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I push to my feet, channeling some of Angelique’s courage I’ve witnessed so far in the journal entries I’ve read. The journal I can’t wait to get back to. “Okay. I’ll come with you.”
“My backpack’s in the truck if you want to put anything in it.”
I grab from the hall table the food and water I’m bringing, as well as the lightweight jacket I found while I was shopping with Anne on Thursday. I also grab a piece of thread hidden under the embroidered doily.
I lock the door behind us, double-checking it’s secure. The rest of my traps have already been set around my house to let me know if someone breaks into my home while I’m away. I crouch, pretending to tie my sneaker lace, and set the piece of thread in place at the bottom of the door. It’s only noticeable if you know to look for it.
Troy puts my supplies into the backpack sitting on the floor of his truck and lifts Butterscotch onto the rear passenger seat.
I climb into the front seat. Butterscotch scrambles between the bucket seats and looks at me, his dark eyes wide and hopeful.
“Sorry, dude,” Troy says to him, “you’re in the back.”
“That’s okay. He can sit with me.” I scoop the dog onto my lap. It’s only once he’s there that I can relax a bit more.
It’s going to be okay.I’llbe okay.I’ll spend a few hours getting to know Zara, Simone, and Emily. Spend a few hours hiking and savoring my new freedom. It really will be all right.
Troy gives his dog a long look, amusement sparkling in his eyes. An unexpected giggle bubbles inside me and loosens the tension in my muscles.
“What’s so funny?” Troy asks, but it’s obvious from the way he’s smiling he knows why I’m laughing.
“You and Butterscotch. Your expression.” Another giggle tumbles free. “It’s priceless.”
He chuckles, the warmth of it chasing away the last of my tension. “Glad you find us so entertaining.” He turns over the engine. “We’re gonna pick up Garrett and Zara at Zara’s place. Simone and Lucas are picking up Emily and Kellan. And we’ll meet them at the trailhead.”
“I didn’t realize they’re all couples.” Which makes Troy and I the odd duo out.
“The only real couple is Lucas and Simone, who as you know are married. Garrett and Zara have been best friends for as long as I can remember. And Kellan is Emily’s boss, but they’re also friends.”
“So, none of them are dating?”
“Nope. Not yet, anyway. I’m positive it’s coming. Eventually. Once they stop lying to themselves.” His soft rumble of a laugh wraps around me like a warm blanket.
“What about you? Are you seeing anyone?” I hadn’t meant for that to come out as it sounded—like I’m interested in him. I’m just making conversation.
“No. I broke up with my last girlfriend about two years ago, and I haven’t dated anyone seriously since.”
“Why did you break up?” He doesn’t sound upset over it, so I figure it’s a safe enough question.
He reverses his truck onto the street. “We were looking for different things. She was looking to get married and have kids—”
“And you aren’t,” I finish for him.
“It wasn’t quite like that.” Troy’s tone is casual, non-defensive. “I have nothing against getting married and having kids. I’m all for that happening, eventually. When I find the right person. She wasn’t that person…” We share a glance, the warm depths to his eyes more noticeable in the sunlight streaming through the truck windows. “What about you? You interested in settling down one day? Maybe having a family?”
My heart twists painfully at his question. No one can replace Amelia. “No. Not at all.” The words come out a little too bluntly if the way Troy looks at me is any indication.
“Not even if you find the right man?”
That’s the thing. I thought I had found him, only for my husband to prove me wrong. There were warning signs. Not at first, though. At first, he was sweet and generous and affectionate. But then in time things changed. Little things at first. Easily brushed off as my imagination, my reading the situation wrong. They were buried between all the days when things were great between us.
But in time, the good days grew fewer and sparser between the long stretches of mean words and his fist.
I look out the truck window at the houses moving past us and continue to stroke Butterscotch. “It’s not something I’m interested in. I prefer my freedom. So what made you decide to create your own construction company?” That seems like a safe enough topic.
“My degree’s in Construction Engineering Management. As a teen, I helped my father’s friend with his construction projects and enjoyed doing that. But it was after my four years in the Marines I decided to specialize in adapting homes for individuals with mobility challenges. A number of my Marine brothers ended up with injuries that cost them their limbs.”
I turn to Troy and study him. Really study him. “You wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t served in the Marines?”
