Page 121 of Riptide
"The threat isn't gone, though," she said. "What if Jessica has Blaire’s files?"
“We can’t know she has them. Or if she intends to use them.”
“We can’t know she doesn’t.”
Gabe held her gaze. "Whatever's in those files, it doesn't change how I see you. You know that, right?"
But you don't know who I really am.
Before she could respond, his radio crackled. Tyler Price’s voice, tinny and distant. "Sawyer, you copy? Need you at the station."
Gabe closed his eyes briefly, then keyed the radio. "Copy. On my way." He looked at Cara, something unfinished in his expression. "We'll talk later?"
"Yeah. Later."
He squeezed her hand once, then headed up the stairs. The basement door closed behind him.
Cara sat alone in the silence, Gabe's words echoing in her head.
It doesn't change how I see you.
But it would. When he found out the truth—the whole truth—everything would change.
She bowed her head.
Lord, I'm so scared. Of Jessica. Of the files. Of losing everything I've built here.She pressed her palms against her eyes, holding back tears.I know I don't deserve this life. I know I lied to get here. But please... please don't let it all fall apart. Not yet. Not like this.
She sat there for a long moment, breathing, waiting for peace that didn't quite come.
Then she wiped her face, squared her shoulders, and climbed the stairs to face the day.
The bakery was already humming with the Sunday morning rush. Diane had everything under control—trays of freshpastries in the display case, coffee brewing, the warm smell of sugar and butter filling the air.
"There you are." Diane smiled as Cara emerged from the back. "Ready to face the masses?"
"As I'll ever be."
Cara tied on her apron and fell into the familiar rhythm. Taking orders. Making change. Smiling at customers she'd come to recognize—the retired couple who always split a blueberry scone, the young mom with twin toddlers who needed extra napkins, the businessman who ordered a large black coffee and never said please.
It was almost soothing. Almost normal.
The church crowd arrived around eleven, flooding the small space with chatter and laughter. Cara moved on autopilot, her body going through the motions while her mind churned elsewhere.
Jessica had been so broken on the phone. So hollow.You can't stop her. Nobody can.
But Jessica had stopped her. Permanently.
And now she was gone, carrying all of Blaire's secrets into whatever new life she was building.
The rush peaked, then slowly ebbed. By one o'clock, only a handful of customers remained. Diane untied her apron and stretched.
"I'm going to run to the post office on my break," she said, grabbing her purse. "Need to mail my sister's birthday package before it's late. Again." She smiled. "You okay holding down the fort for thirty minutes?"
"Go. I've got it."
Diane headed out the front door, the bell chiming behind her, and Cara was alone with the quiet. She wiped down tables. Refilled napkin dispensers. Straightened chairs that didn't need straightening.
The bell over the door chimed.
