Page 77 of Secret Sins

Chapter 27

Van

Beth was due to arrive in town any minute, and I was freaking out. It had been entirely too long since I'd seen her, especially given the way I left home. She would never judge me for my choices, which was why Bailey reminded me of her in so many ways. But I would still worry about how she saw me, my new town, and my relationship. Would she think I could do better than menial work? Would she think Port Townsend was too dated, too quaint?

Most of all, would she approve of Bailey?

I loved her with everything I had in me, and though Beth's opinion wouldn't change that, I was afraid to have my sister’s judgment hanging over my head. If she didn't like my girlfriend for some reason, it would make things awkward between me and her. Of course, I had given little thought to Mike and his opinions, but they were there, too. Worrying about him would have to take a backseat to the rest. I simply didn't have the energy.

A few days had passed since Kay had taken the video of the strange man into her possession. She and Eric were working hard on identifying him, along with other law enforcement in the area. Everyone seemed to think he looked familiar enough to figure out who he was, but nothing had come of it so far.

My apartment was probably cleaner than it had been even before I moved in. My girlfriend's apartment, also soon to be mine, was equally spotless, since I wanted to spend more time there than at my place. Mike and Beth were staying at the Palace Hotel on the waterfront, with its solid brick facade and red and white striped awning. For the most part, the interior looked straight out of Grandma's house, but the room they chose was on the top floor and gave off a more industrial vibe. Iron railings, brick walls, and more modern furnishings made it more appealing, especially with the view of the inlet. Staying there meant they would be close to me, and certainly within walking distance of the city center.

Just the idea of being an uncle soon made me feel all kinds of excited and anxious rolled up into one. I wanted children myself someday, but I had never thought it was possible before Bailey. Now, the idea that my sister was about to be a mom kind of threw me off balance. She'd make a perfect mother; that was a given, but it solidified her as an actual adult in my mind. Meanwhile, I was still bumbling around, trying to figure out who I wanted to be when I grew up.

I guess it was typical for an ex-con to still be working out their goals. My life had been put on hold for years, and now I finally had the chance to live it.

Which scared the absolute fuck out of me.

No more running or dodging people's glances and the scrutiny of strangers. It was almost surreal to finally have the ability to live out in the open.

I knew I wanted to propose to Bailey, but I had to get a few paychecks from the vet tech job first. I had to be a respectable man who could afford his bills before I could take on a wife. Bailey would tell me it wasn't necessary, but it was. Deep down, it really was. One way or another, I'd even figure out how to get her the house she grew up in, though that was a long-term, distant dream.

"Stop that." Bailey said it mildly, but I had to be driving her crazy. I'd been pacing up and down the aisles of her store for the past half-hour.

"I'm trying." Rubbing my hands together briskly, I reminded myself that Beth was the last person on earth I should be nervous about.

It didn't work, just like the last nine hundred times I'd said it.

"Baby, seriously." Crossing over behind the armchair, Bailey picked up a cookie and shoved it in my face. "Eat this."

Cinnamon and sugar might be her answer to everything, but I doubted it would help calm my nerves. Still, I ate it, if only to appease her.

"You've told me enough about Beth that I know you shouldn't be worried."

"But she hasn't seen me since I got out of prison. It's so much information to throw at her at one time; us, a new job, a new town."

"She'll be happy for you, end of story."

"Why are you always the calm one?"

Wrapping her arms around my waist, Bailey tipped her head up to smile at me. "Someone has to counteract your neuroses."

"Thanks." I snorted. "But you're right, so I'm grateful."

"Do you have any idea how nervous I am? It's your only family coming here to judge me and mine."

"She's not going to judge you. Not at all."

"Exactly." Tapping my nose, she kissed me quickly. "Now believe what you said."

"Maybe I should meet them at the hotel instead of making them find their way here." When I tried to back up, Bailey held tight. "What?"

"No, you should stick to the plan."

I groaned. "She just needs to get here so I can dissolve this nervous energy."

"If we had the time, I'd dissolve it for you." With a wink, she let me go and moved back to check the coffee cups and cookies. She might not admit it, but she was anxious too. All morning, she'd rearranged the plates, the cups, the cream and sugar.