Chapter 27
Elyna
Morning came with a gray, low sky and wind that tugged at the maple leaves, but despite the dreary day I was smiling.
Braden babbled through his breakfast, smearing banana across his tray, and I was humming as if my life was all figured out.
It was far from it, but Phoenix had slept on the futon, one arm tucked behind his head, facing the door all night like a sentry.
I’d woken twice to the soft ping of his phone, motion alerts from the cameras he’d just installed and both times he’d murmured, “It’s nothing,” without opening his eyes.
Somehow it had been enough. I’d slept. Not deeply, not without dreams, but I’d slept.
By eight fifteen, Braden was zipped into his quilted jacket and we were headed down the stairs. Phoenix carried him; I carried the diaper bag.
“I’ll meet you at the brewery after drop-off,” I said, letting my fingers linger on Phoenix’s wrist a second longer than necessary.
We walked up to my car and I saw it was cleaned. I looked over to Phoenix. “When did you have time to clean it?”
“After you fell asleep I stepped out.” He shrugged.
My eyes softened on him, “I have so many things to thank you for,” I breathed.
“No, you don’t, Elyna. You shouldn’t have to be dealing with any of this,” he insisted.
“Well, I’ve made mistakes, Phoenix. Now I’m paying for it. The only thing I don’t regret is my beautiful boy. I think he saved me from myself.”
“You have a lot going for you, Elyna Chabot. Don’t forget that, and stop blaming yourself. We all make mistakes,” he said.
I guffawed. “Not you, you’re too perfect.”
“Yes, me,” he countered instantly. “I’ve made choices I regret. It’s called living and learning. You can’t let them weigh you down.”
“I appreciate that.” I rubbed his arm. “Now, I’ve gotta get this handsome boy to daycare,” I said, leaning up on my tiptoes to peck his lips.
“I’m coming with you,” he sounded insistent.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done, but you have an order coming at nine,” I reminded him gently. “Besides, I thought we agreed that we are going to live our lives as usual. I’m not going to let Colette or Riley think they’ve scared me.”
“You’re right.” He sighed, and I knew he didn’t like it. I saw the protest in the set of his jaw, the slight flare of his nostrils. But he bent, pressed a kiss to Braden’s soft hair, then to my forehead. “Call me the second you’re out.”
“I will.”
“Code word,” he said, and it wasn’t a question.
“Wildflower,” I said, and he nodded, satisfied as I buckled Braden into his car seat.
This morning he insisted we come up with a code word if I was in trouble.
I was staring at the kitchen table and remembered the wildflowers he left me on the table.
I’d called him out on it and asked why he’d done it, and his answer was, I deserved pretty things.
The man was going to make my heart combust. That is how I decided on wildflower because for the first time in my life I was in a healthy relationship.
It wasn’t me giving and my partner taking, we were equals.
Although, I felt like Phoenix was helping me a lot more than I could help him.
A small devious smile tugged his lips. “Wildflower,” he repeated then he played with a strand of my hair, gave me a look that got my panties in a twist, and told me to be aware of my surroundings before he left on foot to the brewery.
I got into the car and drove with the radio off, the road to Birch Street strangely empty.
The daycare lot was half-full, familiar sedans and SUVs in neat rows.
I did a slow lap first, eyes skimming faces, cars, shadows.
Nothing. No red paint. No lingering threat.
Just windows and the faint sound of children, and all the while my heart beat like it wanted out.
At the door, I tilted my chin up to the camera and pressed the bell.
The buzz. The click. The lemon cleaner, the soft scuff of tiny shoes, the bulletin board with hand-lettered notes about pajama day next Friday.
Ms. Patty greeted me with her usual warmth, taking Braden from my arms. “Morning, sweetheart! Oh, look at those cheeks!”
I smiled, signing him in on the clipboard. “Only me for pickup again, please,” I added, my tone calm but deliberate.
Ms. Patty nodded, her smile dimming slightly. “Of course, Elyna. Only you.”
I crouched down to kiss Braden’s forehead.
His hand reached for my hair, a soft fist closing on a lock, before he was carried toward circle time.
I was about to leave when I noticed the woman behind the front desk.
I hadn’t seen her before. Her blond hair was in a slicked back ponytail, her cardigan buttoned to the throat and she wore a visitor badge that caught the light.
“Elyna Chabot?” she asked.
“Yes?”
She smiled too brightly. “I’m Bernadette. I help with admin.” Her voice had that sugary tone people use when they’re about to say something you won’t like. “Do you have a second?”
“I’m running a little late for work,” I said. “Is there something wrong?” I knew all my payments were up to date.
“Oh, nothing wrong.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “I just wanted to mention, I had coffee yesterday with Colette Jansen, Braden’s grandmother.”
Ice threaded through me. “You did?”
“Yes. Lovely woman. She seemed... upset. Said she hasn’t seen her grandson and doesn’t understand why. I just thought perhaps it might be worth a conversation about options. Grandparents can be such a source of stability.”
I stared at her. “Colette is not a source of stability,” I said evenly.
Bernadette’s eyes flickered. “I’m not taking sides, dear, but—”
“You had coffee with her?” My voice sharpened. “Where?”
“Oh, the café on Maple,” she said, fidgeting now. “She mentioned she used to babysit Braden sometimes. She seemed quite fond of him.”
“She’s not on the pickup list for a reason,” I said. “If she or anyone else asks, you don’t confirm he’s enrolled here. You call me directly. Understood?”
Her mouth tightened, that artificial sweetness crumbling at the edges. “Of course. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
“Good,” I said, keeping my tone polite, even though my pulse was pounding. “I’ll email you photos of her and of Riley Jansen. Neither are to come near the door. I want a password on file for pickup, use sunflower.”
Bernadette nodded quickly. “Yes, we can do that.”
“Thank you,” I said, because I’d been raised to say thank you, even when my heart was cracking.
I turned back toward the play area. Braden was on the carpet, tapping blocks together, utterly content. “I’ll be back at four,” I said softly. “Love you, baby.”
Then I stepped outside and finally breathed. The air felt colder now. I dug my phone from my coat pocket to text Phoenix.
Me: Drop-off okay. Call you in five.
Before I could hit send, my screen lit up.
Riley: Nice daycare. Birch Street, right? Cute pumpkins in the window.
I froze. My stomach dropped.
Another message arrived.
Riley: Tell your boyfriend to stop playing hero. He’s not the dad. Don’t keep Braden from his family. Maybe Nana will do pickup today.
My reflection stared back at me in the phone pale, wide-eyed, shaking.
I called Phoenix. He answered on the first ring. “Elyna?”
My throat closed.
“Wildflower.”
His voice softened instantly. “What happened?”
“Riley,” I managed. “He texted. Knows the daycare. Said something about pumpkins.”
Phoenix’s voice dropped, all steel. “Forward them to me and my dad. I’m on my way.”
“You have that delivery. . .”
“Cooper can sign. Stay put, where people can see you. Don’t move.”
“Phoenix…”
“Please.”
The please broke me. “Okay.”
I hung up and started for my car, keeping my head down. My phone buzzed again.
Riley: Blue looks good on you. See you soon, babe.
My pulse stuttered. I was wearing a blue sweater, which meant he could see me. He was in town.
Something about the message snagged in my mind. The wording was wrong, babe. Riley never called me that. He called me “pretty girl.” My hands shook as I opened the car door and slid inside. I locked the doors and pressed my palms to the steering wheel.
In for four, out for six. My old anxiety mantra.
The daycare door opened behind me, a mother in scrubs wrestling a stroller. Normal. Everything looked normal. But the world didn’t feel normal anymore.
Phoenix’s truck pulled into the lot. Relief hit me so hard I nearly cried. He was at my door in seconds.
“Come here, honey,” he said, opening his arms.
I folded into him, breathing him in like oxygen.
“Look at me,” he murmured, cupping my face until my eyes met his. “You did everything right. Forward the messages. My dad and Becket are on their way.”
“He’s being weird, Phoenix. He’s never sent messages like this, never took too much of an interest in Braden,” I whispered. “He also called me babe and he’s never done that, but he knew what I was wearing.”
He frowned.
“After I sent him the money, he stopped being in touch, but that isn’t unusual. A month could pass without him checking in.”
Phoenix’s brows drew together. “Something sounds off.”
I blinked. “I don’t ever know what to expect from Riley. He’s a wild card. I’ve had to give him money before, but this time was different. He told me to leave Montreal. He looked scared. Why is he suddenly interested in his son?”
Phoenix took my phone, scrolling.
Pierre’s cruiser pulled into the lot with Becket riding shotgun. They both got out, the warm October wind tugging at their jackets.
Phoenix briefed them quickly, and I added what I knew.
“Can I see your phone?” Becket asked.
I handed it over, watching his expression tighten.
Pierre turned to me. “Elyna, why don’t you sit in the truck? Let us handle this.”
“I can’t leave Braden.”
“Becket’s checking the cameras,” Pierre said. “We’ll keep an officer posted. He’s safe.”
I nodded, though my throat was tight. “Thanks, Pierre.”
“No need to thank me, Elyna. You and Luc are part of our family too,” he said.