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“He can’t keep sleeping in his truck. Why don’t you stay with me and Wade?” Jude asked. “At least until we know what’s going on.”
“In that tiny studio apartment above the bar? Sounds cozy.”
Jude swished her lips to the side. “We could stay with you? Or I could. We could make it fun. Like when you were little. Pizza, movies, milkshakes. The whole nine yards.”
More conflicting emotions duked it out inside Laura. She didn’t want to be a burden on the people around her, but she also didn’t want to be alone tonight. Cade had been sweet to spend so much time with her the evening before, but it was unrealistic to think he’d want to do it again. He had his own life.
A life without his best friend’s little sister demanding his attention.
“One night.” She lifted her index finger to emphasis her point. “By then, this whole unfortunate incident will be behind us. I’m sure of it.”
Jude beamed. “Great! Do you want me to pick you up after work? Then we can make a run through the market for junk food and whatever else tickles our fancy.”
“Sure. I’ll be at the food pantry all day so you can swing by around 6:00.”
Jude stood, her smile still stretching her mouth from ear to ear. “See you then.”
Folding her arms on the desk, she lowered her head and sighed. All her life she’d battled the stereotype of being the helpless baby sister, and here she was, everyone’s charity case again.
But she wasn’t helpless. Wasn’t someone to be pitied or treated like a fragile piece of glass. She’d survived more violence and trauma than most people would ever know, and she’d survive this too. Maybe she should shift her perspective. Look at this as an opportunity to mend old wounds and find peace for once in her life. That was really the only way to move forward.
“Laura?”
Cade’s booming voice popped up her head and sent her heart into a gallop. He stood in front of her with his laptop bag over his shoulder and an armload of files.
She smiled, picturing Cade looking the exact same way the night before. “Déjà vu.”
“Huh?” His dark eyebrows snapped together.
“Never mind. Ready to go?”
“Yeah. Still didn’t find anything missing, so that’s good and bad.”
She shut down the laptop on her desk and gathered the power cords. “How so?”
“Good that nothing important was stolen, but bad because it makes it look like you were the target. Not the office.”
“You’re right. That is bad.” A shudder ripped down her spine as she placed the computer and its accessories in her tote bag. She studied the desk for anything else she should take, and the flash drive she’d found the night before caught her eye. She grabbed it and tossed it in the bag.
“What’s that?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. I found it in the desk last night but didn’t get a chance to look at it. I’ll let you know what’s on it if anything important pops up. Probably an old flash drive someone threw in the drawer and forgot about. Ready?”
He stepped to the door and opened it wide. “After you.”
Standing, she hooked her bag on her shoulder and hurried outside. The bright sun urged her forward, and she picked up her pace, chin lifted.
Yes, shifting her perspective was exactly what she needed.
She was strong. She was fierce. She was a survivor. And come hell or high water, she’d pave the way for a bright future for her and child. And God help the man who tried to stop her.
6
Boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, stacked in the entryway of the food pantry, greeted Laura. She stepped around them, spinning in a circle to take in the produce. “What is all this doing here?”
“No clue.” Cade set his computer bag on a wooden bench built into the wall. The dark wood matched the curving staircase that led to the second and third floors. “But it’s a weird place to store food.”
A door on the opposite side of the foyer swung open. Mrs. Collins strode in, a smile on her lips and whistle chirping from her mouth. “Ah, good morning, you two. Do you mind giving me a hand?”
