Chapter 1 #2
“Like what.” She put her arm on his shoulder and sat down on the step to look him in the eye.
“I haven’t told him how I really feel about Abby,” Travis said. “She’s nice enough. But I don’t like her, not for a mom and I didn’t want him marrying her. We are a family. If he was going to marry anyone it should have been you, Jillian. You should be my mom just like he’s my dad.”
He flung himself into her arms, his unexpected tears soaking her shirt. She held him close as he wept. “Oh Travis, honey, you know that was never going to happen,” she murmured. “I work for your father. He’s my boss. That’s all there has ever been between the two of us.”
“But it could have worked if you tried,” he said through his tears. “Before he met Abby.”
“No. It wouldn’t have. We don’t like each other that way. Not the way your father loves Abby,” she tried to explain setting him away from her and wiping away his tears. “Your father dated Abby for two and a half years before he asked her to marry him. Why am I just hearing how you feel now?”
He sniffed and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. “What if Abby tries to get rid of you now that she has married my father?” he said. “What if she wants you out of our lives?”
Jillian shook her head. “I don’t think Abby would do that, but I understand your concerns and I promise you that I would not go quietly if your father suggested that I leave my position once he returns from his honeymoon.”
Travis smiled weakly at her, looking like he might begin to cry again.
“I wouldn’t leave you for a million years,” she assured him.
He flung himself in her arms again. “I love you, Jillian. You’ll always be my mom in my heart, no matter who dad marries.”
She squeezed him tight, unable to say anything.
She loved him but never considered he felt this way about her.
Or that their bond might cause an issue for Mr. McGinty’s new wife.
She’d have to talk to him when he returned from his honeymoon for sure and figured out if there was any way she could help Travis accept Abby as his stepmom.
She’d really hate it if she did have to leave the McGinty’s employment to do it.
After a few moments, she released him. “Okay, enough of this. Mrs. Hudson is waiting for our help whether she knows it or not. First thing though, you need to march down to the guest bathroom and wash your face and hands. We can’t have her seeing any sign of those tears when you walk into the kitchen. ”
He nodded and gave her a salute before he ran down the steps in front of her.
Then she slowly followed, realizing that if her attacker had been successful today she wouldn’t have been here tonight to hear Travis’ confession.
She had to be more careful from now on when she went out.
It was clear someone was out to get her and until she knew who or why she had to be on guard.
The next morning, Jillian and Mrs. Hudson dropped Travis off at Playland Day Camp on time and then headed to where Jillian had parked her car yesterday afternoon.
Travis had chattered nonstop about his field trip, so it was nice for a little quiet when he got out.
He’d happily joined his fellow field trippers on the sidewalk at the designated meeting spot.
“He sure is excited,” Jillian said.
“That he is,” Mrs. Hudson agreed, pulling away from the curb.
“I can’t remember when I’ve seen him so animated.”
“Now that we have some time alone, are you going to tell me what happened to you yesterday?” Mrs. Hudson asked. She was, Jillian knew, a get-to-the-point kind of person. Stalling her would be a waste of time.
“A man came at me from nowhere, knocked me down, but didn’t take anything. There were witnesses so that is why he ran off and didn’t try to rob me.”
Mrs. Hudson frowned. “This is twice in a matter of weeks.”
“I know,” Jillian said.
“Do the police have any leads?” her friend asked.
“I don’t think they do,” Jillian said. “The detective I saw yesterday oversaw the first mugging I reported, and he was just as baffled by it happening to me again.”
“You have to tell Mr. McGinty,” Mrs. Hudson said sternly. “Wedding or not this time.”
“I will,” Jillian said.
Mrs. Hudson shook her head and continued her drive across town in silence. Pulling up besides Jillian’s car, she said, “Be careful when you go to the police station today and come home safely.”
“I will,” Jillian assured her, getting out and going to her car.
She quickly drove to the police station to give her formal statement hoping this would settle matters and she wouldn’t have to do it again.
When she made it there without incident, she felt things were going well and she parked across the street in the pay lot. Then she crossed at the corner.
Luckily, Detective Simons was in, and she didn’t have to wait long. When she’d finished giving her statement and signing it, he walked her to the door to see her outside.
“Thank you for coming down this morning, Miss Grant,” he said. “I hope this wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”
“It was no problem,” she replied. “I wanted to get this over with in hopes you can catch whoever is doing this to me.”
“I hope we can as well,” he said. “You be careful going home.”
“I will,” she said, heading for the crosswalk. She was halfway in the middle when a car came out of nowhere, speeding right toward her.
“Miss Grant, watch out,” Detective Simons yelled.
She started to run to the other side of the street, but the car surged forward, hitting her and then sped out of sight.