Page 77 of Together Is Where We Belong

“I’ll explain later,” I told her as I looked down at Luke. She nodded in understanding.

Carolina came back into the kitchen quickly, color drained from her face, fear in her eyes, as she stared down at her phone.

I rushed over to her and guided her back into the front room to see what was the matter.

“What happened?” I asked.

She shook as she handed the phone over to me.

I took the device from her and looked down at the screen. My blood ran cold at the message she’d received.

Unknown number

He’ll never have you, beautiful. You’re mine. I’ll see you sooner than you think.

A photo of Carolina and me holding hands in front of the sheriff’s office was below the text.

“You’re okay. He can’t get to you here,” I said as I pulled her into my arms, the phone clutched so tightly in my hand that I could feel the blood pulsing beneath it. Her body shook against me, and she wrapped her arms around my waist and broke down.

Her attacker was closer than we all thought. He was right here in Haven Valley, threatening the woman I never really hated.

nineteen

Carolina

The look in Lillian’s eyes as Leo told her about my stalker was one I’d never forget. She looked frightened as she put her hand over mine, but the second our hands touched, the look in her eyes went from frightened to one of a protective mama bear, and I felt relief when she and Sawyer immediately agreed to Luke and me staying here. When I returned to Haven Valley, I thought everyone in the Courtright family would treat me with disdain after finding out about Luke; instead, they opened their arms and brought me into their fold without a second thought.

Luke loved the idea of staying in Leo’s old room just like Leo predicted. Leo and Brooks were at my house gathering some things for tonight. I wanted to go because the thought of Leo going through my things didn’t sit well with me, but Leo insisted I stay here. He reminded me that it wasn’t necessarily safe since we didn’t know where the stalker was.

I told him everything that I needed for Luke and me and reluctantly gave in. Once he returned, I made sure Luke had his bath and got him ready for bed. He went down without a fight after the busy day he’d had with his grandparents.

I sat on the side of Leo’s old bed and watched Luke sleep, thankful that he was still oblivious to the danger that lurked. I didn’t want anything to take that innocence he still had away.

I brushed away the hair that had fallen on his forehead and ran my finger softly down the side of his face. He turned away from me, and I pulled my hand back not wanting to wake him.

With one last longing look at Luke’s sweet face that looked so much like Leo’s more and more every day, I got up from the bed, shut the door softly behind me, and went downstairs to make a cup of tea, hoping it would calm my nerves.

I found Lillian at the kitchen counter making herself a cup of tea.

“Do you mind if I make one?” I asked as I walked up beside her. She jumped a little as she turned to face me.

“Of course. You want a cup of chamomile?” she asked as she turned and pulled a mug down from the cabinet.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. That sounds lovely,” I told her as I leaned against the counter on the opposite side of the stove.

“I was just lost in thought. No worries. How do you take your tea?” she asked as she pulled a bag of chamomile tea from the container on the counter.

“With a bit of honey and a spoonful of sugar, but I can make it,” I replied, not wanting her to feel obligated.

“I don’t mind,” she said as she steeped the tea bag in the hot water she'd poured from the kettle. She placed the kettle back on the stove and added just the right amount of honey and sugar before she handed the cup over to me.

“Are you doin’ okay?” she asked as she picked up her cup and blew on the hot liquid before she took a sip.

I did the same thing and took a sip; the hot liquid warmed me up as it went down my throat.

“As okay as I can be, I guess. I can’t thank you and Sawyer enough for letting us stay here,” I said again, feeling the need to express my thanks again even though I’d done so earlier in the evening.

“You don’t have to thank us. We’re happy we’re in a position to be able to help. We don’t want anythin’ to happen to either of you,” she said as she gave me a reassuring smile.