WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10
Chandler turned back toward the park. Returning calls had been a good way to maintain a professional distance and give Tiffany and Madeline space until Jaime arrived. He was happy to loan them Aslan from time to time, but he had to maintain his responsibilities at work too.
He slowed as he crested a slight rise. Tiffany was crouched on the ground talking with Aslan. Madeline and Jaime stood a few feet from them, a study in contrasts. Delicate, blond Madeline, awkwardly chewing a fingernail while her shoulders were bowed, and tall, authoritative Jaime, who stood like she’d defend Tiffany from anyone who would hurt her.
There was something about Jaime’s brooding intensity that drew him like gravity tugged at the leaves. He was certain if he gave in to the attraction it wouldn’t be a delicate dance of wind and petals, but a collision of fire and ice.
Could he risk it?
He’d lived through the painful destruction of his marriage and finally found himself on the other side, scarred but ready to move on. A relationship with someone like Jaime would take a strong man. One willing to risk everything for a possibility.
After what he’d learned in court, and Jaime’s reaction to his knowing . . . he must be crazy.
Still, gravity and the hill drew him toward her. Aslan’s ears swiveled to follow his movement, but the dog stayed firmly in place beside Tiffany. Chandler saw Madeline swipe at her cheeks, and he frowned. He didn’t tolerate tears well. At all, really.
What had made her cry?
Jaime was intense, but he’d never seen one unkind act on her part, nothing thoughtless or cruel. In fact, as he walked toward them she moved closer to Madeline.
Her gaze locked on him. “Chandler.”
“Hi, Jaime, Madeline. How’s Tiffany doing?”
Madeline sniffed but kept her gaze on her daughter. “She’s better. The visit with Aslan helps.” She turned and looked at him with weepy eyes. “Thank you.”
“I’m just the driver.”
“Of a very well-trained dog who is saving my girl.” Madeline sighed, but a soft smile touched her face. “Thank you for taking the time off.”
He shrugged. “Today worked.” He nudged Jaime. “What do you think? You heard what she called Aslan?”
“You might want to reconsider ‘well-trained.’” Jaime crossed her arms.
It didn’t take an EQ specialist to know she’d taken his bait. “That was a onetime lapse in judgment.”
She didn’t match his lighthearted jest. Instead, she met his gaze steadily, and he felt as though she were assessing him and finding him lacking. “It only takes one moment to destroy a life.”
They were no longer talking about Simba. He glanced back at Tiffany. “You’re right.”
Jaime walked to the nearby picnic table and, ignoring the benches, sat on the table instead. He could sympathize with the awkwardness of folding long legs into a small space.
He followed and sat next to her, leaving Madeline to focus on her daughter. “You okay?”
Jaime kept her back perfectly straight. “I learned a long time ago it wasn’t about me. Life is about how we serve others. That’s why I’m here right now.”
“It’s never about you?”
She looked at him. “When you experience the things I have, there are two options. You can be swallowed by the events or you can decide to move beyond them. For a long time, the only way I could survive was to pretend they didn’t happen. Now I try to right wrongs for others. I don’t want Tiffany to wait a lifetime. I will do everything I can to give her a voice against her abuser, and if that means using your mangy dog, then I will.”
“Jaime, would you trust me with your whole story?”
She snorted, an unladylike noise. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ve done nothing to earn it.”
“I’m here helping Tiffany.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure your dog is helping her. You’re just annoying me.”
He placed his hands over his heart and leaned back. “You wound me.”
“Whatever.” A movement flickered at the corner of her lips.
He dragged his gaze back to her eyes. “I’m safe, Jaime.”
This time she turned to face him completely. “No man is safe. And to quote one of my favorite movies, ‘You couldn’t handle the truth.’”
He wanted to argue that she should let him decide. But as her gaze returned to the duo on the edge of the playground, he realized she might be right.
Maybe the demons plaguing Jaime were best left unknown.
A few minutes later Jaime made her good-byes and drove off, desperate to get away from Chandler. His rock-solid calm would wear her down if she spent too much time near him. It didn’t help that she felt a flicker of peace when he was around, as though she knew he would never intentionally hurt her.
As she switched lanes, she noticed a vehicle a couple cars behind do the same. No big deal. In the growing traffic, it was hard to see many details. But she continued to glance in the rearview mirror and keep an eye on the large SUV. It wasn’t a Hummer, but nearly that size. Maybe she should pay attention.
The Golden Arches were illuminated about a block ahead. A burger and fries would work for dinner. And she could see whether that car was following her or her imagination was working overtime.
Without turning on her blinker, she drove the car between traffic and into the restaurant’s parking lot. The vehicle whizzed past. Jaime sat in her car trying to talk her heart out of racing. You scared yourself over nothing.
After Hayden and Emilie’s experiences, she was predisposed to think that someone trailed her. It hadn’t been a year since Hayden’s world had been upended when a case she took ended up having ties to a Mexican drug lord who hadn’t wanted her digging deeply into his son’s death. And only a month ago a stalker had terrorized Emilie. With those cautionary tales, Jaime tried to be aware of her surroundings, but maybe she was letting her fears run away with her.
Except for Dane. He wasn’t imaginary.
She leaned over to collect her purse from the back seat. She’d go ahead and grab something to eat. A little sweet tea with a side of fries and a burger sounded better than anything at home. Jaime slid from the car and then paused to wait for a gap in the cars lined up for the drive-through.
As she saw a break and moved ahead, a dark SUV suddenly turned on its lights and barreled toward her. Jaime froze, then forced her limbs to move. The rush of a breeze brushed her as the vehicle lurched past. The driver wore a ball cap pulled low, shrouding his features in shadow.
She tried to read the license plate number, but her thoughts were a jumble of adrenaline and fear that kept her from focusing before the vehicle tore around the corner and out of view.
“You all right, ma’am? That driver was crazy.” A teen in a McDonald’s uniform, his kind, dark face full of concern, offered her a hand. “Let me help you. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
As her stomach tightened, the only thing Jaime was sure of was that food suddenly didn’t sound so good. Curling up in bed with the covers pulled over her head sounded like a better option, but she let the boy lead her into the restaurant. “Thank you. I’m fine.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m okay. I’ll just get a drink. Thank you again.” She walked to the counter and ordered a large sweet tea. She’d sit for a minute and give her nerves time to settle before she headed home.
She rested at a table with the tea and dug out her lavender oil. She inhaled deeply and tried to force her body to calm, but it didn’t work like usual. Her phone buzzed, and with shaking hands she pulled it out and saw a text from Caroline.
You okay? I started thinking about you and wanted you to know. I’m praying for you. Need anything?
Jaime wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. I’m fine. Thanks for checking. Did you stop by your apartment? How are the floors?
Ha! Never ending. Wishful thinking on my part that they’d be done.
You can stay as long as you need. As she typed the words, Jaime realized how much she meant them. Life was fuller with her friend filling the space with words and laughter.
Are you sure? Feels like I’ve crashed long enough.
I’m sure. Her thumbs hovered over her phone. Should she tell Caroline what had happened?
No. She’d just worry. But there was someone she might reach out to.