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Brynn nodded. “It was. I left behind my family, and everyone I’d ever known.”
“And after all these years, your safety is still in jeopardy?”
Brynn sucked in a long breath tainted with cinnamon. “Yes. My ex is a prominent leader in the group, and by leaving I know I’ve caused shame and disgrace to his whole household. The religion I was raised in doesn’t leave much room for forgiveness without punishment. He will blame me. I thought maybe we were safe, but a man came in the diner asking for me last week.”
Pippa’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh my God!”
“I have been trying to live under the radar, so that means no health insurance for Danielle. She obviously needs to see a doctor now. Aaron offered me a solution to solve my problems. I’d get to legally change my name and get health insurance for my daughter. We could begin the process of changing her name too. Her biological father isn’t on her birth certificate.” It would have raised too many red flags if Paul Livingston had his name on the record of all the children he’d fathered with his many wives.
“Wow. I know I keep saying that word, but I’m just astonished. I can’t believe you’ve been through so much.”
You don’t know the half of it.
“Are you sure that’s all this is with Aaron?” Pippa asked.
“What do you mean?”
Pippa broke a piece of her cookie off and slipped it into her mouth, chewing and swallowing before continuing, “I always thought there was a spark of chemistry between you two.”
What? No. “I’m sure Aaron sees me as a pitiful woman who needs rescuing. It’s not really me he’s doing this for anyways. It’s for Dani.” Brynn wasn’t sure Aaron’s brother’s story was public knowledge, so she didn’t want to betray his confidence by giving Pippa that extra bit of information.
The corner of Pippa’s lips turned up as she nodded, mischief flashing in her eyes. “I think he sees you as a little more than that.”
Anxiety flit in her belly, taking off like a flock of birds. That was definitely nerves. There was no way the flutters were the first rays of hope and excitement. No way at all.
People like her didn’t get happily ever afters like the heroines did in the books she stocked the shelves with at Pippa’s store. People like Brynn were broken beyond repair. There was no hope for someone like her who had been so thoroughly used and abused. The only reason she kept going was for Danielle and Brynna. She’s made a promise and she had every reason to keep it.
