18. Stella
EIGHTEEN
stella
True to his word, Max drove me back to the house and walked me to my bedroom door like a southern gentleman. Even though his intentions were altruistic, we proceeded to make out against the hallway wall like a pair of horny teenagers.
The only thing that broke us from our lust induced haze was a tiny whimper from Charlie’s room across the hall. The sound, like a shock of icy water, jolted us back to reality; that we weren’t two horny teenagers, but two adults with responsibilities.
His fingers brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his large hands cradling the side of my neck as he leaned down and kissed me with the gentlest touch of his lips, his murmured goodnight barely audible above the beating of my heart.
What I felt for Max was more than attraction; it was a primal pull, a deep yearning I couldn’t ignore.
Even after all the years I spent with Dean, well, our good ones, I’d never once felt this deep-seated desire that left me breathless.
Max made me come alive with every touch, and I was glad that the feelings weren’t one-sided.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of soft crooning country music coming from the kitchen.
I rolled over with a huge smile on my face and stretched out the stiffness of a good night’s sleep.
After checking the baby monitor to see that Charlie was already up and cared for, I made my way towards the delicious smell of bacon and coffee.
At eight in the morning, the kitchen was already a whirlwind of activity, filled with the clatter of dishes and cheerful chatter.
Seated around the table were Wade, Ray, Max, Charlie, and Pops.
Confused by the sudden family breakfast, and the aroma of a full three-course meal wafting from the kitchen, I paused in the doorway.
Beside Charlie, Max spooned scrambled eggs, apparently her new favorite meal, onto her tray. She attempted to use the baby spoon to scoop them into her mouth, but gave up and shoveled the eggs in with her hands.
The sight of the family seated around the table, a warm glow illuminating their faces, filled me with a wistful longing; their happy chatter creating a comforting atmosphere.
Family breakfasts were never a part of my childhood, even on the rare occurrence that both of my parents were actually home on a weekend.
Did Charlie and I have a permanent place here in this little group?
Or were we just bystanders that seemed to mesh well into their carefully built institution at the current moment?
I squashed down the self-deprecating thoughts that seemed to pop up every time I started letting my guard down and continued my descent upon the brewed coffee.
“Mornin’,” Pops called over the top of his own coffee cup.
“Good Morning. ”
“Saw y’all comin’ in late last night.” He said, darting his eyes knowingly between Max and I. I lowered my gaze to the floor as a light blush creeped across my cheeks. I risked a quick look up at Max, catching a glimpse of his sly smirk and a playful wink, his eyes twinkling.
As if the universe was throwing me a proverbial bone of avoidance, my phone chimed from the counter. I flipped it over to see who might be texting me. This kitchen held most of the people on my daily call log, so I couldn’t imagine who’d be texting me this early.
A gasp escaped my lips as my breathing hitched, a cold sweat breaking out across my brow, and my heart pounding in my chest.
Unknown Number: u can run but u cnt hide
I immediately felt light-headed and gripped the countertop behind me for support.
That was impossible.
It had been a month already, with radio silence. How had they found us? Had they found us?
The questions swirled through my head like a hurricane. I felt the rapid beat of my heart in my ears as I fought to breathe.
I sensed a warm presence step in front of me. He slowly took the coffee cup I’d been absent-mindedly clutching from my hand and set it on the counter.
I felt like I was floating in an ocean and everyone was speaking to me from above the surface, their voices muffled. Max’s words of comfort were lost in a blur, his voice a whispered hum against the roaring in my ears.
“Ma!” Charlie’s tiny voice called out through the haze, breaking me from my stupor. I shook my head, trying to clear away the fog of panic, the dizzying rush of fear still clinging to me like a shroud.
“Stella. What’s wrong?” Max asked while gently putting his hand around my phone in an attempt to pry it from my clutched hand.
I loosened my hold on the device and Max took it, studying the message that had sent me off the deep end.
I could see his rage bubbling to the surface as he stomped over to the table and slammed the phone down in front of Ray.
In her defense, she didn’t flinch. She read the message over with a furrow between her brows and looked at me in confusion.
“What is this?” She asked, her eyes scanning the cryptic message one more time.
Ray was perceptive, but I’d left everyone but Max in the dark about the danger Charlie and I were in. I didn’t want them being dragged into the darkness that I knew would eventually catch up with me.
Sighing, I sat down in one of the wooden chairs around the table. With a sigh, I knew it was finally time to share what had happened.
“I guess it’s time to tell y’all what brought us to Firefly Cove…” I started. Max sat beside me, taking my small hand in his, a warm reassurance that he was here for support, but this was my story to tell.
After twenty minutes, a million questions - primarily from Ray, and one scrambled egg induced meltdown, I’d finally coughed up a watered-down version of our story.
I left out the gritty details of seeing Dean’s lifeless body, but gave a comprehensive overview of how much danger we’d brought to their little town .
“I know this is a lot, and I don’t expect any of you to just up and throw yourself into the drama that I’ve brought to your doorstep. These people are unhinged and dangerous. I can’t expect you guys to put yourselves in their sights.”
The room was silent except for the nervous drumming of my fingers against the table as everyone absorbed the weight of my words.
I had expected them to insist that we move, but without hesitation, Pops stood up, placed his hand on my shoulder, and declared with the weathered gruffness only found in a cowboy, “Family takes care of their own. We’ve got you. ”
I couldn’t stop the tears from falling as I dropped my head in relief.
The process of learning to accept help from others had been challenging, but I was slowly getting better at it.
I realized that I needed to embrace the community we had built and stop fighting them every step of the way.
These people had proven time and time again that they weren’t going to run at the slightest hint of trouble.
Ray excused herself with the promise that she was going to call her dad and have him come over with any resources he could supply.
Having the Sheriff in your back pocket at a time like this wasn’t a bad idea.
The thought of retelling the whole story again filled me with dread, but Max’s comforting hand squeeze reassured me that I wouldn’t face it alone.
Less than thirty minutes later, Sheriff Cortez sat across from Max and me in the dimly lit living room, the air thick with tension as I repeated the story for what felt like the hundredth time.
I’d insisted Wade and Ray take Charlie outside; I needed to share the unvarnished truth and I didn’t want Charlie hearing all the gory details.
I figured they also didn’t need the gruesome specifics, but I wanted to ensure the Sheriff received every piece of information we possessed, no matter how unpleasant it was to recount.
“I can assure you, Stella, we will do everything in our power to catch these guys. I appreciate you being forthcoming in the information you’ve provided.” He had promised.
Instead of Ray coming to the ranch, I’d frequently drop Charlie off at their home, meeting Ray’s father in relaxed, unofficial encounters–usually in the midst of cheerful morning chaos.
He was always warm and inviting, a loyal family man.
He loved to recount how Charlie’s playful nature and unwavering optimism kept him young, that she was a constant reminder of the world’s goodness.
Having raised ten kids of his own, you could tell he was comfortable taking on that fatherly role.
I hadn’t heard much about Ray’s mom being in the picture, but I wasn’t about to pry into her home life.
I hadn’t ever seen her when I came to visit, so maybe one day she’d feel comfortable opening up to me about her.
Ray’s father showed no surprise when Ray placed Charlie on his lap during my first visit, even while she went back to grab things from the car. He’d tried everything to make her laugh: cooing sweet nothings, pulling funny faces, and bouncing her playfully on his knee, making horsey sounds.
Seeing him in his uniform and role as the hardened officer had thrown me off at first. One moment he was jovial and carefree, the next a stern protector; yet, both sides were driven by a fierce protectiveness.
I felt uneasy as I recalled the events to the best of my ability.
When I got to the part in the story describing my near assault, I could feel Max’s hand tighten around mine.
He’d refused to let go at any point between reading the text and now.
That grounding touch was comforting, a familiar weight that steadied me and gave me the strength to continue.
Sheriff Cortez, who’d insisted I call him Emmanuel, had assured me he would have his team working overtime on this case and they wouldn’t rest until we were safe.
He’d made sure I knew I had nothing to fear legally, and that I was a witness, not an accomplice.
I had been so scared of retribution; I hadn’t even stopped to think about legality.
Hearing his words did little to squash the dread that filled my body.
I knew he would do everything in his power to help, but the ease with which criminals skirted the justice system left me on high alert.
Somehow, even though I’d driven across state lines and over eighteen hours from the only home I’d ever known, they’d found us.
As we walked him out to his cruiser, Max’s hand resting on the small of my back, I once again thanked him for his help.
“If you receive any more messages from unknown senders, please pass them on to our office,” he insisted.
I nodded, fearing that if I spoke, I’d break down. A suffocating pressure bore down on me, the weight of the situation a palpable thing pressing against my chest. I was sure that if Max removed his hand from my back that I’d crumple to the ground in defeat.
I thought we had gotten away. How stupid could I be? You don’t outrun a murderer set on vengeance.
After the patrol car’s tires crunched on the gravel, disappearing down the driveway, Max put his arm around me, turning me back to the house.
I’m not sure how he could sense the quiet desperation radiating from me, the way I was barely holding it together, but I wasn’t going to question it.
I let him guide me back into the living room and sit me down on the sofa.
Retreating to the kitchen, I heard him rustling around in cabinets for a few minutes before reemerging with a steaming cup in hand.
“Tea.” He said simply, as if using too many words would snap the tightly wound tether on his restraint.
“Thanks.” I replied and brought the steaming cup to my lips. It hinted of cinnamon and clove as I took a slow sip. The warmth trickled down my throat and into my belly, instantly relieving some of my anxiety.
“When I was a kid, I’d have panic attacks,” Max stated while picking at a loose thread on the sofa. “Ma would always sit me down with a cup of chai tea. She said that the warmth ?was good for calming the soul.”
“I wish I could have met her.” I said, placing my hand on Max’s knee in comfort.
“She would have loved you.” His gaze met mine and a slight smile tipped up at the corner of his mouth. “She was fierce, loyal, and stubborn as hell. You remind me a lot of her. She would have gone to the ends of the earth to make sure Wade and I were safe, happy and loved.”
He used his signature move, a gentle lift of my chin, his eyes shining with sincerity, leaving no doubt about his words as he spoke.
“You’re an amazing mom, Stella. You did what you needed to do to keep yourself and Charlie safe. We’re not going to let anything happen to you two, I promise.” His sincerity met its mark, and I smiled weakly.
The group ambled back into the house, settling with soft thuds onto the plush living room furniture. One by one, they all nodded in agreement, a silent chorus of approval for Max’s earlier statement.
“We mean it, kid. You’re one of us now.” Pops said with a tender tilt of his lips. “Now, who’s gonna train this woman how to shoot?”
Laughter bubbled out of everyone in the room, myself included at Pops’s brisk change of subject.
“Now, that’s a great idea Pops.” Max said, scrubbing at the stubble on his chin in contemplation. I could see the wheels turning as he worked out logistics in his head.
I mean, it couldn’t hurt to learn.