"We agree on one thing,” I say.
"You live your life," Ethan says. "Go out. We give you a job."
"So you dangle me like a piece of meat." I fold my arms over my chest. The rage in me is making my arms shake. "How about we follow him? How about we find out where he is, and then I go there and put a fucking bullet between his eyes?"
"Now you have a plan, too," Jacob says. "Come to work here and see if you can find anything else."
"I have no other option," I say. "My back is literally to the wall."
Casey walks toward me and holds out a key. "This is the key to your place." He dangles the gold key in front of me. My hand extends to take it, and it feels like it’s burning a hole in my palm.
"I’ll take you back to Chelsea’s, and you can get your things," Ethan says, and I just nod.
"I know it’s a lot to take in," Beau says. "If it helps, my father was no father of the year."
I don’t say anything. Instead, I just look at Ethan, and we both walk out. My head spins a mile a minute. I get into the truck and put my head back on the seat. "How’re you doing?"
"Peachy," I say sarcastically.
"Just think of this as a mission," Ethan says. "Just another mission."
"Every time I start a mission,” I say, "I make a plan for after."
"So let’s make you a plan," he says. "Where are you going to go after this is all done?”
I swallow now. "Haven’t decided,” I say. My heart is heavier in my chest than when my mother died. "I’ve never planted roots anywhere." I look out the window as we pull up to Chelsea’s house. My palms are getting sweaty now. "I’ve always liked this town."
He smiles. "I wouldn’t be upset if you decided to stay here when all this is over."
"You never know,” I say with my hand on the handle.
"I’ll be back tonight to take you out of here." He looks around. "Easier to move at night than in broad daylight."
"I’ll be waiting,” I say, getting out of the truck. I walk toward the door and then turn back to look at Ethan. "What is the code to the garage?"
"Zero five thirty-one," he says. "Her birthday."
"That’s safe," I mumble, going to the keypad, and it opens once I put the last number in. I walk into the house and call her name. "Chelsea," I say with no answer.
Walking toward the kitchen, I stop and all I can see is her at the sink beside me. Leaning over and kissing her. I look over at the couch where I spent the night away listening to her breathing beside me. Where I held her in my arms and for the first time in my whole life, I felt this calmness settle over me. Breathing didn’t hurt anymore. My eyes saw the goodness in the stars instead of the darkness that usually took over. I kissed her softly when she mumbled in her sleep.
“Every family has some cracks in the foundation. It’s about finding the crack and sealing it shut." I hear her voice in my head over and over again.
"You don't have cracks in your foundation," I say to myself, walking to the bedroom and grabbing the bag. Opening the bag, I start putting my things in. My hands are almost not moving.
"You have no foundation." I walk over to the bathroom now and look at myself in the mirror. "She is too good for you. Let her go."
Chapter 22
Chelsea
"I needed this." I look over at my grandmother’s face forming into the biggest smile. She really isn’t my blood grandmother, but she has never treated anyone as if they weren’t her blood.
"I haven’t seen you bake that much since you made the decision to become a nurse,” she says, sitting down next to me. She looks over at me. "what’s got your panties in a bunch?"
"Not much," I answer quickly. "I start working for the clinic in a couple of weeks, and I guess I’m more nervous than I thought."
She puts her hand on mine. "Oh, honey, your gonna have them eating out of your hand.."
I smile at her and squeeze her hand in mine. The back door opens, and my grandfather comes in. He spots me sitting down and smiles, taking off his cowboy hat. "There she is," he says. I walk over to him, and he opens his arms for me. I wrap my arms around his waist just like I used to do when I was younger. He kisses the top of my head. "Missed you."
"Missed you, too," I say in his chest. "I smell pie," he says, letting me go, and I just laugh.
"We baked strawberry, blueberry, apple, and your favorite," Grandma says. "Pecan." She gets up and walks over to the stove to cut him a piece. "Come and have a little taste."