Page 29 of Tracking Safety

“Yeah.” He slid the phone into his pocket. “Just a problem at the construction site.”

She looked at him. “Construction site?”

“Refuge Cove is expanding. We’re adding cottages for the women who come through.”

She remembered sitting with the Kings right after Sarah was killed and listening to them talk about what the property could become. They wanted it to be more than a house or a shelter. They wanted it to be something that could give women real space to breathe and rebuild.

She hadn’t known then how far they’d take it. But she’d deeply admired their vision.

“I think it’s wonderful what your family has built there,” she murmured.

He nodded as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with her words. The silence between them stretched into something awkward and full.

“Do you need to go?” she asked. “To the construction site?”

“I’ve still got a few minutes.” He glanced toward the street then back at her.

The alertness was still there. Jenna could see him cataloguing and assessing everything around him the same way she often did.

“I know somewhere we can go and talk privately.” He glanced around once more. “And it’ll be safe.”

“Where?”

“Blue Ridge Hollow Community Church is two blocks over. Pastor Dave won’t mind. It’ll be empty this time of morning.”

Jenna nodded, tension gripping her as she realized there was no turning back.

Instead, she murmured, “Okay. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 10

The church was unlocked, as Luke had known it would be.

He held the door open, and Jenna stepped past him into the quiet interior. He followed her in and let the door fall shut behind them. The street noise disappeared almost immediately, replaced by the hushed stillness of the sanctuary.

Jenna stopped just inside and looked up.

Luke followed her gaze and tried to see the space as she did.

He’d forgotten how beautiful it was in here. The building was small as far as churches went, but someone had put real care into the design.

The sanctuary had dark polished woodwork along the pews and the balcony rail. Light fell through stained-glass windows in panels of deep blue, amber, and green. A simple wooden cross stood at the front.

The place wasn’t ornate or excessive . . . just a room that had been built by people who believed what happened inside it was important. Vital, for that matter.

“This is beautiful,” Jenna murmured, her gaze still scanning the place in awe.

“It is.” He looked around a moment. “My brothers attend here. And Naomi. Rowan when she’s in town. She’s been traveling back and forth from Hollywood. She’s there this week, wrapping up a few things.”

Luke would probably attend this church also if he lived closer. Instead, he and the kids had found a great church in Charlottesville. His mom was a member there with him.

He and Jenna made their way down the center aisle and settled into a pew, leaving a comfortable distance between them. The stained glass threw a band of indigo light across the floor at their feet. Somewhere near the front a candle burned, its small flame steady in the undisturbed air.

Luke looked at the wooden cross, and something loosened in his chest.

He always felt better when he came here. Not this church building in particular. Just church in general.

For a moment, his thoughts shifted to his wedding to Jenna.