Chapter 26 #2
By the time Zoe and I left Harbor House at the end of the day, the weather was freezing. I was exhausted, but my earlier meeting had been highly successful—a significant check for the center that will fund beds into Spring. The knowledge of this impact lifted my spirits, however briefly.
I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with cold air—it had that raw edge of coming snow. I watched every car in my rearview mirror on the way to Lucas's school, half expecting the dark sedan to reappear.
It didn't. I'm not crazy. I know he's out there. I know he's watching.
Lucas came running out of the building with his backpack half-zipped and his jacket unbuttoned. He grinned when he saw me, but the moment he noticed my face, his smile faltered. "Mom? You okay?"
"Of course, honey. I'm fine. Just had a long day." I lied automatically. "Hop in, buddy."
I waited until we were on the highway before saying, "We're going to Aunt Felicity's tonight, alright?"
Zoe gasped. "Sleepover?"
"Something like that."
Lucas frowned. "But it's a school night."
"I know. I'll talk to your teacher. I just... need to take care of a few things." My voice was calm, controlled, but my hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly they ached.
He watched me in the rearview mirror for a long time before saying quietly, "Is it because of him?"
I almost missed the exit. My throat closed, the words caught somewhere behind my teeth. "Who?"
"The bad guy—Bryce," he said. "I heard you on the phone last week. You told Aunt Felicity you thought he’d done something."
I forced a smile into the mirror. It's so easy to forget about little ears and how they hear things you’d never expect. "It's just a precaution, honey. I'm keeping everyone safe."
Zoe hummed to herself in the backseat, unaware. Lucas kept watching me like he didn't believe a word I said.
Then I heard his voice, quietly say, "I bet Reed would take care of it."
Felicity opened the door before I'd even knocked. "You look like hell," she said bluntly, pulling me into a hug.
"Love you too."
She glanced over my shoulder toward the car that was running with the heat on. "The kids?"
"Sleeping," I said. "I didn't want them to hear us talk."
Her expression softened. "Okay. Let's sit."
We sat on her front porch steps, bundled in coats, while keeping the car in sight.
The porch light spilled across the driveway, soft and gold against the dark.
My SUV idled quietly and through the windshield, I could see Zoe was still fast asleep in her car seat—her head tilted at an awkward angle that made me want to go fix it.
Lucas was in his booster seat beside her, chin tucked to his chest, lying on top of his backpack that he was clutching.
Watching them should have eased the knot in my chest. It didn't. The longer I sat there, the tighter it pulled.
My brother-in-law, Caden, emerged from the house with two mugs of tea, steam curling into the cold air. He handed one to each of us with a quiet nod before heading back inside.
"Start from the beginning," she said softly.
I told her everything. The car. The flowers.
The coffee, and more. Everything—I held nothing back.
Her hand tightened around the mug, knuckles white, but she didn't interrupt.
Why hadn't I already told her all of this?
I knew the answer though. There was something inside me that was still afraid that maybe I was just being paranoid.
When I finished, my voice barely worked. "I sound insane, don't I?"
She shook her head. "You sound scared. Which is fair. But you're not insane, Maliyah. If you think he's out there, then he probably is. I wish you would have told me what was going on before now."
My throat burned. "The cops think I'm just paranoid."
"The cops don't live your life." She glanced toward the kids again. "You did the right thing bringing them here. They'll stay with us tonight. You stay, too."
"I can't."
"Maliyah—"
"I need to go home," I said, forcing the words out before she could stop me. "If I don't, I'll spend all night wondering if he's there. I just... I need to see for myself."
She stared at me like I'd lost my mind. Maybe I had.
"At least call Reed," she said finally. "You don't have to tell him everything, just—let him know what's going on. He'll listen."
I looked down at my hands wrapped around the mug, steam curling into the cold air. "I haven’t spoken to him in weeks. He won’t care. And I can’t just run to him because I’m falling apart."
"You're not falling apart," she said softly. "You're trying to survive. Stay here Maliyah. Let us be here for you. We have an alarm, cameras, the works. It's safer here."
I looked back toward the car. Zoe was still asleep but Lucas had woken up. He was blowing fog on the window and tracing shapes into it. For a moment, I saw Reed sitting in front—his arm draped behind the headrest, eyes on me the way they used to be. I blinked hard and looked away.
"I brought stuff for them but nothing for myself. Even my work stuff is at home. But you're right." I sighed in resignation. "Let me go grab my stuff and I'll come right back," I said.
"Maliyah—"
"Please. Don't argue with me."
She pressed her lips together, then nodded once. "Fine. But you text me the second you get there. And if anything feels off—anything—you call 911 first, not me."
"Got it."
I helped her get the kids out and in the house.
"I'm coming with you," Caden said, forcefully.
"I'll be fine. Honestly, nothing's happened so far. I'd rather both of you stay with my kids and keep them safe. Leaving Felicity here with just the kids and Macy isn't a good idea given everything that’s happening."
"Then call Reed on your way," he said.
"Honestly—"
"No. Maliyah, I mean it. You call him or I'm coming. The cops won’t listen, but Reed’s a cop. At minimum he’ll offer some protection. What happened between you guys doesn’t matter when we’re talking about your safety. Please. Do this. For me."
I sighed. Giving up, I finally agreed. "Okay. I'll call him."
I pulled out of the driveway, her porch light shrinking in my rearview mirror. The street was quiet—too quiet. Every shadow felt like it was watching.
My phone sat in the cupholder, Reed's contact already pulled up from this morning when I'd seen his message and couldn't bring myself to open it.
I told Siri to call Reed.
It rang once. Twice. Three times.
"Hey, this is Reed Morrison. Leave a message."
Of course. Of course he didn't answer. My throat tightened as the beep sounded.
"Reed, it's me." My voice came out steadier than I felt.
"I know I have no right to call you. I saw you sent me a text earlier.
But I—" I swallowed hard. "Something's wrong.
Bryce is... I know he's been following me.
Watching me. The officers I've spoken to won't do anything because he's smart enough to stay just on the right side of legal, and I can't prove it's him. But I know it's him."
I stopped at a red light, checking my mirrors. Empty street behind me. Empty street ahead.
"The kids are safe. They're with Felicity. I just... I needed to tell someone who would understand." My voice cracked. "I needed to tell you. I'm going home to grab some things, then I'm going back to Felicity's."
The light turned green.
"I'm sorry. For calling. I shouldn't have. I—Um—bye Reed." I ended the call before I could say anything else I'd regret. Something about it just felt so—final.
My phone screen dimmed, still showing the unread message from Reed. I still couldn't make myself read it.
The drive to my apartment took a little more than fifteen minutes. I parked in my usual spot, scanned the lot twice. No dark sedan. No one watching. The pit in my stomach eased.
The building was quiet as I climbed the stairs. My neighbor's TV played through the door. The aromas of garlic and tomatoes hung in the air as I ascended the stairs. Normal. Everything was normal.
I unlocked my door, flipped on the lights. Everything looked exactly as I'd left it. I shot Felicity a quick text: “Made it to my place.”
I moved quickly—overnight bag, toothbrush, clothes, laptop.
Grabbed the kids' stuffed animals. Zoe's elephant, Lucas's dinosaur. My gun was already in my purse, but I checked the safety by instinct, though I knew it was on. I never leave home without it and I never leave the safety off. Not since I’d started carrying.
It took me half an hour to get changed and grab everything I could.
Felicity: Zoe's upset—says she needs Lani, her elephant????
Ha! Feeling accomplished as I looked down at the bag, Lani was lying right on top. The covert spot where the Harbor House tracker was stashed was facing me. If I didn't know where it was, I'd never guess.
Me: Already got it. It’s the elephant that the shelter gives away. #momforthewin
Felicity: Awesome. On your way back?
Me: Almost. I'll grab some ice cream on the way too.
Felicity: Sweet. My sweet tooth is raging. Get me bubblegum flavor.
Me: gross. What are you? Five???
Felicity: STFU don't be jealous of good taste. Finish up and get back here!
Me: Fine. I'll get you and my 4yo the same thing... be there in a bit
I was smiling as I shut all the lights and closed the door behind me.
I locked the deadbolt and started making my way toward the stairs.
I couldn't help but really appreciate my sister.
We would both do just about anything for each other.
I'd even get her bubblegum ice cream. Ridiculous, I thought as I chuckled to myself.
As I walked toward the stairs, I was stashing my phone in my purse and almost bumped into someone standing at the top of the stairs.
Backing up, I said, “Oh, sorry, I—”
My breath stopped. No. Not him. Not now.
"Hello, Maliyah." Bryce’s voice was calm, pleasant. Like we'd just run into each other at the store. "I think it's time we talked. Don't you?"