Chapter 16

16

C alvin sat at the large table at Safe Haven Women's Shelter with a steaming mug of coffee in front of him, although the caffeine didn't do much to chase away the lingering fatigue. But he needed to swim out of the constant haze surrounding him. Too many questions remained, too much danger lurked in every corner.

Mrs. Collins and Sadie sat on either side of him, Jenna on the other end of the table, with Oliver strapped in a highchair. The toddler chattered to himself and played with little blocks Sadie's daughter had placed in front of him before bouncing off to help someone else at the shelter.

Calvin trailed the tip of his index finger over the rim of his mug. Mrs. Collins had lived in Pine Valley a long time, and as a sheriff's deputy, Sadie might know something about recent residents of the town. Just because he was forced from his home didn't mean he couldn't gain some valuable information while here. "Do either of you know the Millerton County judge of Common Pleas and Probate?"

Mrs. Collins shook her head. "Not off the top of my head."

Sadie frowned. "Not personally. Why?"

"Milo Sholl is an attorney in town. I think he's gunning for the position next year. I wonder if there's any bad blood there or dirt on Sholl."

"I can ask some questions." Sadie drummed her fingers on the table. "But I need to be careful. The sheriff's department isn't involved in Stella's case. I can't step on any toes."

Jenna scooped up a block from the floor and put it back on the tray. "You've already done so much for us. No need to do anything to put your job in jeopardy."

"I second that," Calvin said. "I plan to ask Milo plenty of questions, as long as the guy will talk to me."

"You don't think he will?" Mrs. Collins asked, raising her gray eyebrows.

Calvin lifted his mug and smirked at Jenna. "I hope so, or we might have to put Jenna's scheme in motion. Something that would be a very last resort."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "I'm not scheming."

"Tell me about this scheme." Sadie tilted her head to the side, concern in her pinched face.

Jenna pressed her lips together, clearly not amused he'd brought up the idea she'd had earlier to get information from Milo. "Nothing. Just trying to figure out how to get a lawyer to answer some simple questions. They aren't exactly notorious for laying all their cards on the table."

Mrs. Collins chuckled. "Fair point, but you might as well try, right? Sometimes people surprise you."

Calvin bit back a smile and dropped his gaze to the black liquid in his mug. Mrs. Collins had no idea how true her words were this morning. Waking up next to Jenna had warmed his soul—it just felt right. A feeling that he hadn't experienced in far too long. If nothing else, he owed it to them both to at least unpack everything still between them.

A giggle erupted from Oliver's droopy lips, and he clapped his hands beneath his chin.

Jenna beamed and smoothed a palm over his cheek. "What's got you laughing, little man?"

He pointed at a bowl of fruit on the marble counter. "Nana!"

Chuckling, Calvin stood, grabbed a banana, and peeled it. "Should I slice it?"

"You can," Mrs. Collins said. "The knives are in the long, island drawer and kids' plates are in the cabinet by the microwave."

He found what he needed and sliced the fruit then carried the plate to Oliver.

Jenna stared up at him with wide eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't quite put his finger on but twisted his stomach.

"Nana!" Oliver squealed again. He picked up a slice and smooshed it between his fingers before licking off the mushy clumps.

Calvin chuckled. "Maybe a napkin?"

Clicking her tongue, Jenna grabbed a paper towel and soaked it with water before returning to the table.

Oliver smeared banana all over his face, managing to push small bits into his mouth before Jenna could clean off his mess.

"Might be smarter to just give him a bath when he's done." Grinning, Jenna cleaned away the mashed fruit from the little boy's face.

Oliver clamped his sticky hands on Jenna's. "More nana."

Calvin's heart melted into a pile mushier than the banana caked on Oliver's cheek. He met Jenna's stare. His throat went dry, and his pulse raced. This could have been his life. Sitting at the table with Jenna, feeding his beautiful son.

Clearing his throat, he broke eye contact and took a step away from the happy mother and her precious little boy. He needed to keep his head on straight. Not get lost in some dream that may never come true. "Did you text your boss about Dr. Kent?"

Jenna tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes as if trying to understand what was going on in his head. "I did earlier but haven't heard back yet."

He took another step in retreat. "I'm going to call Milo Sholl."

Escaping from the kitchen, Mrs. Collins' question played on repeat in his mind as he looked up the number he needed and made the call.

Might as well try, right?

Jenna sat on the cushioned rocking chair in the children's room and held the little girl she'd examined the night Stella had shown up. The little bundle—a little younger than Oliver—cuddled close and watched everything happening around her with eagle eyes.

Laura Metcalf, the manager of the shelter, sat on the plush carpet and operated the electronic train set for her daughter, Isla, and Oliver. Both toddlers stared with goofy grins and wide-eyed glee as the blue and green trains went round and round the plastic track.

"How've Claire and her mother been handling everything since they arrived?" Jenna asked, enjoying the simple moment amidst the constant chaos that had become her life.

Laura swiped her long blond hair over one shoulder and pressed the button that set off three short blasts of the shrill train whistle. "Pretty good. Claire's the sweetest, and her mama's been getting braver and braver every day. She's in group therapy right now."

"I hope it helps. She's stronger than she thinks."

"So are you," Laura said.

"Hmm. I suppose so, but there are times I doubt that. Especially the last couple days. There are moments I'm not sure I'll get through. Not sure how to keep going." She stared down at her son and her heart swelled. "But then I look at Oliver and know I don't have a choice."

Laura smoothed Isla's light curls. "I understand what you mean. But when I made it through the dark times, I came out with so much more than I could have ever imagined. A beautiful daughter and the man of my dreams. Sometimes the curveballs life throws us bring us things we didn't know we needed."

"What if life has brought something back I've always wanted and messed up before?"

Laura shrugged. "Do you want to fix it?"

"More than anything." Jenna held Claire close and struggled to put her thoughts into words. "Maybe I'm being punished."

"What do you mean?"

"My sister was killed because I couldn't keep her safe. Couldn't keep her on the right path after our parents died. Because of my choices, I lost Calvin. I put Stella above him and our relationship. And for what? So Stella could go off and finally be clean without me? So I'd be forced to spend day after day with a man I still love, knowing he's no longer mine and may never be?"

Laura swished her lips to the side as if weighing her words carefully. "I'm sorry for everything you're going through. None of it is easy, and there are no simple answers. In life, there seldom are. But one thing I've learned is that the simplest approach is often the best."

"I'm afraid to know what you think is a simple approach," Jenna said, cringing.

Laura chuckled. "If you love Calvin, tell him. What happened to your sister is awful and tragic, but maybe one good thing can come out of it. It brought you and Calvin back together. Even if only to give you some closure."

Sighing, Jenna kept rocking back and forth. "You're right. I'll always mourn losing Stella. Always regret not having the chance to make things right between us. I have that chance now with Calvin."

Memories of waking up in his arms came back to her, heating her core. Being beside him in his bed had felt so right.

Had felt like home.

But even if Calvin could forgive her for the hurt and damage she'd caused, things were different now. She had Oliver to think about. Calvin might want her back in his life but that didn't mean he was ready to be a dad. To step up and take on this child she loved with her entire being. And if Calvin couldn't be there for Oliver, then she couldn't be with Calvin.

Ever.

A soft knock lifted her gaze. Calvin stood in the doorway. His moss green, long-sleeved shirt fit loosely over his muscular frame, probably so it wouldn't rub against the stitches on his side. His scowl and rigid stance set her nerves on edge.

Laura stood and plucked the baby from Jenna's arms. "Why don't I take little Claire and find her mama? She should be out of her therapy session by now. Can you keep an eye on Isla for me? I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Sure," Jenna said, raising to her feet.

Calvin took a step into the room, dropping a smile to Oliver and Isla before fixing his tired eyes on Jenna.

"What's wrong?"

He scrubbed a hand over his face, a tiny smirk cracking through when he dropped his hand to his side. "Want to go over your scheme again?"

Her lips curled up at the corners. "I told you. I don't scheme."

He rolled his eyes. "Your scheme, your plan, whatever you want to call it. I was told Milo's out of the office until next week, and no one answered his home line. I need another idea on how to get information from him."

"So what I'm hearing you say is I was right," she said, beaming up at him.

He struggled to keep from grinning and shook his head. "I said no such thing."

"Maybe you should." She wrinkled her nose, loving the playful banter that had always been so natural between them. "You know you're going to give in. Might as well just get it over with."

All hints of amusement drained from his face. He pressed his lips together and nodded before taking a step closer. The tips of his fingers brushed against the back of her hand. "You're right," he said, voice so low and gravelly it curled her toes. "When it comes to you, I always ended up giving in."

She released a shuddering breath, refusing to look away. Refusing to interrupt whatever magic was happening between them.

"Choo choo go!" Oliver yelled.

Calvin reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze before crouching between Oliver and Isla. "All right, little buddy. Let's figure out how to make this thing go then me and your mama have a whole lot to discuss."

Her heart pressed against her chest, and she prayed a silent prayer that Calvin wanted to discuss a whole lot more than her scheme to get information from Milo Sholl.