Chapter 4
Jenna
Breathe. Just breathe.
Partial truths. Give them partial truths.
“Jenna Williams?” a voice comes from the professor’s office. “We’re ready for you.”
I stand to my feet, dust off my black slacks, and paste a smile on my face. My blonde hair is pulled back in a nice clip and I take a moment to adjust the dark rimmed glasses without a prescription. It felt a little gawdy when I put them on this morning…
But it fits the vibe.
And honestly, I need this job.
“You can just take a seat here,” a heavily pregnant woman with graying hair peers up at me. “This won’t take long.”
“It can take the time it takes.” I keep my voice pleasant and take a seat, trying my best to steady my racing heart.
The woman, Dr. Shelby Shannon, sets her pen down. “Honestly, we’re just happy that you applied. I’m seriously in a time crunch. I’m supposed to start maternity leave tomorrow, and we’ve had zero applicants.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I frown, feigning the distress on her behalf, like the lack of competition isn’t exactly what I need. “I’m sure that’s been really stressful.”
“Something like that,” she laughs it off lightly. “But anyway, um,” she picks through a stack of papers. “I have to say that your resume was impressive. I’m shocked you’re not going for a higher value college.”
“Well, I’m taking some time off to focus on my own writings,” I lie, keeping the smile on my face. “I’m kind of in a transition in my life, so this interim position would work perfect while I figure out where I’m going from here.”
She nods. “I completely understand. This will be pretty basic. I just need you to take over my course—the entire semester has already been planned and syllabus have been given out to students. They’ll know what to expect.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” I say, because honestly, it’s a fucking relief I won’t have to consult Google for this entire endeavor. “I’ll make sure to stick to your plans for the classes.”
She nods, her hair bobbing around her chin. “I really think you’ll do fine. You’ll need to do the final paperwork, and I’ve already submitted for background checks.”
Oh fuck.
“You’ll get an official email today or tomorrow with the job offer, as long as the background check clears.” Her warm brown eyes hold mine. “But I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
I let out a light laugh. “Of course.”
Dr. Shannon brushes some of her hair out of her face. “My guess is this is probably the easiest job interview you’ve ever had.” Her cheeks grow a deep ruddy shade, but I wave her off.
“Honestly, it’s a blessing,” I say, keeping my voice light. “I’ve ran my savings pretty tight. Like I said, I’m in a bit of a transition period.” My voice dips slightly with emotion, and I inwardly cringe at the partial truth that hurts a little more than I want to admit.
Her expression softens more, and she opens her mouth to say more, when there’s a sharp knock on the door. She holds up her index finger to me, and then calls out, “Yes?”
“It’s Molly Bradford,” a sweet, soft voice replies on the other side of the door. “I just need to drop off my essay.”
Dr. Shannon sighs. “Of course, come in.”
The heavy wooden door creaks as it swings in, narrowly missing the back of my chair. In walks a dark headed, blue eyed young woman, weighed down by a backpack. She’s holding a packet of papers—which I assume is the essay.
“I know you’re leaving tomorrow, and so I wanted to get this to you,” Molly, I presume, walks right up to the desk. She doesn’t even notice me sitting in the chair, and I don’t bother to question it.
Kids will be kids.
“I know you requested hard copies since you’ll have the interim professor,” the student continues to rattle off. “I was freaking out. My mom’s new boyfriend has totally taken over my mom’s home office, and like, I couldn’t even use the stupid printer.”
I raise my brows at the overshare.
“I take it you went to your dad’s?” Dr. Shannon doesn’t even miss a beat with the info dump, like it’s completely normal to talk about highly personal things.
“Yeah,” her voice drops in a way that I don’t understand. “He’s been so strung out lately though. With the farm.”
“Closing season tends to be like that,” Dr. Shannon takes the essay from the girl. “Also, this will probably be who takes my place for the remainder of the class.” She gestures to me, and the girl whips her head around, eyes wide.
“Oh. I didn’t even see you there. I’m so sorry.”
Story of my life.
“It’s okay.” I smile. I’m used to just flying under the radar. I’m the kind of woman who can stand next to someone I went to school with in my small town, and they don’t even come close to remembering me.
It used to be an insult.
Now, I realize it’s a superpower.
“This is Dr. Jenna Williams,” Dr. Shannon says, and the fake last name almost feels real in the moment.
“Molly Bradford,” the girl says her name, her eyes scrutinizing. “You look familiar. Are you from around here?”
I shake my head, swallowing the way my heart jumps in my chest. “No, I’m actually not. I’m from Texas.”
“Oh,” her brows raise, her voice flattening. “You’re a long way from Texas.”
“Sometimes change is good.”
“Absolutely,” Dr. Shannon echoes me, and then nods to the door. “Thank you for dropping off the essay, Molly.”
“Of course,” she snaps her gaze from my face to her professor’s, and then gives her a nod. “Best of luck with the baby.” With that, she exits the office, shutting the door behind her.
Dr. Shannon lets out a sigh, and then meets my gaze with a smile. “She’s one of my best students. Her family runs the big tree farm at the edge of town. Really great people. Her father is a decorated retired Marine Officer.”
Something hangs in my throat.
“Oh.” I force the word out. “Well, that’s good to know.” I pick at a piece of lint on my pants, and then look up at her. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about me?”
“Can you start tomorrow?” She bursts into a light laughter, and I force myself to join her, as if somehow, that’s actually funny.
“Well, I can,” I say as the laughter dies down.
“Then be looking for my email after we get the background check back.” She wraps up my interview then, and I stand to my feet, feeling a little imbalanced.
Honestly, this felt way too easy.
Other than the background check. Ugh.
I ignore the sick feeling in my stomach. “Thank you for your time. Hopefully, I’ll hear from you soon.”
“Thank you.” She gives me a final nod, and I slip out the door of the office, heading straight for the nearest exit.
I push through the doors, the sharp, cold Colorado air slapping me across the face and cutting through my cheap black coat.
I wrap my arms tighter around myself, and then scan the area.
Cade, are you really around here?
I pull out my phone and scroll to the picture of the presumed Cade and the man with the cowboy hat. I stare at the location, and then make my way to the parking lot listed. I slip past laughing students, dead grass peeking through melting snow, and the faded holiday party flyers.
I follow a sidewalk, my flats quiet on the pavement, to a gravel lot on the very edge of campus. I glance back down to the photo, matching the background of a parking garage. Nothing about it stands out.
My gaze scans the cars, the ground, and the faces, as if somehow, maybe it’ll bring my brother out of the air right here.
Obviously, it doesn’t.
I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath. I just need to pass this stupid background check, then I’ll make a plan. And what is that plan?
I have no freaking idea.
And before I can mull it over too much, my phone blares, my mom’s ringtone cutting through the icy air. I glance down at her face filling the screen, an older, more traumatized version of myself.
“Hey,” I answer the call, mostly just to make her face go away. “What’s up?”
“Where are you, Jen? You’ve got me worried sick. You were in California, then you sent me some message about going to Colorado? What is going on?”
“It’s complicated,” I clear my throat, unsure of exactly how to explain. “I was able to find a lead…”
“Oh honey,” her voice drops. “You think he’s really there?”
I stare at the spot where my brother might’ve stood. “I think there’s a chance he’s here, yeah. I’m just going to stay for a while and see what I can find out.”
“Are you sure? You can’t keep your life on pause, Jenna. Cade wouldn’t want that.”
I grit my teeth. “If Cade didn’t want me searching for him, then he would’ve found some fucking way to reach out to us.”
“It’s not safe…”
“And when has that ever stopped him?”
She’s quiet at that, letting a few beats of silence pass between us. “Do you need us to send you money?”
“I don’t want Lance’s money, Mom,” I counter, shaking my head as my fingers start to go numb around the phone.
“He would help you out, and you know it.”
“I don’t need a dad,” I spit back. “I’m thirty-one years old… But I am happy for you,” I add, because I don’t want her to think I’m being a dick. “I just don’t think Lance should help with this. He doesn’t even know Cade.”
My mom lets out a sigh. “Please just let me know if things get too tight for you.”
“I got a job here at a college,” I say carefully. “It should float me. If I can’t find him here, then… Then maybe it’ll be time to call it quits.”
“You’ll never call it quits, Jen. It’s not who you are.” My mom’s tone is nearly impossible to read. “Please be careful. And please…” Her voice trails off, but I already know what she’s thinking.
Please find him.