Chapter 35
Noelle
“Ithink you need to hydrate,” Grace told me, handing me the bottle of water I’d been avoiding.
“His car is still out there, and I already need to pee.” I carefully closed the gap I’d peeled into the papered window and sat back on our picnic blanket, picking up my crocheting.
I’d already made five little elves, complete with fluffy gray beards made from unspun yarn Grace had scored for me from the local craft shop.
I was getting a little crazy in my self-imposed house arrest, but Christmas was coming, and I’d decided to create as many gifts as I could.
I’d drop them off before getting on the bus on Friday. Or rather, Grace would.
I loved that my nightly wanderings had started the lore about a Christmas elf, and I didn’t want to break the illusion by revealing myself. But I’d still chosen to crochet elves. I couldn’t help it. Maybe they would help the people of Hideaway Harbor keep the myth alive.
The night before, Grace had acted as my substitute elf, dropping off Santa hats for the snowmen I’d made earlier for the schoolyard and the library entrance. I’d even made her check the café steps for ice buildup.
Grace was gifted at sourcing things and had quickly transformed the little shop into a makeshift pillow fort, complete with camping mattresses and a portable hot plate.
It was all very dangerous and illegal, and would have been so much fun, had I not been the worst camping buddy in the history of camping.
It was Thursday night, and something had been happening in the bookstore all day. Felicity’s van stood outside, the window was covered with cardboard, and the noise they were making carried through the wall. Needless to say, we hadn’t been able to use the bookstore bathroom.
I’d snuck out earlier to use the bathroom at the library, which was now closed.
If Fredrik never left the bookstore, I’d have to venture out into the night to a bar or a restaurant and risk being recognized.
The library had been so quiet that I’d been able to sneak in and out without bumping into anyone.
It probably helped that I had borrowed Grace’s beige jacket.
As well as needing to pee, I was desperately curious. What was Fredrik doing to his store? Was he selling it to cover his legal fees? I needed him to leave so I could use my secret spare key and take a peek.
When I was ready to burst, I finally heard the engine. I peeked through a tiny gap in the window and saw his car driving away. Finally!
I grabbed the key and ran through the darkness, letting myself into the bookstore.
I didn’t want to turn on the lights, but even in the faint glow of streetlamps and Christmas lights from the street, I could tell something dramatic was happening.
The store was empty. The shelves were gone. There were boxes along the wall, maybe housing the books. The desk and the armchairs were gone. Drop cloths ran across the floor and buckets of paint stood by the back wall. He was selling!
My throat clogged with tears, but my bladder wouldn’t let me stop for any longer, so I continued upstairs.
Once I was done using the bathroom, I decided to take a quick shower as well.
When would I have that opportunity again?
I could only hope Fredrik didn’t notice a towel missing. I’d have to take it with me.
Afterward, I dressed up and wrapped my hair into a towel turban, taking a quick look at my old bedroom on the way. It still had furniture, but the desk had been moved to the side, and a big cardboard box stood next to it.
I snuck a little closer, trying to see if it had any writing on it. Perhaps I could just open a flap and take a peek inside.
The lights flicked on.
“I knew I could count on your curiosity.”
I jumped, letting out a choked cry, and turned around, my heart pounding. Fredrik leaned on the doorframe, breathing heavily. He looked on the verge of tears—or maybe just in pain.
My body jerked, ready to run, but he’d blocked the only entrance. So I stood there, frozen, a thousand confusing thoughts crashing through my brain.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m trying to get him off your back. I have a plan, I promise. I’ll lead him away from you. I’ll make a deal with him if I have to. I won’t let him destroy you.”
“What are you talking about? Nobody is destroying me.”
Was he playing dumb?
“Spencer! He said he’ll sue you, and I know he means it. But don’t worry. I’m leaving, and I’ll lead him away from you.”
“He won’t sue me.” Fredrik took a step closer, and I saw my opening.
I charged past him and down the stairs. I had to get out, right now. I wasn’t strong enough to stay away from him. I’d destroy his life. My eyes blurred with tears, but I made it across the floor and to the front door, fumbling with the lock.
I heard him cursing on the stairs. “Please, Noelle… I have a broken rib.” He groaned in pain, and I stopped.
He was coming after me. If I ran, he’d follow. He’d puncture his lung or pass out or something.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I leaned against the door, catching my breath, listening to his slow footsteps. With the dramatic lighting, it could have been a scene from a horror film, but all I felt was compassion. He was hurt. Was it because of Spencer? Because of me.
When he reached me, he pinned me against the door. My heartbeat skyrocketed, and my body flooded with something warm and debilitating, like a drug. I couldn’t move at all.
“I’m going to hold you like this until I catch my breath… and we sort this out,” he grumbled into my ear, his breath choppy. My knees felt soft, no longer supporting my weight. Despite his pain, he was holding me upright. “You’re a bit of a flight risk.”
I wanted desperately to dive into his arms and stay there. But it was selfish and wrong. “I can’t let Spencer ruin your life. I can’t.”
“He won’t sue me. He has zero evidence. He wasn’t hurt, either. The doc checked us both. He’s fine. I have a fractured rib, so if anyone should sue, it’s me.”
My hand hovered over his chest without my permission. I wanted to take his pain. “Fredrik. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. I did this. Well, me and the bookshelf I should have torched long ago.”
“But…” I rubbed my forehead, causing the towel turban to unravel. “Spencer had a camera guy! They filmed the whole thing.”
“It was some dude he recruited off the street. And Jackson took his phone before anything happened, so all he recorded was himself saying obnoxious things.” He leaned in, his breath heavy and fast. It was making me dizzy. “Noelle. I’m not going to let him hurt either of us.”
“But… there were lots of people. Eyewitnesses.” My breathing matched his—erratic and labored—even though my ribs were fine.
“For some reason, nobody feels like testifying,” he said.
“How do you know? Spencer will contact each one and offer an obscene amount of money. He’ll get to them.” Tears burned the back of my throat. I wanted to believe him, but my experience told me otherwise. I’d heard Spencer talking about his legal victories, people he’d “taken down”.
“Felicity talked to everyone. She says it’s all good, and I trust her. Apparently, a lot of people didn’t see what really happened. They were too busy eating your pulla. Which was excellent.”
I smiled a little. There was still a hint of cinnamon in the air, and it transported me into his kitchen. Into all the moments we’d shared.
I sighed. “I’m so glad you found me.”
Fredrik grabbed the towel that hung loosely over my shoulder. “I’m so glad your store doesn’t have a bathroom. That you had to come here. That you needed something from me.”
Spencer’s earlier words wormed their way into my head and words tumbled out. “It’s true what Spencer said. I was living at his expense. I even ran off with his ring. Not on purpose, but I did. I cost him a lot.”
He shook his head. “He’s a dick, and you’re the most generous person I know. I could give you everything I own, and still feel like I’m in your debt.”
His eyes were so kind, his voice soft like a caress. But I wasn’t done getting things off my chest. “I gave that ring to my sister. She said she’d take care of it, but it turns out she sold it to buy blankets for the homeless. Apparently, she got a lot of blankets.”
Now that I could tap into Grace’s internet, I’d been talking to my sister every day.
“That’s the best use for his money I can imagine.” Fredrik swiped a strand of damp hair off my face. “I wish you’d taken more than a ring.”
His eyes glistened, reflecting the fairy lights outside.
He looked nothing like when I’d first met him.
There was a fighting spirit in him. A hope.
I wanted to inhale it. I was so tired of running and hiding.
So exhausted of living in fear. And here he was, bruised and battered, yet waiting to catch me. Waiting for me to come around.
My chest felt tight. “I’m sorry I ran.”
“It’s okay. I figured you didn’t go far, so I waited.”
His words stole air from my lungs. “You knew where I was?”
He smiled. “I had a hunch.”
His eyes were dark as the night, lingering on my face, adoring me. Even after everything I’d put him through, Fredrik looked at me like I was some kind of miracle, and it broke me.
“I thought I had to leave. I thought it was the only way to save you.”
He caught me when the tears burst out, securing me against his chest. There was the heartbeat that made me feel whole. There it was, pounding through me, finding a rhythm with my own.
“You already saved me.” He stroked my hair, his fingernails grazing my neck. “And you don’t have to run. Ever again. I promise.”
He held me as I cried, letting all the stress and fear melt away and wet the collar of his cardigan. It had a mustard-yellow diamond pattern that looked antiquated in the best way.
What would it be like to stop running? To stay here.
“I don’t have a job anymore,” I muttered into his chest. “I have to go with Grace and take that job on the cruise ship. We’re leaving tomorrow.”