AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nausea welled inside, but I forced myself to stay firm. “I will. You can’t intimidate me anymore.”
I hung up the phone, taking a shaky breath as I walked in a tight circle in the supply room.
I still couldn’t believe the clinic had done nothing,nothingwhen I told HR about his med theft and the camera he’d set up in the women’s locker room there. I didn’t understand why he kept targeting me. He had to know I couldn’t help. There was no way I’d let myself get blackmailed into supplying him with meds at my new clinic. If I did that, it would never end. I was already in over my head here. If I didn’t own the home I inherited from my parents, I would be so fucking screwed. As it was, I was praying that I would start bringing in money in time to pay the utilities.
I shook my head, resolving to check the number he’d called from and block it from here. If only I could count on Tyler facing actual consequences.
ChapterTen
Jonah
Several days later
I had resolutely avoided the urge to go down to the dock when I saw Alice there for the past two evenings. Ever since the night we kissed and had been conveniently, or inconveniently, interrupted by my grandmother, I’d told myself this irrational lust for Alice would pass.
It didn’t change the fact that my eyes were drawn toward her house every morning when I left for work. I could see it through the trees. The days were getting shorter, and her kitchen light was on in the mornings now. I shouldn’t have been so curious about her, but I was. I savored, knowing she was up early.
I climbed into my truck and drove into town, tapping my dashboard screen to answer a call when I recognized my parents’ number.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Jonah! How are you this morning?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I’m headed in for work. How are you?”
“Doing well. You haven’t called in over a week,” she said.
My mother was a worrier. She always had been. Her worrying about me had multiplied exponentially after the shooting.
“I’ve just been busy, Mom. Are you and Dad coming up anytime soon?”
The unspoken in my question related to my grandmother’s illness. They hadn’t visited since her wedding.
“That’s why I was calling. We’re going to come up next weekend. I think perhaps we’ll come up and stay for a bit. How do you feel about that?”
“I think that’d be great. You know Gram would love it.”
“We’ll talk to her about it. Meanwhile, how are you?” she repeated.
I bit back a sigh. “Mom, I told you I’m fine.” I brushed away the subtle irritation that rose inside.
My parents didn’t love my career choice after the shooting. My father had been more accepting of it, but I felt like my mother was still trying to turn back time. I sensed she thought if I fell back in love with teaching, that meant I was okay. Iwasokay. Just not the kind of okay she wanted.
“You did,” she said softly. “We can’t wait to see you.”
“I’ll pick you up at the airport. Text me your flight times so I know when to come get you.”
“Jonah, you don’t have to do that,” she insisted.
“I know I don’t, but I want to.”
“Okay then. Once I make the reservations, I’ll text you the itinerary.”
I turned onto Main Street, commenting, “I’m almost at the station, Mom. I need to go.”
“Of course. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
