Chapter 33
Saturday absolutely inched by, and Sunday morning wasn’t much better since they’d decided it was safer for Hailey not to attend church today. Her parents had gone though, taking Jenna with them.
As a warm breeze lifted her hair from her neck, Hailey tried to focus on decorating for her mom’s surprise party. Despite her efforts, she kept finding her mind bouncing between tomorrow’s fast-approaching deadline and the developments in Stefania’s case.
What had her coworker gotten herself involved in? And perhaps more importantly, what was Hailey going to do?
Allye had dropped by yesterday with some of the party decorations.
While they squirreled them away in the barn, where Hailey’s mom was unlikely to discover them, Allye had also passed along a message from Eric that he was working on a plan.
That gave Hailey little comfort since she had no idea what said plan entailed.
He would be here this afternoon, so she was hoping for an update.
She handed another balloon to Peter. At least he hadn’t left her again. After Friday’s mind-boggling discoveries, he’d made the decision to call into work so he could return to the Jessup farm. Because of his recent concussion, his boss hadn’t questioned him.
So now he was up on a ladder, helping her hang balloons and party streamers from the edges of the pop-up canopies Allye had somehow managed to commandeer and, more shockingly, managed to fit inside her Jetta.
Thankfully, the temperature had dropped to a bearable level.
With over forty people on the guest list, they’d had no choice but to move the gathering outside.
Originally, the party had been planned for Hailey’s larger house and yard with options for guests to choose between indoor and outdoor seating, but they’d had to scrap that part of the plan since she still didn’t know if it was safe to return home.
She had wondered whether it was a good idea to have the celebration at all, considering everything going on.
But it was her mom’s sixtieth birthday, and they’d had the surprise party planned for months.
Mom deserved this, and it wasn’t like they had anything better to do today.
Peter cleared his throat, and Hailey realized he was waiting for another balloon.
“Oops, sorry.” She scooped one from the bin she’d carried them in and handed it to him.
“You doing all right?”
She took a moment to answer, knowing he wanted the truth. “I’m scared,” she finally admitted. “I’ve got to give my answer tomorrow, and I’m afraid of what Mr. Luque will do.”
“You don’t have to meet with him. I could still help you relocate.”
Yesterday, he’d offered to do just that.
And maybe she should take him up on it. But the thought of what the CFO might do to her family still sent shivers up her spine.
She thought of her parents, her cousins, her aunt Julie, Dion and Lucky too—even if there were some way to take most of her relatives with her, Dion and Lucky’s adoptions hadn’t been finalized yet.
Legally, Eric and Allye couldn’t disappear with them.
But could she protect them by accepting the wrath of Alessandro Luque herself? Hailey didn’t know.
When she didn’t respond, Peter descended the ladder and turned her toward him. “No matter what you choose, I will do everything in my power to protect you.”
A lump formed in her throat. She wasn’t sure why his quiet assurance hit her so hard.
Then her brain stalled as she realized how near he was.
How comforting his hands felt on her shoulders.
How the gentle breeze wafted his subtle vetiver and bergamot scent her way.
How mere inches separated her lips from his.
Conflicting emotions pressed in on her. She had no idea how to reconcile them—especially not with Peter standing so close. Instinctively, she twisted from his gentle hold and hurried inside the house.
She wasn’t running away—or maybe she was, but only for a moment.
She just needed a few seconds to find her balance.
But as she entered the kitchen, a wave of sorrow almost doubled her over.
She gripped the table with both hands and bit her tongue to offset the pain of her emotions.
This wasn’t a convenient time or place to deal with them, but now was the time they’d chosen.
The quiet tread of rubber soles on laminate flooring let her know Peter had followed her inside. He didn’t immediately speak, but she could sense he wanted to.
Swallowing hard against the lump still in her throat, she turned to face him.
“I wish things were different.” She meant the choked words.
She wished she weren’t in danger, weren’t still living in the throes of grief, and instead were in a place where she could consider what they might have together.
Peter seemed to understand everything she wasn’t saying.
There was a longing in his eyes she hadn’t seen before.
Instead of responding with words, he brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
His touch was gentle, and this time she leaned into him.
The next thing she knew, his arms were around her.
For a long moment, he held her close, offering both comfort and strength to face what was ahead.
From outside, Maggie let out a sharp bark. Almost at the same time, Peter’s phone dinged with a message. “Someone must be here.”
Reluctantly, she stepped back, and he let her go. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as he headed for the door, pulling his phone from his pocket as he went.
“It’s Eric and Allye,” he called over his shoulder.
She pulled in a fortifying breath. Pressed her hands to her face. Her cheeks felt flushed. She wet a paper towel with cold water and dabbed at her face. She did not want her cousin to get any more ideas about her and Peter.
A moment later, the couple entered the kitchen, Allye leading the way with a brightly colored gift bag in addition to her other ever-present bags. Eric was close behind, a large sheet cake in hand.
“One second.” Hailey hurried to clear a spot on the table so Eric would have a place to deposit his burden. “Thanks for picking that up.”
“No problem.” Eric slid the cake onto the table, then straightened.
“Where are the boys?” Hailey peered down the hallway but didn’t see them.
“With my mom,” Allye answered, depositing her bags next to the cake. “Since we borrowed Corina’s truck to transport the tables and chairs, we didn’t have enough seats for everyone. Dion and Lucky were more than happy to claim some grandma time.”
Eric gestured toward the door. “I’m going to get things unloaded and set up.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Peter said.
Allye pulled Hailey into a quick hug before they followed the men outside. “How are you holding up? I won’t ask you for details—Eric already told me not to.” But she obviously knew something was wrong. It didn’t take a detective to figure that out.
“If I didn’t have the party to help distract me, I’d be a nervous wreck.” She wasn’t far from it now.
“Well, I’m glad we were able to go ahead with the party, then. I’m praying. God knows the details, even if I don’t.”
True. Hailey was praying too. Hard.
While the men unloaded plastic folding tables and chairs from the back of Corina’s truck, Allye leaned into the front, emerging with half a dozen shopping bags full of more party supplies.
Hailey could see festive paper plates, cups, and napkins—all in her mom’s favorite aqua blue—peeping from the tops.
“These are perfect,” Hailey said, taking half the bags from her. “Where did you find them?”
Allye winked. “I have my ways. Now, where are you planning to have the food and drinks set up?”
“On the porch. That way we don’t have as far to go with cleanup, and it leaves the canopied areas for seating.
” She’d already set up the folding table her parents used on holidays when all the kids and grandkids were able to make it home.
Well, technically, Peter had set it up, but she’d supervised and given it a good wipe-down since it had been stored in the barn for months.
She led the way to the porch as she spoke. By the time they reached it, her cousin had fished a white disposable tablecloth from the bottom of one of the bags. Together, they spread it over the table, and Allye quickly pierced each corner with a long twist tie and secured them to the table legs.
“That’s genius,” Hailey said.
“Isn’t it?” Allye looked toward the guys, who already had the other tables set up and were heading their way. Her grin slipped ever so slightly. “I know Eric wants to talk to you two, so why don’t you head inside with them, and I’ll take over out here.”
Hailey frowned. She needed to hear what Eric’s plan was, but she also didn’t want to leave her cousin to do all the work.
Though Allye’s health had greatly improved since last fall, they all knew she hadn’t fully regained her strength.
Anytime she pushed herself too hard, she ran the risk of her symptoms flaring.
Peter and Eric joined them on the porch. “Can I have a minute?” Eric asked. “I want to keep Allye out of this if at all possible.”
Her cousin pretended to pout. “He acts like I’ve never experienced danger before.”
Eric put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “If I have anything to do with it, those days are over. You’ve had more than your share of danger.”
Allye melted into his embrace. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you keep your secrets. Just be safe—all of you.” She pulled away and fixed the three of them with what could only be described as a motherly glare.
“That’s the goal,” Eric said.
Hailey shot another look at her cousin. “Don’t overdo yourself, please.”
Allye waved her on. “I won’t. Go.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and had a music app playing before they made it over the threshold.
Though the walk from the porch to the living room was short, Hailey’s trepidation grew with every step. She both looked forward to and dreaded hearing what Eric had to say. Inside, she perched on the edge of the couch, unable to relax enough to settle comfortably on the cushions.
Peter sat next to her, taking her hand in his. She didn’t pull away, despite Eric’s discerning gaze. She needed Peter’s strength.
Eric cleared his throat. “I don’t have details for you yet.”
Despite her best efforts, her shoulders slumped. If she had to wait much longer, she just might burst. “So why are we in here?”
“I needed to give you a heads-up before guests begin to arrive. Ms. Novak’s murder gave me a good excuse to contact the FBI.
” He gave Peter a pointed look. “Thank you for that suggestion. They are looking into it.” He focused on Hailey again.
“I spoke to an agent in person yesterday. We’re taking every precaution possible, but I needed to pull them in on your situation as well. ”
She nodded. The news wasn’t totally shocking, but it did send a warring mix of relief and terror coursing through her.
Getting the FBI involved was their best chance of bringing Alessandro Luque down.
But if someone dropped the ball and tipped off Eukaria’s CFO, he would know she’d disobeyed him.
She didn’t want to think about the consequences she could face.
“They need to talk to you. Today.”
That pronouncement did fill her with alarm. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Peter spoke for her. “Isn’t that a little too risky? He might be watching the house.”
“It is a risk. Everything is a risk, but I think it’s one we’ll have to take. This party is a great cover, and we’re going to use that to our advantage.”