Chapter 31 #2
He enjoyed watching her take in the space, her hand drifting across walls and furniture as if she wasn’t quite sure any of it was real. She looked out every window, though the scene outside didn’t change. Gray trees, dark green needles, and snow-covered ground.
Mei Lin seemed charmed by all of it.
Back in the great room, Gavin was unloading paper bags onto the kitchen counter.
Eggs. Bread. A whole roasted chicken that filled the air with its savory scent.
There was fruit, a few boxes of tea, and a carton of oatmeal, not to mention pill bottles filled with various medications and vitamins—everything they could want and more.
“Those clothes are for Mei Lin.” Gavin indicated a large shopping bag on one of the barstools. It had woven handles tied together by a ribbon and holding a note.
I hope everything fits —B
Before he could ask, Gavin said, “They all do that—sign with their initials. That’s from Brooklynn. She loves to shop.”
Ethan’s half sister had gone shopping for Mei Lin?
Unless he counted that awkward moment in Virginia when Gavin’s daughters had caught him and Gavin having lunch, Ethan had never met her.
He could picture her, though. Long curly brown hair.
She’d worn a bright pink dress with white polka dots and looked like the kind of person who smiled a lot—though she hadn’t been smiling that day.
Mei Lin peeked into the bag. “This is all for me?” Her voice held a tone of wonder.
Gavin smiled at her. “Let us know if you need anything else.”
Alyssa had helped them escape that Chinese village whose name he couldn’t remember. Cici’s fiancé was hauling groceries into a New Hampshire kitchen. Brooklynn had picked out clothes for a half sister-in-law she’d never laid eyes on.
Ethan had a family, and they were here for him. At one time in his life, it had been all he’d wanted.
Asher came in, carrying more paper sacks and set them on the island. “The front office is mine. There’s a sofa in there. I’ll sleep during the day and be up at night.” He met Ethan’s eyes, then turned to include Mei Lin. “If anyone comes near, wake me, even if you think it’s nothing.”
“Got it.”
“I set up a couple of cameras earlier, one near the road, one covering the back of the property. They’ll alert me if anything moves within their view, but this is a huge property. I can’t watch all of it. So stay alert. Stay inside. If you need something, I’ll take care of it.”
Ethan said, “Gotcha.”
“We’ll be careful,” Mei Lin added.
Asher took his duffel and disappeared toward the foyer. A moment later, a door closed.
Gavin stowed something in the fridge, then closed it. “He’s really good. Just do what he tells you, and you should be fine.”
Mei Lin folded her hands in the careful way of hers. “Lu Feng doesn’t know where we are, though, right?”
“As far as we know.” Gavin’s tone was guarded. “But we don’t know where he is, either.”
Ethan slipped his arm around her but spoke to his father. “Are you staying?”
“I haven’t seen my wife in a week, so I’ll be with her, but I’ll coordinate with State and the people searching for Lu Feng. We have intelligence assets working to root out the entire organization.” He focused on Mei Lin. “They may need your input.”
“I’ll do whatever you need.”
“I know you will.” Gavin’s phone dinged. “That’s my ride.” He put on his coat, then approached Mei Lin and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Thank you for…” Her voice faltered.
“Of course.” He turned to Ethan. “I’m proud of you. You got her out.”
“With your help, and Michael’s, and Alyssa’s—”
“Great things are never done alone, son. We all do our part.” He held out a hand, but Ethan ignored it and gave him a hug.
“Thank you.”
Gavin held him tightly. “Anytime, anything.” He backed up. “I’ll be in touch. You two get some rest.”
After Gavin left, Mei Lin continued her tour, climbing the stairs to the second floor.
Ethan followed, but not too closely. He was giving her space. By the time he reached the landing, Mei Lin was disappearing through a door at the end of the hall.
Ethan stopped at the threshold.
The room had two giant windows that faced the rear of the house and its expansive view. A four-poster bed was positioned so that whoever slept there would wake to the scene. Even with the cloudy sky, the space was bright and cheerful.
“Can I stay in this one?” She turned to look at him. “I missed the sun.”
Her words were so casual, but the reminder had his insides twisted just like they did every time he thought about that prison.
He’d never been a violent person, but if he ran into Lu Feng, it would be a challenge not to hurt the monster who’d locked his wife away.
“I’ll get your things.” Ethan went downstairs, grabbed Mei Lin’s backpack and the bag of clothes Brooklynn had sent from the great room, and returned to her open door.
She was staring out the window.
“I’ll just put these on the bureau.”
She turned. “Thank you.”
“Are you hungry? I thought I’d take a shower and then start breakfast.”
Her gaze flicked to the bed. She must be exhausted, but she said, “I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”
He left the bags and then walked down the hall and across a catwalk that led to the opposite side of the house. He chose the room at the far end. A queen bed, a cushy chair, and a long stretch of carpet between his room and hers.
It wasn’t an apartment building, but he’d make it work.
Water poured into the washing machine down the hall, and the smell of detergent drifted into the kitchen. Ethan had thrown in everything they’d worn since he’d found Mei Lin in Changsha.
Flurries drifted past the window. It was cold enough for the snow to stick, adding to the accumulation already there.
After starting a fire in the fireplace with wood he found stacked in the garage, Ethan perused the food options.
Gavin had stocked the place with enough to feed them for weeks. There were two boxes of pancake mix and three flavors of cereal. The fridge held two dozen eggs, a package of bacon, a pound of butter, and a quart of cream. And that was just the breakfast food.
He pulled out the eggs and butter and was reading the back of the pancake mix when his cell rang. He was happy to have his own phone back…mostly. He half wished he could keep avoiding all the people he’d neglected to talk to for days.
He looked at the screen, then closed his eyes.
Might as well get it over with.
He swiped to connect the call. “Hey.”
“Thank God you’re all right.” Holly sounded breathless with relief. “When I saw your text this morning… I can’t tell you how worried I was.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t have my phone, and…” He needed to stop making excuses.
His whole life, he’d blamed people for betraying him. Somehow, he’d become the betrayer.
He should’ve told Holly the truth from the very beginning. His reason—that he hadn’t been sure the woman on the phone really was Mei Lin—didn’t hold water. He still could’ve told her. He hadn’t because he hadn’t wanted to deal with her emotions—just like Gavin had guessed.
Holly was kind and smart and generous, and maybe, with a little more time, he could have learned to love her back. He probably would have.
Now, he had to break her heart. “I need to tell you something.”
“I’m sure. Whatever you’ve been doing has kept you…distracted.”
He closed his eyes. “Mei Lin’s alive.”
Holly’s only response was a quick intake of breath.
“She called, and I wasn’t convinced it was her.” He gave Holly the short version of the events of the previous week. “We’re safe now. Hopefully, I’ll be back to work soon.”
There was a very long pause on the other end of the line.
He didn’t fill it, just let her process.
After a minute, she said, “Your wife is alive.”
“I didn’t know. If I’d had any inkling—”
“No, I…I get it. I’m just… Wow. She’s okay?”
“She’s…” Holly didn’t need the details. “She will be, yes.”
“Okay.” Holly sighed. “I’m happy for you.”
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you sooner. I was just…” No excuses.
“It’s not exactly an easy conversation.”
She was too generous. This would be easier if she weren’t so kind.
Movement had him looking up to where Mei Lin was walking down the stairs. Maybe he should’ve taken this call in his room, but…no. He needed to stop hiding things from the woman he loved—and the one he’d been dating.
Mei Lin had changed into a white sweater and dark skinny jeans that weren’t quite skinny enough. Her hair was damp, her face scrubbed clean.
She looked beautiful.
He forced his gaze away and spoke to Holly. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“Nope.” Her voice was unnaturally perky. “You’re good. I’m happy for you.” Her voice broke, but she plowed on. “I gotta run.”
Three abrupt beeps told him she’d ended the call. He closed his eyes, feeling like the total jerk he was.
Arms snaked around his waist. “Was that Holly?”
“Yeah.”
“She okay?”
“I don’t know. I guess.” He tossed his phone on the couch and returned Mei Lin’s embrace, accepting the comfort he didn’t deserve. There was nothing he could do about Holly. He hadn’t handled it well, but it was over now.
“Are you okay?”
He looked down at the woman in his arms. “It’s always been you, sweetheart. Always.”
She rested her head on his chest, and he inhaled the mild scent of vanilla coming from her wet hair.
And then she stepped away, looking almost shy, and headed for the kitchen.
He followed. “Good shower?”
“Mm.” She slid onto a stool at the island and folded her arms on the counter. “Any shower with hot water is good.”
He rounded to the opposite side of the island. “Was there no hot water in prison?”
“There were no showers.”
And there it was again, that swooping feeling in his stomach. He forced a smile. “Hungry?”
“I am. I should help, but I don’t have the energy.”
“I got it.” He measured out the pancake mix and cracked two eggs into a separate bowl. Now that he’d talked to Holly, he felt lighter. Who knew guilt was such a heavy load?