Chapter 8

8

JODI

I n my first week at the vineyard, I had made more money than I had in almost two months at the diner. The work was faster, busier, and more intense, which made it more challenging at times, but it was the good kind of challenging. The kind that made me feel like I was always on my toes and really having to put thought and energy into each day.

Rather than just doing a job because it was what I could get, going through the motions in a place where I could easily be overlooked and even more easily replaced, I felt like I was actually a part of something. Getting together at the end of dinner shifts for family meal went a long way in cementing that feeling for me.

The closest thing to a family meal I ever got at the breakfast place was snatching some bacon or eating leftover biscuits and gravy after a new batch was made. We never all got together and ate, and we were rarely acknowledged beyond the occasional thank-you or brief comment of praise from Mr. Murphy.

Now that Derek and I had made amends, I could see Ally was right. He was a really good guy who seemed to genuinely care about and appreciate the people there working for him. Every day there were moments when he made sure he recognized what we were doing and how hard we were working.

I knew if I could, I would be happy to stay there for a bit. They seemed to not think too hard about my need to be paid under the table and hadn’t pried about it. I was getting along with everyone and enjoying my shifts. I had even tucked enough money away that I was already seeing my savings grow to a point where I would be able to do some possible upgrades for my life pretty soon. Maybe get a small apartment rather than just renting the room. Things were going really well.

Which of course meant something was about to go really wrong.

It was a gorgeous day, and I’d figured out that walking to the vineyard didn’t take all that long. It was a nice way to get some fresh air and give my thoughts a chance to run around through my mind without me having to focus on work.

I had only done it a couple of times, but it was a trip I really enjoyed. I could see myself doing it as long as time and weather permitted. So far, I hadn’t had trouble with time at this restaurant. I didn’t mind so much getting up and heading out for my shifts. I looked forward to getting to the vineyard and seeing what the day was going to bring. Which always included an overview of the reservations we were going to have coming in that day along with a review and tasting of the special items on the menu.

Considering I was in California and accustomed to continuing to live my life through the Rhode Island winters, I had a feeling the weather wasn’t going to be much of a hindrance either. Unless the sky opened up and I was dealing with a storm, I was going to be just fine.

The other half of me taking the walk to work more often than driving was that my car was on its last legs. It was an old, run-down sedan I’d picked up as soon as I scraped together enough money, and it hadn’t had long to live then. Now every time I turned the key in the ignition, it was a crapshoot as to whether it was going to start up. Much like my laptop, it was a bit of a game of roulette. One of these times, it was just going to give up mid-trip. There was no point in pushing it when I could easily walk.

I had only left my rented room a few minutes before and was making my way through town when I noticed a car zip past the end of the road ahead of me. It instantly struck me as familiar. A second later, the car came back the other direction, like it had made a wide U-turn at some point down that road and drove down the road where I was walking.

As it drove past me, I realized that I did know the car. The second that sank in, I ran for the first place I saw that I could go to get off the sidewalk and out of sight. Ducking into the library, I stood with my back pressed to the corner of the vestibule for a few moments, trying to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.

Maybe it wasn’t what I thought it was. It was possible it was someone else. Logical and probable, even. It wasn’t like Jack was the only person in the world with a silver Audi. And the last time I saw that car, it was in Rhode Island, all the way across the country. I didn’t get a clear view of the license plate, so I didn’t actually know for sure that it was him.

Letting out a breath, I leaned out of the corner to peer out of the windows at the front of the vestibule. The Audi came down the street again, more slowly this time and in the other direction. It was definitely not just driving around. The person driving it was looking for something. Or someone.

The car parked across the street and far enough down the block I almost couldn’t see it anymore. I stepped to the side to get a better view and watched the driver’s-side door open. A second later, my heart jumped into my throat and my stomach turned as my brother’s tall body unfolded from the car.

He stood at the side of the road and pulled sunglasses down over his eyes. He glanced at the phone in his hand and then looked up and down the road.

“Shit,” I muttered.

Pushing away from the wall, I turned and headed further into the library. In my haste, I ran directly into a woman carrying an armful of books, sending them scattering across the floor.

“Hey,” she said angrily. “Watch where you’re going.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

Or at least, I thought I did. My voice was shaking so much I didn’t know if it had actually formed a cohesive word. I crouched down and helped her gather up the books, the illogical, fleeting thought rushing through my mind that I hoped Jack hadn’t heard the books fall.

That was the kind of fear he and my family struck through me. The fear I’d been running from for so long. And now it looked like they’d caught up with me.

I wasn’t going to give up so easily. I’d already gone through so much. Now wasn’t the time to just walk out of there and hand myself over.

When I’d grabbed up enough of the strewn books to feel like I’d at least gone through some of the motions to look apologetic, I stuffed them back into her arms and got to my feet. Without another word, I rushed through the library toward the back exit.

The door at the back led into a small courtyard and garden where people liked to bring books to read or sit in the large wooden gliders and do crossword puzzles. During my first days in town, this was the only place I ever stayed outside for more than a few moments. It seemed concealed enough that I felt safe but still let me not be stuck pacing through the confines of my room.

It was empty now. That meant I didn’t feel as exposed running for the low black cast iron fence surrounding the area. There was a gate, limiting access to and from the area to the doors I’d just walked out of. I launched myself up and over the top of the fence and started running as soon as my feet hit the ground.

Avoiding the street where I had just seen my brother, I ran down an alley behind the library, then toward the other side of the rental building. I used my access pass to get inside and forwent the elevator.

Reaching the landing of the floor where my room was, I looked out through the window in the middle of the door to scan the hallway. It was empty, and after a couple of seconds to brace myself, I burst out into it and ran for my room. The door was still closed, and just for good measure, I wiggled the doorknob to make sure it was locked.

I still prepared myself, putting up my guard as I fumbled with my key trying to unlock the door. When it was unlocked, I pushed the door open and stood in the hall for another second, waiting to see if anything was going to happen. It stayed quiet, and I knew I didn’t have any more time to spare.

Running inside and locking the door behind me, I went into a frenzy packing everything I owned into my two duffle bags. It wasn’t much, but I could still feel the time ticking away as I gathered everything and waited to hear footsteps on the other side of the door.

Finally, I was ready to leave. My caution gone, I burst out of the room and ran down the hallway without bothering to lock up again. It wouldn’t matter. As soon as Jack had confirmation that was where I was staying, he was going to get inside. And when I wasn’t there and it was empty, he would know I was on the run again and the hunt would be once more.

I didn’t have anywhere to go. I couldn’t go to any of the hotels or try to rent another place. There was only one thing that came to mind.

Tossing my bags into the backseat of my beat-up old car, I jumped behind the wheel and floored it to the vineyard. It was definitely not liking the speed, and it had an ominous shake that told me at any second, it could just crumble into its various parts and pieces. But if it could just give me a head start, I’d be grateful.

My hands gripped the wheel as tight as I could as I drove, praying with everything I had that Derek was as kind as he seemed on his good days.