toward Refuge Cove.
He’d checked the lot before he left. The red truck was gone.
If Naomi hadn’t been with him, he would have checked the plates. But he hadn’t wanted to alarm her. He was, however, still on guard.
Naomi sat quietly beside him, her hands folded in her lap and her gaze fixed on the dark road ahead.
“You okay?” He kept his tone light.
She nodded. “Yes. I’m just . . . processing.”
He understood. Anyone in her situation would be like this.
They drove a few minutes in silence, the road narrowing as the town thinned and the forest closed in around them. Micah’s attention stayed divided—half on Naomi, half on the mirrors.
That was when he noticed the headlights behind him.
The vehicle wasn’t close enough to be obvious. But the lights didn’t drift back like normal traffic. They were just there—holding steady through the curves.
Micah eased off the accelerator.
The vehicle behind them did the same.
His jaw tightened.
He didn’t say anything to Naomi. She’d had enough fear for one night, and until he was sure, there was no reason to add more. Still, tension crept up his spine as he took a longer route than necessary, letting the road wind where it usually didn’t.
Naomi shifted beside him. “Is this way quicker?”
Of course, she would notice.
“About the same,” he said. “Less traffic.”
She seemed to accept that and settled back into her seat.
Micah signaled and turned onto a narrow side road that dipped briefly before looping back toward the main route. For a moment, the headlights followed.
Then they slowed.
Micah checked the mirror as he rounded the bend.
The other vehicle disappeared.
He kept driving anyway, pulse still thudding, every instinct on edge.
When they reached the next intersection, he paused longer than necessary, scanning the darkness before continuing on.
Naomi glanced at him. “You sure everything is okay?”
“I’m just being cautious.”
They didn’t speak again until Refuge Cove came into view. Micah punched his code in at the gate—they’d given him his own in case of emergencies—and he waited until the metal slid open.
Only when they were parked near the garage did he ease his grip on the steering wheel.
The other car hadn’t reappeared, but his gut told him that driver behind them hadn’t been there by coincidence.
He swallowed and turned off the engine.
Naomi reached for the door then hesitated. “Thank you. For tonight. For . . . everything.”
Micah met her gaze. “I admire your decision. But it’s not going to be easy.”
She gave a small, tired smile. “Nothing worth doing ever is.”
“True.”
She paused another moment. “Want to come in for a moment? I mean, I know you probably want to get home. It’s been a long day. But I can fix you some coffee or tea.”
He didn’t have to consider her request for long. “If you don’t mind, I’d like that.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Micah stepped out into the cold night air, already knowing one thing with absolute certainty: Whatever was coming next, he wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
Naomi stepped inside the house, relishing the warmth that hit her.
The yellow lab hit her next—literally.
The dog ran through the house and pounced, both of his front paws hitting her shoulders.
“Whoa, down boy!” She couldn’t help but laugh as she placed his paws back on the floor.
“Sorry!” Caleb came running after the canine. “He has a mind of his own.”
“I can’t believe you let him inside the house.” She’d expected her brother to leave the dog in the kennel.
“Something told me you might want to visit with him more,” he murmured. “And I knew he’d definitely want to see you. I fed him, gave him a bath, and then introduced him to everyone. He’s already one of the boys. Even Biscuit likes him.”
Biscuit was Millie’s dog, a quiet cocker spaniel.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Naomi murmured. “Thank you. I’ll put out feelers for his owner soon. Tomorrow maybe.”
Except she had a lot going on tomorrow.
Having this dog here wouldn’t help things. But another part of her was glad the animal was here. Something about the dog brought her a surprising joy.
Speaking of which . . . she really needed to give the dog a nickname at least. She couldn’t keep calling him “the dog.” Or maybe she could . . . at least for now. Maybe a vague name would stop her from getting too attached.
Caleb shook hands with Micah, who’d come in behind her.
At once, the atmosphere turned more serious.
She knew everyone was waiting to hear an update.
They stepped toward the kitchen.
Max stood near the table. Millie was perched on the edge of a chair, concern etched across her face, and Biscuit lay in her lap. At the far end of the room, her mother rose slowly.
“Mom?” Naomi said, surprised to see her here this late.
Ruby King crossed the room and pulled her into a firm hug. “I heard you’d gone to the hospital. I couldn’t sit at home and wait.”
Naomi swallowed past the lump in her throat. Beyond them, the house was quiet. Madelyn, the woman staying with them, must have already turned in for the night.
She was glad. Naomi didn’t want her to hear this. The women they housed came for peace not drama.
She turned to her family. “We need to talk.”
Caleb nodded. “Absolutely.”
“But first—coffee.”
She started to make a pot of coffee when her mom stepped in and insisted on finishing. Naomi didn’t argue.
As her mom got everyone drinks, they gathered around the table.
Naomi remained standing. She couldn’t sit. She had too much pent-up energy.
With a warm drink in hand, she told them everything.
About the federal charges against Sissy. About the baby—so small and unaware. She explained the emergency placement, the paperwork, the waiting.
Then she told them her decision. “I’m going to take her. At least for now.”
She paused, unsure how they would take the news.
She would understand their hesitation. Understand if they didn’t want this.
She waited as the room fell silent.
Caleb exhaled slowly and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Are you sure? This is a big decision, Naomi. This affects all of us.”
“I know. I wouldn’t do it if I thought it put anyone in immediate danger.”
Millie leaned forward. “I can help. Whatever you need. Nights. Supplies. I’m here.”
A flicker of gratitude rushed through her, the feeling so sharp it almost hurt. She and Millie had quickly become friends, and Naomi was so glad to have her here.
Her mom spoke next. “Sarah would want you to do this.”
Naomi looked at her mother, tears springing to her eyes.
Her mom’s gaze was steady as she continued. “This is the ultimate act of grace. And grace is what this place was built on. We’ll keep that baby safe until we know what happens next.”
Grace . . . God kept showing her that word again and again. This was confirmation.
She’d never even talked to her mom about how God had impressed that word on her heart. But it kept showing up, and Naomi knew God was speaking to her.
Naomi’s chest tightened as she remembered there were other things she needed to talk about—things she’d rather avoid but couldn’t. “What about Richard?”
The name settled like a stone in the room.
“We’ve shown him what we’re made of before.” Her mom raised her chin. “And we can show him again.”
Micah shifted then, drawing their attention. “I won’t pretend this won’t complicate things. But I can help. Extra patrols. Additional precautions. Whatever’s needed.”
Caleb nodded. “We’ll take all the help we can get.”
Naomi let out a breath. For the first time since leaving the hospital, the knot in her chest loosened.
She wasn’t alone in this. The choice still felt heavy, but it no longer felt impossible.
Micah met her gaze. The idea of having him around brought her entirely more comfort than it should.
She couldn’t afford to get close to him, she reminded herself.
She and Gio had been broken up for a while now. And she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, but something about her time in New York made her wary of getting close to anyone.
Until she could resolve things in her past, it was best if she kept her distance from anyone other than her family.
She glanced at her feet, where the lab lay.
Her family . . . and this dog.