25. Chapter 25
The morning started off quietly, and I was thankful for it. Three hours later, and the whole damn place is packed.
“What can I get for you today, Mr. Mathews?” I ask Ainsley’s dad, Jim, as his eyes sparkle with mischief.
“Oh, just a drip coffee, please.”
That’s how I know something is going on. Every single person in here has ordered a regular drip coffee. I know for a fact half the people in here order complicated, fancy drinks. But not today.
“Coming right up.” As I get his coffee together, my mind wanders.
I have this gut feeling that Tennison is planning something big, but I can’t quite put my finger on what. The men seem to think they have it handled, but I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling about all of this.
“Here you go.” I slide Mr. Mathews’s coffee to him.
“Where is our dearest Oakley this morning?” he asks.
“He’s sick,” I throw out without thought. It’s not like I can tell everyone what’s actually happening. I can’t even imagine the panic that would incur.
“Well, I hope he gets to feeling better.” He winks and casually walks out the door.
“Willow Marie! Would you come here a second and settle something between Alice and me?” Mabel yells across the room.
This spells trouble. And with the already suspicious activity happening today, I’m keeping close tabs on these two.
“What’s up, Miss Mabel?” I ask, plopping down into the free chair at their table.
“Well, Alice here seems to think that Oakley buys all his pastries frozen while I think he makes them all. Perhaps you could settle that for us.”
Jesus, these two are ridiculous. It’s obviously a ploy to distract me. Keep me occupied. Who knows, but I do know it’s absurd.
“Well, everything set out today was in the fridge, but I know he makes almost everything. He makes the sandwiches fresh too, including the bread.”
Mabel and Alice look at each other with a knowing look, and I realize I just gave away more than just the freshness of his product. Within half an hour, the whole town will now know that Oakley and I are together in some form.
Crafty gossips. You can’t ever let your guard down around them.
“Well, that’s wonderful to know. And how about you, dear? Is this just a one-time thing? Or…” Alice trails off.
“I like to help out where I can. If you recall, I have also been known to help out Ledger at the nursery.” I smirk.
“Right, of course,” Mabel says, giving Alice the evil eye. I’d laugh if it wouldn’t offend them.
“What are you two lovely ladies up to today?” I ask, showing them no mercy if they want to play this oblivious game.
“We were just going to relax in here for a while, if that’s okay. But if you’re closing up, just let us know.”
“Perfectly fine.” I smile as I get up and start heading back to the counter. I feel everyone’s eyes as I walk. Freaking Arlo. It’s the only thing I can think of because he knows what’s happening with Tennison. He probably started some rumor he knew would lead everyone here.
The door rings overhead and in walk Ledger and Rina.
Lovely, just want I need—overprotective siblings.
“Change professions without telling us?” Rina smirks.
“How can I help you, dear lovely customer.” I bat my eyelashes at her.
“We haven’t heard from you in a while. Thought we’d stop by and see how things are going,” Ledger fills in.
Yeah, might have been hung up with Oakley too hard to send my usual “I’m alive and finished writing” text.
“Interesting, and your first instinct was to come here?” I ask, deflecting.
Ledger’s cheeks turn a little rosy, and I roll my lips to stop the laugh.
“Ainsley’s dad texted her,” he says.
Jim Mathews, that sly little tattle.
“Well, I finished the book yesterday, and I’ve been taking some time to decompress.”
“Decompress, is that what the kids are calling it?” Rina throws out.
“You sound like a dad making his money off of terrible dad jokes,” I retort. Not my finest comeback, but my head isn’t completely focused today.
“Okay, well, that’s fun. Invite him to family dinner this week!” Rina claps.
“So, you finished your book?” Ledger adds, ignoring Rina’s shenanigans.
“I did, thank God. I’m so glad it’s done. It’s officially off to the editor, so now it’s a waiting game.”
“Proud of you, Will. You’re kicking ass, as usual,” Ledger says.
After he took over guardianship of Lennox and me, he’s been the best role model I think anyone could ask for. So when he says he’s proud, he really means it, and he tells me after every single book gets written.
“Still haven’t heard why you are here, working behind the counter,” Rina continues as if no other part of the conversation happened.
“I’m helping out Oakley, who’s … sick today. I offered, and he agreed, that’s all.” I’m not lying about us, per se, I’m more lying about the fact that there is a serial torturer in the area going after him. And I’m not supposed to know about that, so he’s sick.
And here comes my anxiety.
“Sure, sure,” she murmurs.
“How’s Arlo?” I ask in retaliation. It’s the only thing that shuts her up, and it’s a dick move on my part, but I don’t want to talk about Oakley. Not when my heart is beating too fast and a bead of sweat is running down my back, all because I’m worried about him.
“Well, this was fun,” Ledger cuts in because he knows a full-blown fight usually comes next if we continue our needling. “Let us know if you need anything today. Ainsley and I are just doing administration work.”
“And I’ll be at my workshop working on that custom order, so just call me.”
“Will do. Sorry I didn’t text you guys when I finished up the book. This one was rough.”
“No worries. We’ll see you Sunday, and we can hear all about it?” Rina asks.
“Absolutely. You guys want coffee?” I ask, realizing we’ve just been standing at the counter, talking.
“Nah, we just came in to see you,” Ledger says as he turns around.
Rina hangs back, waiting until he’s through the door to spin around.
“I need all the details later of everything going on between you and Oakley. Call me, or I will hunt you down.” She spins and is out the door before I can even start laughing.
When I finally stop laughing, my anxiety comes back in full force. Tennison being so close has my hackles raised, even though I’m surrounded by people I know.
I wonder how the guys are doing and if they’re any closer to figuring things out. They should talk to Lennox since he knows the damn park better than anyone.
Speaking of Tennison and the park, a memory sparks in my head.
I may not work in the park, like Lennox, but I grew up here and practically lived there when Lennox and I were trying to get some space from our siblings after our parents died.
A beat-up, old cabin sits on the eastern end of the park, where they got the tip about the car. It’s hidden away, and you have to know its existence to find it, but it is possible to find it. Lennox and I would go there if we wanted to be alone, and I always brought a book. I’m not even sure if it’s still standing, but it’s the only actual building there not taken care of. The rest are all official properties that are looked after religiously, and they’re at the entrance of the park.
That’s it.
I don’t even think, I just scramble to pull my phone out and find Oakley’s name, hitting dial as I walk back to his office.
The phone rings and rings, and rings with no answer. My panic level is through the roof now. He would answer for me; I know he would.
I switch plans because for, some reason, this stupid little dilapidated cabin feels important to everything. Pulling up Arlo’s number next, I call him.
“Everything okay, Willow?” he asks after the second ring.
“Yes, no. No, but I think I have an idea of where Tennison could be hiding out.”
“Willow—”
“There’s a cabin on the eastern side, almost dead center on the property line. No one knows it’s there, and if he found it, it’s the perfect spot for…” I can’t bring myself to say it.
“We’ll look into it. Thanks for the information. And Will?”
“Yeah?”
“He’s okay, just on a phone meeting with his old boss about how he should proceed since he technically doesn’t work on the force anymore.”
“Thank you,” I whisper and quickly hang up.
Tears fill my eyes at the relief of just hearing nothing happened. Something as simple as not answering the phone when the unknown is so huge right now makes me think the absolute worst. I need James to be safe.
I need him to come back to me.