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At nine o’clock sharp, Kirra saw Melissa Kay and Jared Talix strolling toward the restaurant, Melissa Kay laughing at something he’d said, leaning into him, her hand stroking his arm. Kirra’s heart started pounding. She nodded at Griffin, stood up fast, and raced to intercept them. Would she finally know if this was the woman who’d murdered her parents, who’d wanted to kill her? Would she recognize her voice, know it for sure? She slowed to a fast walk, lowered her head, and began rummaging through her purse. She ran right into Melissa Kay, hard, and jerked to a flustered stop.
“Hey! Watch it!” Melissa Kay looked at the sexy little blond number who’d crashed into her, well aware Jared was looking at her as well, probably guessing her bra size.
“Oh, goodness! I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention! Are you all right?”
Melissa snapped, “Of course I’m all right. You need to watch where you’re going.”
Kirra froze. This was the voice she heard as a twelve-year-old girl escaping down the oak tree. Now she felt the same helpless terror the girl had felt years ago, the girl who thought she was going to die. She knew she’d recognize that voice when she was ninety.
I see the little bitch. Let me do her!
Talix leaned toward Kirra, smiling, managing to move his eyes upward to her face. “What were you looking for?”
Kirra gave a fast nod, too embarrassed to look either of them in the face. She managed to say, her voice still apologetic, “I’m really sorry, I was trying to find my cell phone. I’m supposed to call my mother.”
He held out a strong square hand, touched her shoulder. “Can I help?”
Melissa Kay said sharply, “She doesn’t need your help, Jared. Come on, I don’t want to be late for our reservation.” She gave Kirra a venomous look.
Kirra couldn’t help it, her words came out as a near whisper. “Again, I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy,” and she hurried away. She didn’t walk back to Griffin, who was standing not twelve feet away; she ran to the women’s bathroom into a stall and fell to her knees. The terror flooded her, and she vomited. A woman said from outside the stall, “Are you all right? Can I get someone for you?”
Kirra had to get hold of herself. Here she’d fallen apart, not exactly brave of her. She took a breath, slowly rose, and came out. An older woman gave her a worried look. “I’m fine now,” Kirra said. “Cramps from something I ate that didn’t agree with me. Thank you, really. I’m okay.”
Kirra washed out her mouth, used some mouthwash, one of the many amenities on the long counter, and tried to repair her makeup. Griffin was waiting for her when she came out of the bathroom. She walked straight to him, clasped her arms around his back, and pressed her face against his shoulder. “It’s her, Griffin, it’s her.” She wanted to weep and scream at the same time. She swallowed, leaned back, and looked up at him. “I guess it hit me hard, hearing her voice. I threw up, Griffin, I threw up.”
He pulled her close again, his hand on the back of her head. He hadn’t thought through how she’d react to hearing Melissa Kay’s voice. Of course it had to hurl her back fourteen years to that night. He said against her hair, “It’s over. And now you know. And now we can act.”
Griffin led her back to a seating area in front of one of the fireplaces, people streaming past them, not paying them any particular attention. He pulled her down on his lap because that’s what a groom would do and called to a waiter for some tea.
Kirra saw an older couple smiling at them and whispering to each other. She’d forgotten she was a newlywed. She drew in a deep breath, hugged him close, and whispered in his ear, “Sorry for being such a mess. And I am sure, Griffin, completely sure.”
The waiter brought them tea. Griffin saw her hand was steady as she dumped sugar and milk into the Greenbrier teacup. Kirra took a drink, felt the warmth all the way to her raw stomach. They were quiet as she sipped the tea. Finally, she said, “Jared Talix is a dog. He came on to me, didn’t even try to hide looking at my cleavage. Melissa Kay was standing right there, and it burned her. We know he cheats on his wife, but I’ll bet you if he were married to Melissa Kay, he wouldn’t dare cheat on her. She’d rip his guts out.” She paused, drank more tea. “But you know, I don’t think she blamed him. I was the one at fault, the slut, and she turned all her anger squarely on me.”
Griffin put his arms around her and squeezed. He lightly kissed her hair. “You feel better now? Don’t lie to me.”
Kirra’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, yes, I’m good. I feel like planting some bugs.”
