Chapter 35
Kelly
The sawmill is buzzing with activity today.
It’s Monday. Spring. And we are busy as hell.
Trucks are coming and going in the yard, the scent of fresh-cut pine drifting through the open office window while the hum of machinery echoes from the mill floor.
Candice is on the phone with a supplier, cheerful and efficient as ever, while Thatcher is arguing with someone about delivery schedules somewhere down the hall.
Business as usual. Which is good.
Because if things slowed down long enough for me to think too much about the weekend, I’d probably turn bright red right here at my desk.
I shift in my chair and wince a little.
Then I lick my lips. Because I know exactly why I’m sore today.
J.T. and I didn’t take a traditional honeymoon.
But my parents were still visiting after the wedding, and they insisted on keeping Evan at the cabin for a few extra days.
“You two deserve some time,” Mom said with a wink that made me want to crawl under the table.
So we had the house to ourselves. And apparently, my new husband took that as a personal challenge.
My husband. Gah! I will never get tired of saying that.
The memory alone makes warmth spread through me.
“Do you mind about the honeymoon?” I asked him late Saturday night, when the reception had finally ended and we were tangled in the sheets at home, both of us warm and exhausted.
J.T. had pulled me closer against his chest, his hand lazily tracing circles on my back.
“Every night with you is a honeymoon, Kelly.”
My heart had done that little flip it seems to do whenever he says things like that.
“But if you mean am I upset we didn’t take a trip right now?” he continued. “Not a chance.”
He pressed a kiss into my hair.
“Evan’s still in school. He’s got baseball coming up. Kid won’t want to miss that.”
I smiled into his shoulder. I love that he knew I wouldn’t want to go away without Evan, too.
“That’s true.”
“But,” he added thoughtfully, “I was thinking maybe we do something this summer.”
“Oh?”
“We could fly to Greece,” he said casually, like he was suggesting a drive into town. “Rent a yacht. Sail around the islands for a couple weeks.”
I lifted my head to stare at him.
“Greece?”
He shrugged.
“Figured it’d be a hell of a family trip.”
He’s not wrong. I have always wanted to go there.
“That sounds amazing,” I told him honestly.
Then I kissed him. And maybe I showed him just how grateful I was.
Which led to round two.
Then three.
Then four.
Which is why I am currently sitting at my desk, trying very hard not to shift too much in my chair. And, nope, I am absolutely unrepentant about it.
The phone rings.
I reach for it automatically, still smiling to myself.
“Woodhaven Sawmill, this is Kelly—”
“Mrs. Stevens?”
“It’s Lawrence,” I correct automatically.
The voice on the other end is tight.
Professional.
But there’s something underneath it that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Sorry, that’s right. Apologies, Mrs. Lawrence.”
“Yes? who is this?”
“This is Principal Jameson from Woodhaven Elementary.”
My stomach drops.
“Is Evan okay?”
There’s a pause.
“Mrs. Lawrence, there was an incident during recess today.”
The room suddenly feels too quiet.
“What kind of incident?”
“Someone attempted to remove Evan from school grounds.”
My chair scrapes loudly across the floor as I stand.
“What?”
“He’s safe,” the principal quickly adds. “One of the teachers noticed the man speaking with him near the playground gate and intervened immediately.”
My heart is pounding now.
“Who was it?”
“We’re not entirely sure yet,” she says carefully. “But Evan is very shaken, and we thought you should come right away.”
“I’m on my way.”
I hang up before she can say anything else.
My hands are shaking as I grab my keys.
Only one thought is running through my head.
Evan.
I’m halfway out the office door when I pull out my phone and call J.T.
He answers on the second ring.
“Honey.”
His voice is warm.
Steady.
And for a second I almost lose it.
“Someone tried to take Evan,” I blurt.
Silence.
Just one heartbeat. Then his voice changes. All the warmth disappears, replaced by something cold and razor sharp.
“Where are you?”
“Driving to the school.”
“I’m right behind you,” he says immediately. “I’m leaving the site now.”
“Okay.”
“Kelly.” His voice softens just enough. “He’s safe. You hear me?”
I swallow hard as I start the truck.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll meet you there. Drive safe, Honey.”
Then the line goes dead.
And I drive like hell.