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50
BRYNN
Brynn wiped the table down and glanced out the window of the High Tide diner and froze. She gasped. Her eyes widened; her heart raced. It had been just a flash, but she’d thought for sure she’d seen Paul across the street in the passing crowd of people heading towards Hope Facility’s Winter Wonderland fundraiser in Green Park.
She searched the spot where she’d seen him, but no one was there.
It’s just my imagination. I’m safe. Paul has no idea where I am.
“Can I go to the park now, Mom? I finished my homework. Aspen said she’s at the bookstore waiting for me, so we can go together with Pippa,” Dani asked, shouldering her backpack over her winter coat.
“Sure. Have fun.” Brynn opened her arms for a hug.
“Can you meet me there after your shift ends?”
Ugh. And risk running into Aaron, and with an audience? “Oh, I actually have some errands to run. I’ll see you at six for dinner, okay?”
Dani gave her a quick squeeze and then bounded out the door. Brynn finished wiping the table down and went to refill coffees for the few patrons left in the diner. Once she’d done that, she went to the table in the corner, getting to work wrapping silverware in napkins.
“Brynn?”
“Hmm?” She turned towards Betty-Lou’s curious expression.
“Are you okay, dear?”
Brynn straightened. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I’ve called your name three times.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you need something?”
Betty-Lou studied her. “You’ve been very distracted this week. Is everything okay with Dani and Aaron?”
Hearing his name was like a knife to Brynn’s gut. She forced a smile. “We’re fine.”
She squeezed Brynn’s arm before smoothing her hands down her blue checkered apron. “Now, your shift is over, but I was going to run to the storage shed out back for some more deli containers. Can you watch the front for me?” Betty-Lou wiped her hands on a dish towel.
“No problem.”
Betty-Lou gently laid a hand on Brynn’s. “If you need anything, Fred and I are here for you.”
Brynn pressed her palm to the kind woman’s touch. “I know. And I don’t know if I’ve ever really told you how grateful I am for all you’ve done for us.”
Betty-Lou winked. “Just about every other day.” She laughed. “Jasmine is coming in for a to-go order of pies. They’re all boxed up with the invoice on the counter.”
“Okay.”
Betty-Lou patted her hand and waved to the few Pirate MC members at a booth across the diner before she went out the back doors. The one with the scar on his face looked Brynn’s way. Her attention darted to the silverware and napkins in front of her. She got to work, rolling them together.
The door opened, bringing in a gust of crisp wintery air with it. Brynn looked up in time to meet Aaron’s tired gaze. Her body tensed as a cacophony of emotions clamored to the surface. Nerves flipped in her belly as he approached her, a yellow folder in his hands.
“Can we talk for a second . . . please? I promise I’ll leave you alone after. I just want to say one thing.” He sounded like he’d swallowed gravel. His shoulders hunched forward. Gone was the usual lively spark in his expression, replaced only with defeat.
She nodded, unable to speak, and gestured to the seat across from her. She didn’t have it in her today to ignore him like she had been, and a large part of her was still so confused about everything that had happened between them. If he was an honest man, then why did he lie to her? Why did he say those things to her if he truly believed in her?
Aaron slipped into the booth and set the envelope on the table. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. His beard was growing out, and his normally pressed and ironed dress shirt was wrinkled. He looked as bad as she felt.
Aaron took a deep breath, as if preparing himself while he loosened the grey scarf around his neck. “I only ever wanted to bring you happiness and help you feel safe. I’m sorry I hurt you in any way. It truly was unintentional. I should have been honest with you.”
