Page 87 of Power
“I’m awake,” I say as I sit up and clear my groggy throat. I look at the time and grunt. I’ve barely had three hours of broken sleep. My phone tells me I’ve got over a hundred missed calls, along with a ton of emails and messages. I scan through the numbers, and nearly all of them are unknown to me. Bennett has called me a handful of times, but he made his position clear with me.
I can’t be seen with you, easily translates to you’re on your own. My phone rings again, and this time I see May’s name pop up. I push the covers off and tiptoe out of the guest room and go into the kitchen. “Hello?” I whisper trying not to wake Emily or Tash.
“Seems you got yourself into a bit of a pickle there, lady.”
“Oh no. You’ve seen?”
“I think most of the population of the world has seen.” My stomach churns and flips. “Are you and that kid of yours safe?”
“Define safe.” I let out a humorless chuckle. “We’re at my best friend’s house, but I know it’s only a matter of time before the press finds me. It won’t take long.” I lean against the kitchen counter and run my hand through my hair.
“Get your butts down here. I have a retreat on my farm, and at the moment, no one’s using it.”
I smile at her beautiful, generous offer. “Thank you, but—”
“Nope, I’m cutting you off right now. This town is built on integrity and loyalty. I can tell you no one here will say a word about you being here. Pack your car, and your kid, and get down here.”
“May, I really couldn’t impose. If the media finds out...”
“They won’t. I’ll text you my address, and I expect to see you here by lunchtime.”
I pull the phone away from my ear to double-check the time again. “It’s five in the morning.”
“Yep. Get out of there now, before they find you, because once they do there’s no chance of you or Emily escaping them.”
I look down at my bare toes on the kitchen tiles. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Of course, I am. You can stay here for as long as you need. I know a few of the teachers in town and they owe me favors. They can homeschool Emily.”
“My own mother tossed me aside like I was nothing. I met you for all of an hour, and now you’re treating me like your blood runs through my veins,” my voice cracks as I try to hold in my emotions.
“Sometimes, we all need help. I’ll see you soon.” May hangs up without another word, leaving me speechless at her incredible kindness. I set to making a fresh pot of coffee because I know I’m going to have to wake Tash to ask her opinion of May’s offer.
It doesn’t take her long to walk out to the kitchen in her pajamas, yawning. “Why are you up so early?”
“My phone has been blowing up.”
“I’m sorry.” She walks over to me and wraps me in her arms. “This is fucked.”
“Yeah, it is.” She pulls away and reaches for two coffee mugs as the coffee brews. “May called me.”
“May?” She crinkles her brows. “Oh, the old lady from Hope River, right?”
“Yeah, that’s her. She called me, and invited Emily and me to hang out down there for a while.”
“I think you should go,” Tash responds without a doubt. “How long do you think it’s going to take before the press finds you and harasses you?”
I pour the coffee and hand Tash hers before wrapping mine in my hands. “Bennett’s been calling, but I’m not answering any of his calls.”
“What happened with him?” I give her the abridged version of what happened, and when I finish, Tash pulls her shoulders back as she lifts her head. “Next time he calls, I’ll deal with him.”
I sip on my coffee as I stare at the floor. “I think it’s a good idea if Emily and I head to Hope River. We can lay low for a little while, and I can try to figure out what to do.”
“You know I love you and Emily, and I’d do anything for you both. But, in this case, I absolutely think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Okay then.” I place my near empty coffee mug on the counter. “I should get Emily up and get her ready. She and I need to have a conversation about everything.” There’s a heavy, solemn feel to the air.
“Actually.” Tash purses her lips together as she stares at me. “I have an idea.”
