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"It's fine." She tried to slow her breathing and calm her racing heart.
"We're safe now," Megan reminded her.
"I keep telling myself that. I guess it will take a while for reality to sink in. A part of me still thinks it was a dream."
"It wasn't a dream," Drew said forcefully. "Enrique is gone. He'll never threaten or hurt either of you again. Today you start over."
"Yes, we do," she agreed. "I assume you have some food in those bags."
"We're going to make a huge breakfast," Megan announced, dropping the bags on the kitchen counter. "And then…" She glanced over at Drew. "Maybe you should tell her. She might take it better."
"Tell me what?" she asked suspiciously.
"I think we should celebrate your first day of freedom," Drew said. "I've taken the day off work. Megan has already missed the start of school, and I think you're free as well, aren't you?"
"I do have Tuesdays off," she admitted.
"So let's play tourist," Drew said. "We can walk around the city, see the sights, eat great food and not look over our shoulders."
"That sounds wonderful, but I think I have to meet with Max today."
"I already called him. He said we can meet him this evening. He wants to get a little further in the investigation before he talks to you again."
"Is he investigating me?" she asked, unable to get rid of the lingering fear that she might still be facing some charges.
"He's investigating Valdez along with everyone else we spoke to last night. And I've also asked Sara to get involved. She's an excellent attorney, and you may need one."
Ria was touched by his family's support. "Everyone is being so generous; they barely know me."
"But they know me. And they want to help. I'll start breakfast. Megan requested French toast and bacon."
"What can I do?"
"Nothing."
She watched them unpack the groceries then said, "If you don't need me, I'll take a shower."
"I need you, Ria," he said with a teasing smile. "But not for breakfast."
Megan clapped her hands over her ears. "I am not listening to this."
Drew laughed. "Don’t worry I'm done."
Ria headed into the bathroom with a smile. She felt so much lighter this morning and listening to Drew and Megan bicker over who was making the egg batter warmed her heart. She felt like she was part of a family again, and that was both wonderful and a little scary. She didn't want Drew to break her heart, but if there was a man who was worth the risk, it was Drew.
An hour later, after a delicious breakfast, they took a brisk walk to the nearest cable car stop. They hopped on one of San Francisco's famous trolley cars for a somewhat harrowing climb up and down the steepest hills in the city. They got off the cable car by union Square and roamed around the big department stores. Then it was on to Chinatown for Dim Sum and fresh fortune cookies.
As the hours passed, Ria felt the tension drain from her body. Two long years of fear had put permanent knots in her shoulders but now her muscles were starting to let go of the need to be ready to run or to fight. She'd done her fighting last night. Now they were free to walk around without looking over their shoulders.
After Chinatown, they went down to the water, visiting the sea lions outside Pier 39, and buying touristy stuff like t-shirts and hats.
They finally went home tired and happy just after three o'clock. Ria flopped onto the couch while Drew took the chair across from her.
"That was fun," she told him. "I needed that."
"We all did," he said.
"Hey, you two," Megan interrupted, looking up from her cell phone. "Lindsay just got home from school, and she wants me to come over to her house. Can I go, and can I walk there by myself?"
Ria stiffened, realizing that Megan was about to force her to put their sense of freedom to the test. "Yes," she said, although it took a lot of strength to get the word out.
Lindsay lived two blocks away, so she wasn't exactly sending Megan into the panhandle but it was still an important step—for both of them.
"Thanks," Megan said, meeting her gaze. "I know that was hard for you." She paused. "Can I tell her everything?"
