I lay my hand on her knee as we pull up my parents’ driveway, the white colonial standing tall in front of us. “Lia, calm down.”
She bites the side of her thumb, finally turning her gaze to me. “I can’t help it. I’ve never done the whole ‘meet the parents’ thing.”
I pull her hand away from her mouth and place a kiss on her knuckles. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, I promise. There’ll be no intrusive questions or asking to spill your secrets, they’re just excited to get to know you.” She blanches and turns her head away from me. “Lia, what’s wrong?”
She’s silent for a beat, staring out of the window. “I…” Clearing her throat exaggeratingly, she turns back toward me. “Nothing. Let’s do this.”
I worry my lip before climbing out of the car after her. There’s something she’s hiding and it’s taking all my effort to not have Holland do some digging around. I know I can’t invade her privacy though, but that’s the only thing from stopping me giving him the go-ahead.
Ever since we made this “official” I’ve been wanting her to trust me and let me in. I guess for her when she agreed to come with me tonight it was her way of letting me know she trusts me. She’s a private person so it means a lot that she’s willing to let people know about us and welcome my parents and sister into her life.
I reach out and entwine my fingers with hers, walking up the steps. Her fingers tighten around mine as my other hand brushes the door handle. “Smile, beautiful.”
She graces me with a carefree smile and I push open the door, instantly greeted by the smell of home cooking.
“Honey, I’m home!” I shout through the house.
“In the kitchen, hon,” Mom’s melodic voice floats back.
We walk through to the kitchen and Mom smiles wide at us both, her hands clasped in front of her. “Would you look at you both.”
She pulls me in for a hug and I kiss her cheek as I pull away. “Hi, Mom.”
She reaches out and pulls Amelia into an awkward hug. “Nice to see you again, Amelia.”
“It’s nice to see you again, too, Mrs. Cole,” Amelia replies, pulling back, her cheeks heating.
Mom keeps her hands on Amelia’s shoulders. “We’ll have none of that ‘Mrs. Cole’ business, Mrs. Cole was my mother-in-law, God rest her soul. Call me Melissa, or Mel, whatever suits you.”
I cross my arms and lean against the counter, watching their interaction.
“Okay.” Amelia smiles softly. “Thanks for having me in your home, Mel.”
“It’s my absolute pleasure.” She links her arm through Amelia’s and leads her over to the wooden table, sitting down on the bench next to her. “Do you know how long it’s been since my boy brought a woman home?”
“Mom,” I groan.
She turns to face me with a cheeky grin on her face. “What?” She looks back at Amelia. “Never. He’s never brought anyone back here.”
Amelia’s wide-eyed gaze turns toward me before she looks back at Mom. “Never?”
“Never, so you must be special.”
“She is that.” I walk over and kiss Amelia on the top of the head. “Where’s Dad and Maya?”
“Your father will be back in around fifteen minutes and Maya is probably in her room on her darn cellphone.” She rolls her eyes and turns toward Amelia. “I don’t know what it is with teenagers and cellphones but it seems to be permanently attached to her hand.”
Laughing softly, Amelia replies, “I can barely send a text message on mine. Izzie can work it better than I can.”
I chuckle. “Speaking of teenagers, I’ll go and get the one festering in her room.”
I wait for a nervous reaction from Amelia but when it doesn’t come and she swats me away, deep in conversation with my mom, I walk over to the door only to turn around and watch the scene in front of me play out.
Amelia laughs at something Mom says and answers her back animatedly. Gone is the nerves and in their place is the bright and bubbly personality I’ve come to know. Mom catches my eye and gives me a slight approving nod before winking. It’s like she knew what I was thinking.
I slowly will myself to stop staring and push through the door, taking the stairs two at a time and walking to Maya’s room.
Knocking on the wooden surface of the door, I ask, “Maybug, can I come in?”
I hear rustling before a voice shouts, “Yeah.”
I walk in but she doesn’t look up from the guitar in her hands so I walk over and sit in the armchair opposite her bed. “Hi, Nate. How are you? Oh hi, Maya, I’m great thanks. How are you?” She rolls her eyes but continues strumming a beat on her guitar. “Nothing? Nothing at all for your big brother you haven’t seen in a while?”
She smirks and finally looks up at me. “It’s only been two weeks, not much could have changed since I last saw you.”
I lean forward, bracing my elbows on my knees. “Actually, they can and they have.”
She hums before saying, “That so?”
She stops strumming her guitar and makes a note on the notebook in front of her as I answer, “Yup.”
Sighing heavily, she looks up from the notebook. “Is dinner ready? Is that why Mom sent you up?”
“Not yet.”
She raises a brow. “I have to finish these lyrics, I have an end of semester talent show coming up.”
Maya has always loved music, as soon as she steps onto a stage, she lights it up. She has a low, raspy voice that’s so different to her speaking voice you’d never believe it was her. “Yeah?” I walk over and sit on the bed in front of her. “Show me.”
She nervously fiddles with the corners of the notebook. “It’s not done yet, but okay.” She clears her throat and strums the guitar. From the first note, I’m captivated up until the very last. “Obviously it’s not finished yet and—”
“Maybug, it’s beautiful.” I stand up and walk over to the door. “You’re going to be big one day; mark my words.”
“That’s the plan, big bro,” she replies before putting her guitar back on its stand.
“I erm…” She looks up at me with expectant eyes. “Not sure Mom told you but I’ve brought my girlfriend with me.”
She splutters the soda she began to take a sip of. “Your girlfriend? You have a girlfriend?”
I chuckle, half offended. “Yes, I have a girlfriend. Why do you sound so surprised?”
She walks into her en suite bathroom, coming out with a towel in her hand as she cleans up the sticky mess on her face. “You’ve never had a girlfriend before.”
“I had one that one time,” I deadpan.
“That one time? Wow, my brother has serious game issues.”
“One: I’m not talking to you about that. I have plenty of ‘game,’ thank you very much. And two: would you just hurry your ass up so you can meet her.”
Throwing the towel into her laundry hamper, she turns back to me. “What’s her name?”
“Amelia.”
She pauses in thought. “Tristan’s Amelia?”
I shake my head. “No, my Amelia. She’s not Tristan’s anything, but she does look after his kids.”
“Alright, but she’s here, right now?” I nod. “So it’s serious?”
I shrug as she picks up her cell, but I can’t help the grin kicking up so much that I probably look a little insane. “I like her a lot.”
“Oh em gee! You love her, don’t you?” I walk out of the room, ignoring her. “You do. You love her!”
“Grow up, Maya,” I retort in jest, still smiling as she follows me down the stairs.
She giggles. “You want to kisssss her, you want to loooove her, you want to—”
I spin around and point at her before we reach the kitchen door. “Do not finish that sentence.”
She smirks, edging away from me. “Make babiesss.”
Before I can get ahold of her, she dodges around me and flies through the kitchen door, me on her tail. As soon as we enter the room, I pick her up and Mom and Amelia swivel around on the bench.
“What on earth are you two doing?” Mom asks.
I immediately place Maya on the floor and step away from her, my gaze falling on Amelia’s amused expression. “She started it.”
Mom stands and walks over to the stove. “You’d think being thirty-two years old you’d have grown up a little by now, but no. You’re your father’s child that’s for sure.”
Amelia stands up, walking toward me, her eyes alight with laughter. Standing next to me, she turns and smiles big and wide at Maya. “Hey, Maya.”
Maya raises a hand in a small wave. “Hey.” She smirks at me before looking back at Amelia. “You’re my brother’s girlfriend?”
I tilt my head down at the same time Amelia looks up at me. Her eyes shine bright, her lips pulled up into what seems like a permanent smile. I get lost in her eyes, my hand reaching out for her and interlocking our fingers.
Turning my body closer to Amelia’s, I forget about everyone in the room, and from the way her gaze flicks down to my lips and back, I’m guessing she does, too.
Lifting my other hand, I skim it up and over her arm, relishing in the goose bumps spreading over her skin at my touch.
“Ewww! Stop being all heart eye emojis with each other!”
“Maya, leave them alone,” Mom admonishes.
“What?” She walks over to the table, sliding onto the bench and pulling out her cell. “Amelia, are you on Facebook? I’ll add you now.”
Turning away from Amelia, I cough to gain Maya’s attention but she ignores me on purpose, keeping her gaze on Amelia’s.
“I’m not,” Amelia answers, her voice small as she shuffles her feet on the floor. “I’m not into the whole social media thing.”
Maya’s eyes goes wide. “No Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr either?”
“Maybug, stop pestering Amelia,” I groan but I’m waiting to hear her answer too.
“No, it’s okay,” Amelia says, stepping forward as she sits opposite Maya. “I have Pinterest, but it’s where I keep all of my recipes,” she offers.
Maya’s attention is immediately sucked into her phone as she types furiously. “I can’t find you, what’s your last name?”
“Maya,” I grind out, walking over to the table and sitting beside Amelia.
“Ahh, I’m under Cookieaddict123.” Amelia looks down at her hands on the table.
I watch her go from open to the nervous person she was back in the car and I frown as Maya says, “Found you! Next time you should just go with your name though, it makes it easier for people to find you.”
Amelia’s muscles tense and she dodges mine and Maya’s gazes. “I… well… erm…” Her throat bobs up and down, silence stretching around us as she gathers herself. “I made it with Izzie and she suggested the name.”
“Wow, you have a lot of cookie recipes on here,” Maya states, ignoring what Amelia said.
I seem to be the only one that’s noticed her change in behavior, and perhaps to someone that doesn’t know her her behavior could be chalked up to nerves. But I know her better than that. Those nerves from meeting my family were gone, this seems like she’s acting strange for a totally different reason.
Could it be because Maya is searching on social media for her? What is she hiding? Or there could be a completely different explanation for her change in mood. Either way, I’ll be asking her about it later on.
Her head turns marginally, but her eyes don’t focus on mine. I know she can feel me watching her and is aware I’ll have questions, but now isn’t the right time to ask.
“Honey, I’m home!” Dad calls from the front door and it snaps me out of my thoughts.
I laugh at his saying that I seem to have picked up every time I walk into a house.
“Mick, we’re all in the kitchen,” Mom calls.
Amelia leans toward me, this time looking me in the eyes as she whispers, “Your dad’s name is Mick?”
“Well, it’s Michael but my mom calls him Mick. Why?”
She quirks her lip up, her mood flipping once again. “Mel, Mick, Maya… and Nate?”
I frown. “I have to say, I’m a little confused where you’re going with this.”
Just as Amelia begins to talk, Maya interrupts. “You’re the odd one out, stupid.”
Amelia bursts out laughing and Maya smirks, pretty proud of herself.
“What’s so funny? What have I missed?” Dad asks, walking through the kitchen door and kissing Mom passionately.
I turn away to give them some privacy, looking back when a hand lands on my shoulder. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, son.” I watch his reaction as his gaze falls on Amelia. “And who is this beautiful woman?”
Clearing my throat, I’m about to tell him when Maya singsongs, “It’s his giirrrlfriend!”
I shoot her a look I hope says, “Really?” before turning toward Amelia. “Dad, this is Amelia, you’ve met her briefly at Charlotte’s Christmas parties.”
“I have? Oh, I’m sorry, you must think I’m so rude.”
“No.” She waves her arm in the air. “Those parties are always hectic and I’m usually running around after Izzie.” She laughs, the tinkling sound bouncing off the walls. “She’s always starting up conversations with random people.”
“She’s quite the little character that’s for sure,” Dad replies, sitting down beside Maya. “Hello, youngest child of mine.” Maya gives him a grunt. “I hope you greeted our guest with more enthusiasm.”
I chuckle as Mom walks over and sits down beside Dad. “We’re getting better at deciphering her caveman grunts.”
“Whatever,” Maya mumbles, smiling at Amelia. “They don’t remember what it feels like to have a life.”
“There’s life outside of your phone,” Dad interjects.
“Yes, but all of my friends are on social media, Dad. You get it, Amelia, you’re young.”
I splutter out a cough. “Maya, that’s rude.”
“What? She is young; younger than you three anyway.”
Amelia smiles softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I get what it’s like to be a teenage girl, it was only ten years ago I was your age.” She leans forward, hooking her thumb in my direction and lowering her voice. “It must be hard with an older brother like that.”
Mom and Dad chuckle but I scoff. “Hey! I object!”
Dad laughs. “On what grounds?”
“I…” I point at Maya and Amelia. “On the grounds that I don’t like being ganged up on by my sister and girlfriend.”
“Overruled,” Moms jokes, making us all laugh.
“Not my fault she likes me better than you already.” Maya sticks her tongue out at me before looking at Amelia. “Us girls gotta stick together.”
“Too right, as the Spice Girls said...” She lifts her palm up toward Maya for a high five. “Girl power.”
Maya slaps her palm against Amelia’s hand but her face screws up. “What’s the Spice Girls?”
Mom gets up from the table and I stand to help her get plates out of the cupboard.
“What?” I hear Amelia splutter, and when I take a quick look back, her mouth is hanging open. “You… you don’t know who the Spice Girls are?”
I carry the plates over to the table at the same time as Mom places dishes of food in the middle with serving spoons to help ourselves.
“If it’s not Justin Bieber or some weird indie band, I’m not sure she’s heard of it,” I say.
“Oh, God,” Amelia groans. “Izzie just found out about Justin Bieber and it’s all she wants to listen to.” She looks back at Maya, demanding, “I really need to introduce you to the Spice Girls.”
Maya shrugs, picking her phone up off the table. “I’ll Spotify them.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Dad says plucking her cell out of her hands and placing it into the basket Mom holds out toward us all.
I pull my cell out of my pocket as Maya sighs and put it in the basket. Amelia stares at me like she’s lost and I chuckle. “No electronics allowed at the table. Family rule.”
“Oh.” She pulls her own cell out. “I only have two people who ever contact me regularly and you’re one of them.” She laughs, placing it into the basket.
“What about your mom and dad? Don’t they call you?” Maya asks innocently, spooning chicken onto her tortilla wrap.
I wait on bated breath for her answer, wanting to know myself. She’s mentioned her parents briefly before but never said anything about contact with them.
“I talk to them every now and again,” she replies distantly, grabbing one of the spoons. “They’re both really busy so we don’t talk often.” There’s a hitch in her voice, but if I wasn’t paying so much attention to her I wouldn’t have noticed.
“What do they do for a living?” Mom asks, placing salad into her wrap.
“My dad is the sheriff in the town I grew up in and when I moved away, Mom went back into nursing. So between the two of them, neither are rarely home.”
“Your dad’s a sheriff?” I ask curiously.
She finishes making her own wrap, folding it over before she answers, “He is. Has been since before I was born.”
I like that she’s opening up, even if it is just a snippet into her private life.
“What does he think about you dating a lawyer?” Dad asks.
I bite into my fajita knowing the underlying question. Cops, unless we’re on their side, don’t take a liking to lawyers. I mean, I get it, we pick apart their cases and make them look like amateurs sometimes.
“I… well…” Her eyes connect with mine and I see the apprehension in their depths. “I haven’t spoken to my dad for a little while. But…” She turns back to face my dad. “Either way, they live a long way from here, so…” She leaves it hanging in the air, staring down at her plate as she goes inside her own head.
I can see she’s starting to get uncomfortable from the subject so I steer it onto something completely different. “Mom, this is delicious as always.”
“It really is,” Amelia says, jumping on my subject change. “I see where you get your cooking skills from.”
“I learned from the best,” I quip, smiling at Mom. “Lia is incredible at baking.”
“Oh really?” Her gaze falls on Amelia. “You’ll have to give me some of your recipes. I don’t bake often, but Mick has a sweet tooth.”
“Of course.” Amelia tilts her head to the basket containing the cells. “I log all of them onto my Pinterest, but I have a book at home too. I love creating new ones.”
They both fall into easy conversation about inventing their own recipes and ways to do things as Dad turns toward me. “I heard Joe Kent fell into a bit of a predicament with that godawful wife of his.”
I nod. “I knew from the moment I saw it on TV that he was innocent, there’s always been something not quite right about Anastasia.”
“Apart from her being a money grabber?”
“Michael!” Mom interjects.
“I’m sorry, hon, but she is and always has been. Not to mention she’s twenty-three years younger than him so she pulled the wool right over his eyes.”
Mom tuts and turns back toward Amelia as I chuckle and catch Dad’s attention again by saying, “I put our investigators on it and they found out she hired a guy to rough her up and claim it was Joe.”
“Well I’ll be... I didn’t think she was smart enough for something that elaborate.”
“She’s not. She didn’t cover her tracks very well so we won the case without it going to court.” I take a bite of my fajita, looking over at Mom and Amelia who are still deep in conversation.
“Hey,” Dad whispers. I look over at him and he motions toward Amelia. “You have a good one.”
“That I do,” I mumble to no one in particular as she tips her head back on a laugh. That I do.
Lifting up off the sofa in the living room of the main house, I stretch out my arms above my head, relishing in the stretch of my muscles. I cover my eyes with my hand to ward off the bright rays of sun as they shine through the large window.
I watch the sun rise in the distance for several seconds before shuffling through to the kitchen and heading outside toward the pool house to get changed.
It’s not the first time I’ve crashed on the sofa in the main house, only this time it wasn’t an accident.
“Hey, Tris,” I say as Tris walks into the kitchen. He looks over at me, scanning my pajamas and my face sans makeup before he stops at the hair that’s in a messy bun on the top of my head.
I lift my cup of cocoa and he chuckles. “You and cocoa.” He shakes his head, a smirk on his face. “You’re such an old lady.”
He pulls his cell out as I gasp, “I am not!” My hand flies to my chest in mock outrage. “Cocoa is good for you, it settles you for the night.” I move closer when he frowns, standing beside him. “Tris?” I ask in concern.
“It’s Harmony,” he whispers, his voice raw with emotion.
“So, talk to her,” I reply flippantly, pulling out the chair next to him as I sit in silence.
He stares at his cell for a few long minutes, seeming to be at war with himself.
Finally he says, “I have to—”
Cutting him off, I wave him away. “Go. Go and get your girl.” I smile as he leaves the kitchen, hoping this will be the turning point with him because Harmony is good for both Tris and the kids.
Opening up the back door, I yawn big and loud before walking over the stones, my eyelids half closed. Reaching out for the door handle as I open my eyes fully, my toes slam into something on the floor.
My breath starts to saw in and out of me, my hands shaking as I slowly look down. I know what I’m going to see before I do, and when I spot the same sticker on the side, the reprieve and safeness I’ve been feeling lately disappears.
Pushing open the pool house door, I pick the package up before walking inside and sitting on the sofa at an angle so I can keep my eyes on the house. Tristan still isn’t home and hasn’t answered my message yet.
Swallowing against my dry throat, I pick up the scissors off the coffee table, swiping them against the tape and lifting the edges of the cardboard.
The same black tissue paper appears, and I gingerly lift it, nerves batting around my stomach as I try to prepare myself for what is in there, but when my fingers land on the edges of another box, I squeeze my eyes shut.
For weeks now I haven’t had a package and I almost forgot what it feels like and the terror that runs through me when I receive one. But like last time, I know whoever it is was here because it was left at the pool house door.
Goose bumps break out all over my skin as I look at the gate, my stomach flipping when I do, almost as if I’m expecting someone to be there.
My nostrils flare as I stare at it for a minute longer before turning my attention back to the package. I drop the larger box on the floor before flicking my gaze back up to the main house to make sure no lights are on.
Once I know no one will come out, I place the smaller wooden box on my knees, slowly lifting the lid and pulling out a USB drive and a photograph.
The photo shakes in my hands as I look closer, my skin becoming slick with sweat when I see what—or who it is.
Me, Clay, and Izzie, sitting on the sand at the edge of Nate’s lake. The horror I’m feeling at being watched at Nate’s house where I thought we were safe isn’t what has me panicking. No, it’s the fact that all of our faces are crossed out, only our bodies left that has me fearing for the kids. I stand up, my gaze flicking back to the house as I take a step toward it unconsciously.
Flipping the photo over, my eyes widen. “No, no, no!”
My other hand covers my mouth, trying to muffle my chant as I read the words over and over again: BETH + CHILDREN = DEATH.
This can’t be happening. Oh God, I thought I was protecting them, keeping them safe, but I’m not. I’m putting them in danger simply by being around them. This has to stop. It has to.
I can’t do this anymore. I can’t put the people I love the most at risk.
A plan is already starting to form in my head as I stand up, about to flick the lid of the wooden box closed when my gaze lands on the USB again. Plucking it out, I’m about to grab my laptop to see what’s on it when the back door to the main house opens, causing me to jump out of my skin until I see a head of messed-up blond hair.
“Amelia?”
“Coming, Izzie!” Closing my hand around the USB, I walk to the door of the pool house, watching as she rubs her eyes. “I’m just going to get changed, go ahead and sit at the table.”
“Okay,” she whispers, her sleepy body turning around slowly.
Seeing her sweet little face and sleepy blue eyes, makes the decision for me. I’m not doing this anymore—I won’t be used as a pawn, I won’t allow them to do this to the people I care about.
I run around the pool house, getting changed and brushing my teeth before shoving the USB in my jeans pocket and heading back to the main house.
I try my hardest to act normal, even when Tris messages to say he’s on his way home but that doesn’t make me feel any better because it won’t be long before he’s taking the kids to their art class and I’ll be all alone again.
Alone. The thought terrifies me.
Maybe it’s time I tell Nate: open up to him completely. If I explained it all to him then I know he wouldn’t judge me, he’d help, I’m sure of that.
Making up my mind, I decide that when Tris and the kids have left, I’ll go to him and start at the beginning, telling him everything. Just thinking about telling him about everything that happened six years ago has my palms sweating, but it also has a relief flowing through me I didn’t think I’d feel.
As I stare at the kids eating their breakfast I know one thing is for sure: I can’t be here anymore, not around them.
My fingers are crossed that Tris has sorted things with Harmony because it will give me an excuse for leaving them. It’s going to hurt like hell, but I’ll do anything and everything in my power to ensure Clay and Izzie are safe and protected.
I hear footsteps on the stairs a few seconds after the door shuts, but neither of the kids notice as they continue eating, chatting away. Keeping my focus on them, I allow myself to relish in the time spent with them as it won’t be like this anymore. I won’t be mere feet away and get to talk to them whenever I want.
My eyes widen when I realize I’ll have to cut all contact. Can I do this? Can I really leave them without an explanation? The simple answer is yes; if it means they won’t get hurt, then I’d do anything to keep it from happening.
The door swings open a few minutes later and Tris walks in.
“Daddy!” Izzie squeals as soon as she spots him, jumping down from her seat and running toward him. He catches her, lifting her up in the air before cuddling her to his chest and placing a kiss on her cheek. “Where was you?”
Setting her back down in her seat, he says, “You’re so nosy,” before touching the end of her nose and walking over to Clay, kissing the top of his head.
He moves closer to me, grabbing a cup of coffee and I ask, “I take it that it went well?” Hope tinging my voice.
“We’ll see,” he replies, shrugging as he drinks his coffee.
He looks to be as consumed by his thoughts as I am, so I let the silence rain around us before he breaks it by asking, “You okay to pick them up from art class?”
Nodding, I bite my bottom lip, trying to work out the timing and deciding I’ll go to Nate’s tonight, or maybe I can ask him to come over? Yes. That’s the plan: ask Nate to come over as soon as he can and then I know we won’t be on our own while Tris is gone.
I swallow, pushing up off the counter. “Tris?” His gaze swings back to me and he raises his brow in question. “I need to talk to you.” Biting my bottom lip, I look back at the kids, feeling it deep down in my bones that this is the right thing to do. “I know now isn’t exactly the right time, but… I’m thinking about moving out.”
His head reels back and he takes a step closer to me. “Why would you do that?”
Opening my mouth, I screw up my nose, trying to think on my feet. “I—”
“Dad? What time is it?” Clay interrupts, standing up and bringing his plate over to us.
Taking it from him, I wander off toward the sink, glad for the distraction.
“A?” I turn back toward Tris but don’t meet his eyes. “We’re talking about this later.”
He walks out, both kids following behind him, the door slamming closed seconds later. Looking down at the sink and the plates on the table, I decide to leave it all and head over to the pool house to call Nate.
My skin crawls as I cross the backyard, my head swinging back and forth, trying to see if someone is watching me. I can hear the sound of Tris’s car as it goes down the driveway, but as soon as the noise disappears, I’m left in silence in the middle of the grass, searching in vain.
I can’t see anyone, but that doesn’t mean I’m not being watched. The small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the thought.
Rushing into the pool house, I lock the door but leave the curtains open to keep a watchful eye on everything.
Pulling my cell out of my back pocket, the USB falls out at the same time.
I forgot about the USB!
Lifting the lid of my laptop, I push it into the port as I unlock my phone. Clicking on the icon that appears to view what is on the USB, I scroll through my contacts on my cell at the same time, stopping when I get to Nate’s name.
“Let’s go and swim,” Nate’s voice rings out of the speakers of my laptop and my head whips around.
My hand slaps over my mouth as I watch a video of me and Nate. He picks up his backpack before leading me down to the pool at the edge of the waterfall.
I knew someone was there.
Nate whispers something to me but the audio doesn’t pick it up.
The camera follows us as we start to swim, but when we go behind the waterfall, I squeak because the person follows us, getting into the water too. How did neither of us notice?
The water obscures the view, but you can hear us clearly seconds later.
“I’m glad you agreed to come with me today, Lia.” There’s a pause. “I think I’m falling for you.”
My nostrils flare, tears springing in my eyes as I hear myself reply. “I think I’m falling for you, too.”
The screen turns black and I look down at my cell, my thumb hovering over Nate’s name as I hesitate. He’s involved in this too, but unlike the kids, he can protect himself but only if he knows what’s coming.
My laptop flashes, gaining my attention and my gaze flicks back up, the words on the screen making my decision for me. There’s no way I can involve Nate. Not now; not ever. I have to take the burden, it’s my problem, not anyone else’s.
If I have to break my heart to keep the people I love the most safe, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Locking my cell, I slowly place it next to my laptop, reading the words on the screen over and over again.
“Loving someone is the most amazing thing a human can do. But when that love is ripped from you, the pain is indescribable. It’s time for you to know what that feeling is like. Time is up, the payback I promised is coming for you.”