|
|
“I hate this thing!” Lydia pouted, referring to the ice pack Ethan insisted she use.
“Doesn’t it help with the pain?” Ethan asked.
“Yes, but it’s highly inconvenient. Just like the pain meds.”
Ethan’s side smile sparkled on his face. “That’s just because you want to be in the middle of everything.”
“Of course it is!” Lydia admitted. Being left out was no fun. She understood why Flora detested it so much.
“If you rest now, you’ll be fresher later.” Ethan secured the pillow fortress he’d constructed around Lydia, as she swallowed her prescription.
The fact that Ethan was right didn’t make his advice easier to take. She wanted to be downstairs, helping Ivy get ready for Scout’s party. Not stuck in bed until the guests arrived. She also wanted to see, first hand, how Grant Justice and Ivy got along during such a stress-filled event.
Having arrived in town only two days ago, Grant was quickly growing into a fixture at the Everett house. The party had been moved due to the freak storm from the Justice Mansion to the Everett’s dining room. The guest list had been cut, and new plans were created and carried out. And Lydia was missing it all. She grimaced.
Ethan understood that expression well. He lightly planted a kiss on Lydia’s forehead. “Sleep. I’ll get you up in time to primp. I promise.”
“You know I love you, right?” Lydia cooed.
“Back at ya.” Ethan flicked off the light.
In the dark, before her medication soothed her to sleep, Lydia was free to contemplate her visit from Penny Nicols the day before.
Lydia had been lounging on the couch, with yet another ice pack on her ribs, alone for a moment. Ivy and Grant were out shopping for last minute decorations. Scout was visiting Miss Jacqui and Miss Rene, and Ethan was at work.
Lydia had hobbled to the front door to be greeted by an awkward smile and the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
“Can I come in?” Penny asked. Her young face sported a bruise. Lydia couldn’t place when Penny had been hit. But so much had happened in such a short time. Lydia was surprised both of them were as unharmed as they were.
“Of course,” Lydia said, stepping back to allow Penny entrance. “I was just babying my ribs on the couch. Make yourself comfortable.”
Penny sat in Ethan’s recliner as Lydia took back her place on the couch. The girl was anxious. She trembled as she handed Lydia her coffee.
“Thanks so much,” Lydia said. “I haven't had the energy to make myself a pot, yet.”
Penny grinned. “Now you don’t have to.”
Lydia took a long sip. It was wonderful. She then set her eyes on Penny.
“I’m guessing you have something important to tell me,” Lydia said.
Penny swallowed. “And people say I’m psychic.”
Lydia shrugged. Her bruises scolded her. “I like to think I’m observant.”
“Observant?” Penny’s brown eyes lifted to the ceiling for a moment before returning to Lydia. “I like that. I may steal it.”
“Take it, it’s yours.”
Penny’s half-hearted smile faded. “I’m leaving town.”
“I guessed as much. Why?” Lydia asked, taking another drink of her gifted coffee.
Penny nibbled her shaking lip. “You know why.” Penny referred to her semi-paranormal tendencies and the tragedies that followed them around. “You’re the first person to survive one of my ‘visions’. Though I don’t call them that. I hate them.”
“What do you mean I'm the first person to escape them?”
“You know, the first night you were taken. I thought you were a goner, then. But you lived.” A rogue tear cascaded down Penny’s round cheek.
“Thanks to you. Helping Ethan find me.”
Penny ignored Lydia’s positivity. “If I stay in one place too long, things happen. Your husband said I’m free to go if I stay in touch. I’ve given Mr. Joe my information and will be calling in every month or so.”
“When are you planning to leave?” Lydia hoped to get Penny to stay for Scout’s party the next day. Maybe longer if she could get the young woman to trust her.
“I’ve got my van out front,” Penny said.
Lydia frowned.
“Ethan said that Mac admitted to everything. And that Buck is being evaluated for services. Even the zebra has found a home at some huge house around here.”
Lydia grinned. She knew exactly where Zoey was. She was hiding in a small barn on the estate of Ines Justice, waiting to be gifted to Baby Scout by Ethan and Lydia.
“So,” Penny continued. “I’m not needed anymore. I just wanted to say thank you before I left.” Penny handed Lydia a small brown gift bag. “This is for you.”
Lydia’s surprise warmed her cheeks. She dug through paper noodles. “Thank you for what?”
“Trusting me. Being kind to me, even after I told you I was weird.” Penny averted her eyes from Lydia’s motherly gaze. She swallowed back the emotions that threatened her resolve.
Lydia pulled out a glittery journal and a pen. “Thank you, Penny.” She admired the gift and offered smiles to the giver.
“The receipt is in the bag if you don’t like it. You can always return it,” Penny blushed.
“I love it,” Lydia gushed. “And, just so you’re aware, I’m not the only one who believes in you.”
“You mean T.C.,” Penny stated as she picked at her black nail polish. “I know. I’ve agreed to do his podcast. But from a distance.”
“Is he still in town? Does he know you’re leaving?”
Penny shrugged. “Mr. Joe will tell him if he comes into 3 Alarm.”
Lydia’s lips pinched together. She tried for another twenty minutes to convince Penny to stick around just a little longer. The girl was determined. After a brief recap of their mutual adventure, Penny gave Lydia a hug that took her breath away.
In spite of the pain, Lydia squeezed the girl back. She was relieved Penny was no longer as friendless as she appeared when they’d first met. Joe, T.C., and even Lydia would be looking out for her and praying for her wherever she might go.
Lounging in her pillow fort, Lydia finished her replay of their farewells and sealed it in a prayer as she drifted to sleep.
***
KAT AND FLORA HELPED Lydia get ready. It wasn’t necessary but was a great way to debrief without little ears listening. The fathers were downstairs playing party games with the older kids as the birthday girl finished her nap.
“We were so sure Mac was in danger, we never stopped to consider that she was the danger,” Flora said, as she flat ironed Lydia’s hair.
Kat applied a light line of eyeliner to Lydia’s lids. “Serene’s notes meant she was scared for her brother, not of him.”
“In fact, he was the reason she didn’t want Serene prying. She didn’t want her triggering him.”
“Or telling the authorities about the two of them squatting at their old house,” Kat added.
She pulled away from Lydia’s face, examining her work. “Mascara and then we’re done,” she said.
“Serene wasn’t the nicest of people. But I can’t believe she’d blackmail victims to get their stories.” Flora sighed as she fluffed Lydia’s hair.
“Some people will do anything for a story,” Kat said. She quickly coated Lydia’s lashes in waterproof mascara. “There. Take a look.” She held a mirror in front of Lydia.
Lydia opened her brown eyes to the image of her face, Flora’s bouncy hairstyle, and Kat’s dark eye makeup blinking back at her. She smiled in spite of the contrasts. This is how she’d look in all the pictures of her first grandbaby’s birthday. Looney but loved on.
“Thanks, ladies,” she said. “Let’s go party.”
Kat and Flora encircled Lydia in a celebratory yet protective air hug.
***
DOWNSTAIRS, A RADIANT Ivy carried a nervous Scout to the dining room table. She paused to have the little one kiss Lydia. Grant held the highchair tray.
“There’s the party princess,” he said, joy lighting his young face.
Lydia felt a catch in her throat. Ethan, though nearer the kitchen, reflected the same feelings in a lingering moment of spousal telepathy. They were going to lose their second daughter. So soon after finding her. She was starting her own life.
It would hurt. Letting Ivy and Scout explore the unknown without her. With all her heart, Lydia wanted to protect them. Smother them in safety. Encamp around them with encouragement.
But hadn’t Mac tried something similar. In a desperate attempt to protect her brother, she’d succeeded in placing him in grave danger and hurting him deeply. Lydia refused to suffocate Ivy and Scout with her mother hen. She’d build them up and let them fly.
Lydia blinked the bittersweet feelings away and focused on the moment at hand. Friends and family sang to Baby Scout. Ivy and Grant collectively blew out the candle for the little girl. Their hands touched on the back of the highchair and Grant linked his fingers with Ivy’s.
It was the first public display of affection Lydia had witnessed between the unconventional couple. The sweetness of Ivy’s innocent blush didn’t escape her mama bear perception either. For the remainder of the celebration, if they were next to each other, Grant and Ivy were holding hands.
Cake, presents, and loud attention did the little girl in long before the party had officially ended. It may have been smaller than planned, but it was perfect. Miss Jacqui rocked Scout to sleep in Ethan’s easy chair as the Brandes and Miller kids helped themselves to the goodie bags.
The parents sat at the dining table, enjoying the warmth of friendly banter and waves of children’s laughter. Grant and Ivy manned the coffee machine and refreshed mugs at random until the group dispersed.
The day faded, hallmarking the first year in Scout’s life. Ines gathered up her belongings and suggested it was time for the Justices to leave as well. Grant didn’t argue. He kissed the snoozing Scout on the head and gave Ivy’s hand a gentle squeeze.
Ivy stood at the door waving goodbye as a stranger in brown walked up to the front door. She sighed; packages had been arriving for Scout’s party for the last few days. She couldn’t remember any missing items.
“I’ve got a letter for Ivy Hooper,” the delivery man said.
“That’s me,” she said.
“Great. Can you sign this,” he handed Ivy a brown electronic pad. She took the attac stylus and scribbled her name. “Here you go,” he said as he handed over the envelope. “Have a good one.”
“You too,” Ivy said as she turned back to the living room, shutting the door behind her.
Lydia smiled, her head resting on Ethan’s shoulder. “What is it?” She asked.
Ivy shrugged and tore the envelope open. The happiness of the day vanished as her face paled more with every second.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked.
Lydia repositioned herself, sitting upright and searching the blue eyes of her adopted daughter. “Is it a card for Scout?”
Ivy staggered toward Lydia and dropped the letter in her lap. All the air left the room as Ivy summed up the contents of the letter. “It’s Martin,” she whispered through trembling lips. Flashes of the terror her ex had inflicted upon her and others like her needled at her memory. “He wants to meet Scout.”
Itching to know what happens next?
Honey Pot #7 is in the works.
In the meantime, please leave a review for book 6 at your favorite online bookstore and share the series with a friend.
Also, find out what makes Penny peculiar in Grounded.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter to stay in the know.
––––––––
**Honey Pot’s Amazing book covers are made by GetCovers**