Page 56 of Tracking Safety

That had been the hardest part.

He knew his son. He knew what that careful ceiling-staring posture meant.

It meant he was hurting.

Luke’s eyes stung at the thought. He averted his gaze to the nightlight instead.

Cora had turned it on with her matter-of-fact authority. He’d always loved her feistiness—though it also drove him crazy at times. It reminded him of Jenna. Jenna could be quiet, but beneath the quiet she had a lot of spirit.

Something in his chest had loosened at the thought.

He didn’t want the tension to loosen, but it had happened anyway, without his permission. There didn’t appear to be anything he could do to stop it.

Jenna reached the doorway and paused beside him.

They both looked back at the room again. Cora was already still, one hand curled under her cheek. Jonah had pulled the blanket up to his chin with evident satisfaction. Liam lay with his eyes closed now, still and unmoving.

The nightlight glowed.

Luke pulled the door partway closed and turned toward the hallway.

Jenna stood beside him, her arms folded across her chest, her eyes still on the door. He sensed the effort it was taking her to hold herself together. He recognized it because he was doing the same thing.

He looked at her.

She looked at him.

Neither of them said anything. There wasn’t anything to say that would fit in a hallway outside a room where their children were falling asleep.

Instead, he exhaled slowly before murmuring, “Come on. It’s time to talk to my family.”

CHAPTER 22

The fireplace crackled softly into the silence that followed.

Jenna sat on the couch, Luke beside her, as she explained everything to his family. She kept the details brief, telling the story in the broad strokes and essential facts.

She’d watched everyone’s faces as she talked and tried not to let their expressions derail her.

Caleb had listened with his jaw set. He didn’t appear hostile but careful. Naomi had looked at her with something unreadable, a baby asleep against her shoulder, one hand moving in slow absent circles on the child’s back. Ruby’s eyes were lined with compassion.

No one had interrupted.

When Jenna finished, silence stretched for what felt longer than it probably was.

“So whoever is out there,” Caleb said carefully, “may have followed you here.”

“That’s one theory,” Luke said.

“I would have never come back if I thought I’d bring danger with me,” Jenna rushed. “My children’s safety has always been my first priority. You’ve got to believe me.”

Caleb nodded once and looked at the fire.

Naomi shifted Grace to her other shoulder. “The children don’t know any of this.”

“No,” Luke said. “And I’d like to keep it that way.”

Naomi’s look wasn’t exactly warm, but it wasn’t cold either.