Chapter 71

seventy-one

PAUL

Later that night, I leaned against the doorframe of Amy's bedroom. Liam was reading her a story, complete with funny voices and lots of laughter. It was easy to see why Amy enjoyed spending time with him. They were like two peas in a pod, each finding humor in the same quirky tales.

"That's it," Liam said. "It's time to go to sleep now."

"Just one more chapter," Amy begged. "I want to know what happens to Peter Rabbit."

"If I read the whole story, you'll have nothing to look forward to tomorrow." Liam tucked Amy's pink rabbit beside Dolly. "Maybe your toy rabbit could tell Dolly what happens."

Amy looked confused. "But my rabbit doesn't know what happens, either."

"Are you sure?"

Amy turned on her side and cuddled her two toys. "I could ask her."

"In the morning, you can tell Paul what she said."

"Will you be here? "

Liam shook his head. "I'm staying in a hotel tonight, but I could come and see you before you leave for school. Would you like that?"

"Do you promise?"

"I promise. I'll see you in the morning." He tucked Amy's blankets around her and made sure she was comfortable. When he turned around, he smiled at me. "Mission accomplished."

"Congratulations," I whispered. I nodded toward the bed. Amy's eyes were already closing as she drifted into dreamland.

I moved out of the doorway and walked down the hallway. I didn't need to see or hear Liam to know he was behind me. The hair on the back of my neck prickled as he silently followed me toward the kitchen. "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Only if it's not too much trouble. It's been a long day for you."

I shrugged. "It's been a long day for everyone."

Liam leaned against the cupboards. "I should have told Amy more about Chicago. She feels as though I've abandoned her."

"She'll be okay. All she needs is time to get used to our new lives. She's looking forward to visiting our friends in Milwaukee."

"When do you leave?"

"A week on Saturday. Amy's teacher will give her some work to do so we can spend four days there." I took two mugs out of the cupboard. "If you'd like something to eat, there's shortbread in the red container in the pantry."

While Liam looked for the shortbread, I thought about the time we'd spent at Jacob's house. It seemed like half a lifetime ago that we'd been hiding from the terrorist organization. So much had happened to change the way I thought about the world, myself, and Amy.

"Jonathon and I talked to Dylan the other day." I handed Liam a mug of coffee. "He's helping us create new websites. Jonathon's excited about having an online store, and I might be able to do something similar with my cakes."

"That's a great idea."

"We think so, too. Who knows, one day we might have stores in every state of America." I took a piece of shortbread out of the container. "When you start your new job, will you be working from Chicago or traveling around the country?"

"I'll be in Chicago and Washington, D.C. for most of the time."

"Are you looking forward to going home?"

Liam looked into his mug. "Chicago doesn't feel like home anymore. I've been gone for so long that I'm not sure where I belong."

My heart ached for him. I knew how that felt, and it was the worst feeling ever. "Milwaukee was the same for me. I'd been gone for a long time when my parents and sister died. In the end, I decided home was where the people who are important to me live."

"Is that why you want to be close to Alex?"

"Partly." I looked around the kitchen. "Even though I've never been to Sunrise Bay before, it feels like home. Except for Amy going missing, everything else has fallen into place. I've met Jonathon and started baking, and we have a nice place to live."

Liam's intense gaze sent goosebumps along my skin. "Is there anything else you want?"

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Liam had a fantastic job opportunity, and I wasn't standing in his way. If I had some crazy, mixed-up idea about living happily ever after, it would have to stay locked inside my heart.

"I want to be happy and healthy," I said quickly. "What about you?"

"I want to find somewhere to call home."

I cradled my mug. The heat of the coffee warmed my cold hands and made me wish that things could have been different between us. "I'm sure you'll find it. It will just take time, that's all. I want to ask you something, but you don't have to say yes."

Liam's eyebrows rose. "Should I be worried?"

"Not really. I want you to know that you don't have to stay in a hotel tonight. We've got two extra bedrooms. If you want to stay here, you're more than welcome."

He shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I should go. Was it okay to tell Amy I'll be here in the morning?"

"Of course, it was. We leave for school at eight-fifteen. If you'd like to have breakfast with us, we'll be awake any time after six-thirty."

"I'd like to have breakfast with you." He took his jacket off the back of the chair and pulled it on. "I'm glad today worked out for the best."

"So am I," I said softly. "I appreciate you coming all this way. You must have a lot of work you're trying to finish."

Liam stuck his hands in his pockets. "I needed to come. I'll see you in the morning."

After I said goodbye, I sat in the kitchen, staring into my coffee mug and thinking about Liam.