Chapter 7

7

E lsie shook the water from her umbrella before stepping into the yellow and green three-story Victorian house turned shelter. Safe Haven Women’s Shelter had been transformed from a family home into a beacon of hope for women and children for miles around. Mrs. Collins, the owner, had worked diligently to turn the rooms into spaces of service—opting to keep only a small portion on the top floor for her private quarters.

Entering the shelter, a sense of peace washed over Elsie. She’d been blessed with a loving and supportive family but that didn’t mean she didn’t understand the need for a place like this. Heck, if her parents hadn’t stepped in and offered Mila a home, she and Jimmy might have needed a place like this.

Luckily, that hadn’t been the case, but Elsie had promised herself she’d do whatever she could to give back. To be a strong and stable shelter to anyone who found themselves in a tough situation, just like her parents had done so many years ago.

“Smells good.” Jimmy shrugged out of his rain jacket and hung it on the old coat rack in the corner of the foyer. “I bet it’s cookies. Can I have one?”

She should say no, but she wanted to shower him with as much goodness and happiness as possible before she shattered his world. “Sure but take your boots off first. Mrs. Collins doesn’t need you tracking mud through her kitchen.”

Jimmy kicked off his boots then disappeared through the swinging door on the far side of the foyer that led to the kitchen.

“Let me help you with your coat.” Dean stepped in behind her and shut the door, blocking out the ugly gusts of wind and swirling leaves that had been ripped from the trees. He freed her from her jacket then hung it beside his, placing the umbrella on a black mat on the floor.

“Thanks.” She slipped off her shoes then picked up the ones Jimmy had left lying in the middle of the room. “Want a cookie?”

A buzzing sound echoed off the high ceiling, and Dean fished his phone from his pocket. He checked the screen and his features hardened into a mask. “I need to take this.”

“The library is right behind you,” she said with a flick of the wrist. “You can close the door for some privacy. Find me in the kitchen when you’re done.”

He gave a nod then answered the call before disappearing into the library.

A small part of her wanted to press her ear to the wooden pocket door to hear whatever conversation Dean couldn’t have in front of her, but the more mature part of her pointed her toward the kitchen.

A cheerful scene greeted her. Mrs. Collins stood at the marble-topped island and slid freshly baked peanut butter cookies onto a white platter. Flowers erupted from a vase on the farmhouse table, where Jimmy and his friend Amelia sat with a glass of milk and giant smiles.

Another little girl she hadn’t seen before sat across from Jimmy and shoved a cookie in her mouth. Her dark hair was pulled into two high pigtails and her dress fit a bit too snuggly. A young woman with a faded bruise ringing her right eye hovered behind her.

“Elsie! Look, peanut butter. My favorite.” Jimmy snagged a cookie from the blue plate in the middle of the table.

“I thought he’d like them,” Mrs. Collins said, a knowing smile on her wrinkled face. “Elsie, this is Stacey and her daughter Skylar. They came to stay with us last night. Skylar and Amelia wanted to help me bake, and Stacey’s been looking forward to your arrival.”

Elsie waved at the woman who appeared to be around her own age. “Glad to meet you both.”

Skylar finished her treat and grinned. “I’m four. We’re on an abenture.”

Elsie couldn’t help but smile at the way the little girl said adventure, respect firm for Stacey’s ability to leave a bad situation and not let her child sense her turmoil. Only recently did she realize how difficult that could be.

Mrs. Collins washed off the countertop then dumped a dirty mixing bowl into the sink before facing Elsie once more. “Stacey has an interview on Friday. She saw the flyers around town for the Dress for Success event next week. She hoped maybe she could get a sneak peek. I can watch the little ones while you take her back to see the donations if you’re both okay with that.”

“Sure,” Elsie said. She didn’t know if Mrs. Collins had provided this distraction for her on purpose, but she’d grab hold of it and run.

Stacey rested a palm on Skylar’s shoulder, uncertainty clear in her blue eyes. “Do you want to stay in here with your new friends or come with Mommy to look at clothes?”

Skylar rolled her eyes with all the sass of a teenager. “I’ll stay with my friends, Mommy.”

Stacey hesitated, her hand still on her daughter.

“The room with the clothes isn’t far,” Elsie said. “On this floor, practically on the other side of the kitchen. We’ll probably hear the kid’s giggles from there.” She waited to make a move for the door, not wanting to put any pressure on Stacey to leave her child’s side.

Inhaling a shaky breath, Stacy nodded and offered a timid smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Great,” Elsie said with far more enthusiasm than she felt. “Jimmy, try not to eat too many cookies. Especially if you still want ice cream before we go home later.”

Jimmy took a giant gulp of milk then wiped his mouth with the back of his forearm. “There’s no such thing as too many cookies.”

Mrs. Collins cackled then dusted her hands on a dish rag. She grabbed the platter of goodies from the island and carried them to the table. “Don’t you worry, Elsie. I’ll make sure he’s okay.” She held Elsie’s eyes for a few beats, conveying everything she truly meant with a tender look and unspoken words.

Appreciation pressed on Elsie’s chest, and she turned away before her emotions took over. She had someone to help now. She could assist Stacey. Provide her with multiple options to help build her confidence as she stepped into a brave new world.

Dean ended his call and went in search of Elsie. She’d want to know about his conversation with Sadie. Thank God for good friends in small towns. Sadie was under no obligation to divulge any information regarding Mila’s case, but she understood how much Mila meant to Elsie.

Understood that as a former policeman and current private investigator, Dean had plenty of useful skills that could be utilized. And would be, with or without the sheriff’s department’s permission.

The sweet smell of freshly baked cookies lured him into the kitchen. Mrs. Collins sat at the table like a proud mother hen with her flock of chicks surrounding her.

Jimmy reached for a cookie and stopped, hand in mid-air, when he noticed Dean in the doorway. “Hi Dean. Elsie said I could have some.”

The boy’s serious tone stifled his laugh. “You do what you need to do, my man. Where is Elsie?”

“She went into the store to help someone find an outfit,” Mrs. Collins said. “Go through the door behind the stairs on the left.”

He nodded his thanks and returned to the foyer. He passed the gleaming wood that zigzagged up three stories to the room Mrs. Collins indicated. The door was open, and he peeked inside. The space showcased Elsie’s eclectic taste and talent for creating something warm and inviting wherever she went.

Circular racks of clothes scattered around the room while shelves filled with personal hygiene products lined the walls. Framed photographs of the shelter, along with the woman who ran it—filled in empty spaces. Inspirational quotes in bright pops of colors rounded out the room.

Elsie sat on a stool behind a glass display counter that housed a mismatch of jewelry. A woman stood in front of her, her bright grin and armloads of clothes almost distracted him from the bruise on her face.

Almost.

“I don’t have much money,” he overheard the young woman say to Elsie. “But I can give you what I have.”

Elsie rummaged behind the counter for a canvas bag and took the clothes from the woman. She carefully folded each piece and placed them inside. “Not necessary. All of the stuff in here is free for the people who stay at the shelter. I’m just happy you found some wonderful things for you and Skylar. This blouse and skirt will be perfect for your interview.”

“Thank you so much.”

The tears in the woman’s voice fisted his heart. So much gratitude for a few articles of clothing. Sometimes he forgot how blessed he really was.

Securing the bag, the woman turned his way, and her eyes flew wide. Her hand shot up too her throat and she glanced back at Elsie.

She flashed a kind smile. “Stacey, this is my friend Dean. Dean, this is Stacey. She’s staying here for a few nights.”

The fear in her eyes made his blood boil. Sensing nothing he said would put her at ease, he dipped his chin and kept quiet.

“I need to get back to Skylar. Thanks again,” Stacey said, but the excitement of a few moments ago had vanished.

He stepped out of the doorway to give her a wide berth as she rushed from the room.

Elsie sighed. “I’ll never get over seeing fear creep back into women’s eyes. She was so excited then she sees a big, handsome man and BAM…she’s scared to death. I hope she gets the help she needs for her and her daughter.”

“She’s in the right place for it.” When his statement didn’t coax a reaction from her, he continued. “So you think I’m handsome, huh?”

She wrinkled her nose and a light blush crept up her neck to settle in her cheeks. “That’s not exactly what I said.”

“You don’t think I’m handsome?” He hooked a brow and frowned. His attempt at teasing to lighten her mood had backfired, and now he was a little affronted.

She struggled against a smile. “You’re all right to look at.”

He grinned. “Right back at ya.”

“You’re ridiculous.” She shook her head then tucked away a few bracelets setting on top of the counter. “How was your call?”

“Enlightening. It was Sadie.”

Elsie stilled. “And?”

“She and Tommy questioned Mrs. Pauly. The woman swears she hadn’t seen Mila last night. Unfortunately, there are no cameras on the houses nearby to verify that, but Sadie believes her.”

“But that was Mila’s scarf. I know it was. She wore it last night. She always wears the red scarf in her hair when she has on those silly smiley face scrubs.”

“There’s a chance Mila showed up and something happened before she entered the home,” Dean said.

Elsie crossed her arms over her chest and nibbled on her bottom lip. “What about the grandson?”

“That was my question as well. Mrs. Pauly said her grandson went to work after she fell asleep. Sadie couldn’t find any current employment on record for her grandson—Justin Pauly—and is tracking down whatever information she can. Have you ever heard of him?”

“The name doesn’t sound familiar.” Elsie frowned. “Why would some guy Mila doesn’t know stop her before going into his grandmother’s house and do God knows what to her?”

Not wanting to dive into why bad people did bad things, he shrugged. “Maybe she does know him, and you just weren’t aware. Or maybe he has nothing to do with it. But there doesn’t seem to be anyone she does know who you think would want to hurt her.”

“I swear there isn’t.” She threw her hands in the air. “Don’t you think I would tell you if I could think of anyone?”

“What about Jimmy’s father?”

Elsie worked her jaw back and forth. Anger flashed in her hazel eyes to rival the lightening striking the stormy skies outside. “He hasn’t been in the picture since Mila found out she was pregnant. Skipped town and never looked back. There’d be no reason for him to show up all these years later just to hurt her. What would be the point?”

He bounced the information around in his head, trying to make heads or tails of it all. “Revenge? Guilt? Maybe he decided he wanted to finally do the right thing and reach out, but Mila wouldn’t hear of it. Wouldn’t let him near his son so he decided to take things into his own hands.”

“ His son?” Elsie said through clenched teeth. “He gave up any right to call Jimmy his son when he walked away. He’s a deadbeat who doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near Jimmy. And if he reached out, I hope Mila tore him a new one.”

“I agree one hundred percent,” Dean said. “But it’s an avenue that still needs explored. Even just to cross him off the list.”

She closed her eyes for a beat then blinked them open again. “His name’s Keith Brookstone.” She spat out his name as if the sound alone was enough to make her sick. “He was a little older than Mila, a year or two out of high school when they started dating. He’s not from here so I don’t know much about him.”

“It’s a good thing I’m so talented at finding people who don’t want to be found.”

“I hope so.” Sadness dropped her voice low.

“Elsie! Dean! Can I help now?” Jimmy ran into the room and skidded to a stop at Dean’s side. “I only had three cookies. It was so hard to say no to number four.”

Dean ruffled the mop of light hair on the top of Jimmy’s head. “All right, kiddo. Let’s put you to work.”

He watched the adorable kid skip to the back of the room and scoop up a shirt from the floor. With his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth, he struggled to place it back on the hanger. An ache in Dean’s chest intensified. Only a few more hours before he’d stand by Elsie and watch a little bit of Jimmy’s innocence be ripped away.

He’d enjoy every second with Jimmy he could until then.