Chapter 11 Have To Overcome
HAVE TO OVERCOME
It’d been two weeks since she’d driven away from her last nightmare.
A week that she’d been in Ford’s life again.
It might have been the most peaceful week in the past twenty years of her life.
Crazy how wonderful memories could overtake the worst moments in your brain.
The sun was rising and, rather than drive to the cafe, she’d walk and get some exercise.
Ford told her this weekend she could leave if she had errands to run as long as he and Clay knew when she left and when she returned.
It felt like curfews all over again, but she told herself it was nice someone cared enough.
She threw on one of Ford’s sweatshirts to fight off the brisk mid-April air.
The walk up the driveway was darker than she’d thought it would be and shielded from view. Every noise had her stopping to listen more closely.
It was a mistake to do this.
She should turn around and run back to her cabin.
Then she reminded herself that this was what it’d feel like if she’d gone to Canada and didn’t get this resolved.
Though she wasn’t positive how Ford thought he was going to resolve anything.
Two weeks and not one hint of information in the news about her missing or the break-in, nothing about Oliver other than he was still posting things online.
She should have set up a fake email address to keep in communication with someone. But it was too risky to do now.
She’d never share her business one linked to her shop. That was the only lifeline of support she had.
She made it to the road where it was brighter, then walked toward the cafe.
When she heard rustling in the shrubs, she stopped to look around some, then picked up her pace even more.
Yep, big mistake with the sun not being up fully.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Ahhhh!” she screamed and then dropped to a squat clutching her hand to her chest when Clay seemed to come out of nowhere. “Are you trying to kill me via heart attack?”
“Why are you out walking in the dark?”
“It’s not dark. The sun is coming up. But trust me, I might have wet myself just now. I won’t do this again.”
Clay snorted. “Good.”
“Where did you come from?”
Clay nodded his head. “I was checking on the apple trees over there. Some woodchucks are building around a few.”
He came up next to her. Guess she was going to have an escort.
“Can you get rid of them?”
“That’s what I was doing before I heard someone all but running down the road.”
“I wasn’t running.” At least she didn’t think she was, but she had picked up speed.
“Ford told me you do graphic design.”
She spun her head quickly to see him looking at her. “I do. Can I help with anything? I’d love to. I’m glad your mother caved and let me work this weekend, but she told me I’m off next weekend and I’m done working by no later than three each day.”
“If you want to come up with a few things, I’ll check them out.”
“Anything specific you want to see? You’ve got events and weddings, right?”
“Whatever you think works. I can send you the logo to the email you just created.”
“That’d be great.”
They didn’t talk for another few minutes, then he turned and walked away without saying bye when she got to the back of the cafe.
She opened the door to the scents of cinnamon and sugar. The donuts were ready to be put out and people would be in at seven to purchase them.
“Are those molasses cookies?”
Brooke smiled. “They are. Do you mind frosting them for me?”
“I’d love to,” she said. “You just tell me what you want at any point.”
“You’re so easy to work with,” Brooke said. “Gale worked here because she didn’t want to get dirty on the land, but she had to pull her weight there too.”
“This would be such a wonderful place to grow up.”
She’d thought that as a child. Often wished she was part of this family and didn’t have to go home to filth and angry words.
Brooke angled her head and smiled. “I’m glad you think that. I wasn’t sure Clay would ever come back and am even more surprised he’s taking over. But he’s doing it his way. None of my other kids have wanted to do it full time. I don’t blame them. It’s not an easy life.”
“Nothing in life that is good is easy. At least not that I’ve noticed.”
“You’ve had a hard life,” Brooke said. “I’m sorry that you did.”
“Thank you. We all have things we have to overcome.”
“And you will with Ford. He’ll help.”
She didn’t know if there was a double meaning there but knew enough to let it drop.
It was hard to not remember what she felt when she was here with Ford two decades ago.
She couldn’t grasp arousal at that age, but she knew he was cute and her heart turned into a drumbeat in her chest when he was near her.
When his hand touched hers, it got clammy, but he never pulled away from her dampness, simply threaded their fingers together.
It’d taken him a long time to hold her hand. The first was here on these grounds. His parents’ back porch on the swing. The seat was still there, the cushions a little more faded with some rust, but she’d bet still as comfortable.
He’d started slow with her, sitting by her, pulling her close playfully, then he’d sling his arm around her shoulder on the school grounds laughing like it’d always been that easy.
All the girls who were mean to her in the past turned jealous. She’d never told Ford that they still said nasty things to her. She didn’t need him fighting all her battles.
With the only wonderful childhood memories in her brain, she frosted the cookies in front of her, filled the display case and got ready to open the doors at seven.
Ten minutes before, she noticed a woman standing outside of it waving and pointing at her to unlock it.
“Brooke, can I unlock the door? Someone wants to come in.”
Brooke popped her head out and waved. “That’s Lexi. She works on the grounds. On Mondays she comes for donuts and coffee for her and the others on shift.”
“Oh,” she said, moving forward and unlocking the door.
The woman put her hand in the pocket of her jeans, pulled out something and popped it in her mouth. “Hi, you must be new. I’m Lexi.”
“Maureen,” she said. She almost slipped and said Reenie, but remembered to catch herself. Her eyes dropped to the pocket and saw tiny bumps in the denim. A cluster of them. Was she popping pills?
“I’m getting my Monday pick up.”
“Then come right over and let me know what you want,” she said. “If you get the same thing each week I can have it ready for you.”
“I change it up,” Lexi said. “How about six donuts, and six chocolate chip cookies? I need four black coffees too.”
She set the donuts and cookies into a box, then poured the four cups of coffee and put them on a tray.
Lexi handed over her credit card. Reenie rang it out and handed her the receipt.
“Hi,” she said to the guy that came in next. He looked familiar and she hoped to hell she didn’t run into more people that remembered her.
“Hey, Ash,” Lexi said. “I got here first.”
Ford’s youngest brother. She should have realized it since they all looked somewhat similar. She hadn’t met Ash since her return, but guess that was happening now.
“So I see,” Ash said. “I’ll be over in a few.”
“I’ll let Clay know,” Lexi said and walked to the door, purposely bumping into Ash on the way, getting a laugh out of both of them. “Oh, Ford. My lucky day running into you. Coming to get some breakfast too?”
Ford’s eyes were on hers, then dropped to Lexi. Reenie hadn’t seen him in uniform again since the first day. He’d been coming out to check on her daily after work, or he’d be texting or calling.
“Hey, Lexi. Yeah, coming to get breakfast.”
“I did the same.” Lexi held the box up, a massive grin on her face, her eyes roaming over Ford from head to toe. “I don’t get to see you much and it’s always nice when that happens.”
Ford smiled back. “You’ve been seeing me my whole life and saying the same thing. And I’m not sure how you can taste anything with the way you eat Tic Tacs.”
Lexi shrugged, her hand nudging his arm before slipping into her pocket to pull another one out and pop it in her mouth. “Hey, got to have good breath for all the hot guys around here.”
“Been saying that to me your whole life too,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“What can I say, like having a bratty little sister around? I’ll go bug Clay now.” She shoulder bumped him like she’d done to Ash.
The minute Lexi was out of the door, Ford came over and got behind the counter, Ash following. “Come on back,” he said to Reenie.
“I’ve got to watch the counter.”
“My mother will do it. We need to talk for a minute.”
She gulped, her hands running up and down the thighs of her jeans, her eyes looking around for any sign the walls would cave in on her.
“Everything okay?”
His hand came out and caressed her arm. It wasn’t just a comfort at the moment, but one from the past. “Yes. I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk to you with Ash.”
She blew out a breath. “Oh.”
“Hey, Mom,” Ash said. “Damn, you made cranberry muffins.”
Brooke had them on a tray and was bringing them out, but Ash stole one from it.
“I knew you were coming,” Brooke said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Reenie turned when the three of them were alone.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing major. I wanted you to talk to Ash. I doubt you remember him.”
“Not much,” she said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“The same,” Ash said.
“Under different circumstances though.” Might as well try to make a joke about it, but neither of the men laughed.
“Ash has your number,” Ford said. “Text her now so she knows.”
Ash pulled his phone out and sent the text. “If you need anything, and Clay or Ford aren’t around, I’m your next bet.”
“You live in Glens Falls,” she said. “That’s twenty minutes away.”
“I could still get here fast enough if Ford isn’t available. Clay is almost always around, but doesn’t necessarily check his phone.”
“He is now,” Ford said. “And Dad is on the property too.”
Callum was working with Clay in the mill that she could see. Or on the property on a tractor doing whatever needed to be done this time of year.
“I’ve got everyone’s number. I’m sure things will be fine.”
“And no more walking down when it’s dark out,” he said.
“Clay is a snitch.”
Both men laughed. “Not words you hear often,” Ash said.
“Sorry, that was wrong of me. You’ve all been so nice.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Ash, you can go.”
Ash shook his head and walked out, leaving her alone with Ford. Every time they had no witnesses, she had the strongest urge to get closer to him.
To have him put his arm around again.
Touch her shoulder.
Hold her hand.
She couldn’t ask him that.
Wouldn’t even bring it up.
He was protecting her. Watching out for her.
That was probably all he was interested in.
Yet there were times she saw more in his eyes. Not even when he brought up the past.
It was just they’d had so many other things to focus on.
“Do you need anything?” Ford asked. “At the store or in town? You haven’t left once.”
“I was thinking of going to town after work today or tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll let you and Clay know.”
He smiled. A tender one that reached his eyes, the depth of their past clear for her to see.
His hand lifted as if he was going to touch her, but then he dropped it down.
Maybe there was something there for him too.
Though she doubted he wanted to get involved with her drama.
“Make sure you do that,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting tonight that I won’t get out of until close to eight.”
“You don’t have to come out every night,” she said. “I know you want to check in, so text.”
He nodded. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” she said. “You can’t put your life on hold and run out here all the time. I know you’re busy with work, but I never asked if you had a girlfriend or not. I doubt she’d be thrilled you’re spending time with me.”
“No one,” he said, his eyes roaming over her face. Just like they did as kids.
Dark and steady, as if searching for answers neither of them understood. They’d been too young to make sense of what they were feeling.
Or she was too locked away knowing she’d be leaving soon anyway.
The silence was thick between them, then Brooke cleared her throat. She jumped back, but Ford hadn’t flinched.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye,” he said, his hand going up in a half wave.
She watched him strut out the door. Tall, built, his gun on his hip, his radio going off with chatter from activity around town.
“He was born to do this,” Brooke said.
“Be sheriff?”
“Work in law enforcement. I thought he’d be the one to go into the service, not Clay, but Ford is too steeped into this community.”
“It’s a great place to belong,” she whispered.
“Any update yet?” Randy asked Oliver, pacing around the kitchen.
“No,” Oliver said. “Why does it matter? She’s gone. It’s not like I can start asking around. When her work called I told them she left. The same when the police stopped out last week.”
“That was stupid on your part,” Randy snapped. “You’ve always been a goddamn idiot and this was no different.”
“Cut the shit,” he snarled. The last thing he needed was his cousin in here getting all up in his face again. “I was doing you a favor storing your drugs here. You never trusted Maureen anyway.”
“Which is why I told you to keep her ass in line!”
“I was,” he shouted back.
Randy laughed. “Dude. She fucking drugged you and took off. Right under your nose she did all of this. You told me that yourself, or were you lying?”
He was squirming now. His cousin always scared the shit out of him, but he’d never dare admit it to anyone.
“I’m not lying. I woke with the worst hangover ever, the kitchen was trashed worse than it was, the upstairs the same. Nothing was cleaned up like I told her to do.”
“That’s your problem. You told her. You didn’t make her. And how does she pay you back? Knocks you out, steals from us and then goes on the run. And you fucking didn’t go after her! You told everyone you two split and she left.”
“I got rid of her shit,” he said. “I did what I thought was the thing to do so no one asked anymore questions. I’m keeping a low profile.”
He wanted all of this to just go away.
Randy picked up a glass from the counter and threw it against the wall. “Find her! I don’t give a shit how you do it, but make sure it’s done, or it’s your ass that’s on the line. I’m not taking the fall for this.”