28

Cormac had guessed where he might find Gia. As soon as he turned the corner that led to Sheldon’s house, he saw her father’s vehicle parked at the curb and felt a measure of relief—until he noticed Sheldon standing on his front porch with a rifle. In a panic, he pumped the gas pedal, which revved the engine and must’ve drawn Sheldon’s attention, because he lowered the gun.

Slamming on his brakes, Cormac skidded to a stop in the middle of the street next to Gia’s car. “What’s going on?” he shouted as he jumped out. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked Sheldon.

“Me?” Sheldon pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m just protecting my hearth and home. I have a legal right to do that. She’s the one who’s causing a problem. She’s trespassing, has no right to be here.”

“I’m parked in the street!” Gia yelled. “You don’t own the street!”

Cormac motioned for Gia to get into her car. “Go home before you get hurt,” he said.

“I can park here,” she insisted. “He can’t do anything about it.”

“Gia, please. He’s got a gun. That’s enough.”

The light came on at the house next door, and the neighbor poked his head out. “What the hell? What’s all the yelling about? People are trying to sleep, for God’s sake, people who have to work in the morning. Do you want me to call the police?”

“Please do,” Gia said.

“Gia, you don’t want the police to perceive you as the problem,” Cormac said before raising his voice to speak to the neighbor. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve got it now.”

“Cormac, I want this over and done with,” she said. “I want my sister to be able to come home and see my mother. This prick is standing in the way of all of that.”

“We’ll figure it out, but nothing’s going to change tonight,” he said. “Please go.”

When she scrubbed her hands over her face, he wasn’t sure she’d cooperate, but eventually she nodded. “Okay, maybe I got a little carried away,” she admitted. But then, only a second later, she looked over at Sheldon and yelled, “See you tomorrow!”

“We’ll see each other sometime,” he responded. “That I can promise you.”

Cormac followed Gia home and parked behind her. “What was that all about?” he demanded as he got out. “Are you trying to get yourself shot?”

“An angry person is a reckless person,” she replied, coming right back at him. “They make mistakes. And that’s what I need Sheldon to do—make a big mistake that I’ll be able to capitalize on.”

“You’re pretty angry yourself,” he pointed out. “How do you know you won’t be the one to make a mistake he can capitalize on?”

She jutted out her chin as though she’d continue to argue, but then he could see her start to blink rapidly and knew she was battling tears.

“I know you’re going through a lot,” he said, gentling his voice and pulling her into his arms. “But you’re trying to do too much. You need to take a deep breath and get some sleep, regroup.”

She didn’t say anything. She just buried her face in his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked a few minutes later, dropping a kiss on top of her head.

He wanted to stay angry with her for being so reckless. He didn’t know one other woman who would’ve done what she’d done. But he couldn’t help admiring her spirit. She’d been the same kind of fighter in high school. Few people had her grit.

“You scare me,” he murmured. “I’m terrified you’re going to get hurt.”

She leaned her head back to gaze up at the stars while he continued to hold her. “Standing up to a bully always comes with risks, Cormac. That’s why no one wants to do it. But I can’t live with the alternative—won’t let him make me live with the alternative. I’m going to fight back. And whether I win or not?” She met his gaze. “Well, that remains to be seen.”

Margot turned to look at the man who’d followed her into the thrift shop from the nearby park, where, after dropping the boys off at school, she’d been reading a book while drinking a latte. She couldn’t remember ever being able to simply relax in a park by herself—not while she was with Sheldon. She’d always had a list of things she had to get done before he returned home that she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to complete in time. But she didn’t have to start her new job until Monday, she was in a gripping part of her novel, and it was a beautiful fall day. She’d given herself an hour to read before continuing to furnish their new apartment and had been thoroughly enjoying herself—until she’d spotted a middle-aged man with a drawn face and a thickening waistline watching her from another picnic table. He didn’t have a book or a cup of coffee or any children with him. He hadn’t come to run or anything like that, either. He was just sitting there, dressed in black slacks and a white button-up shirt, doing nothing.

Who was he? she wondered. And what did he want? Despite the circumstances, she’d felt pretty secure since coming to California. This was the first time she’d been notably uneasy. Could it be Sheldon’s PI? Had he found her somehow, maybe from those comments she’d posted on Gia’s Instagram page?

She didn’t see how that could be the case. The only thing required to create an account on Insta was an email address. But maybe that was all a good investigator needed. She’d seen movies where people could be traced using an IP address or something like that—she didn’t completely understand what it was or how it worked. Or maybe she’d left some other trail she wasn’t aware of. She didn’t have any experience with trying to drop out of sight.

Fear gripped her as she moved around the shop, putting various dishes and a toaster in her basket while watching him surreptitiously through the shelves. He didn’t seem to be actively shopping, just like he hadn’t been doing much of anything at the park, but he would pick up an item here or there if she glanced over.

She slipped her hand into her purse and felt for her phone. She’d entered Gia’s number into it. Her parents’ too. But she hadn’t dared call them. It just felt better, more normal, to have her contacts in place, especially the numbers of the most important people in her life.

She was tempted to text Gia to tell her about the man who was following her. Her sister may have heard something, could know more than Margot did. Whoever this guy was, he had a great deal of interest in her. She felt his gaze on her whenever she wasn’t looking at him.

As he meandered closer, she couldn’t resist sending her sister a message.

Her heart pounded against her chest as she waited for Gia’s reply, which came only seconds later.

“Excuse me.”

Margot jumped when she looked up to find him standing right next to her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, lifting a hand as one might to a calm a spooked horse. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just... I saw you in the park and... Well, my wife died recently—not quite a year ago. I visit the park every now and then because it reminds me of her. She liked to go there and read, just like you, and while I was sitting there, missing her, I looked up and...there you were, so serene and pretty.” He cleared his throat, obviously feeling awkward. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything like this, and I was never very good at it,” he said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Obviously, I’ve only gotten worse. But I was wondering if... I thought... Well, if you’d be willing to give me your email address, we could try to get to know each other that way, and if things go well, maybe one day you’ll feel comfortable enough to go out to dinner with me.”

Stunned, Margot blinked at him. He wasn’t an investigator. He wasn’t even asking for something as intrusive as her phone number. He merely wanted her email address.

The expression on her face must’ve made him think she was going to turn him down because he started to move away.

“Never mind. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m sorry. You could be married or seeing someone or just want to be left alone. I’m not sure what compelled me to follow you in here...”

He turned, obviously eager to get away as fast as possible. But he’d been so respectful and sweet—and authentic. It was the authentic part that got her. “Wait... What’s your name?”

He seemed surprised that she’d stop him. “Max. Max Schwartz. I’m an eye doctor here in LA.”

“Well, Max, my name is Margaret Lane, and you can have my email address,” she said. “Since we’re strangers, I don’t feel safe giving you anything else. Not yet. But...I’m new in the area and could use a friend, too.”

A smile spread across his face, and for the first time, she thought he was kind of attractive. He had thick dark hair, long eyelashes, brown eyes and amazing teeth. And he wasn’t as old as she’d first thought, she realized.

He pulled out his phone and had her type in her email address. “I hope it’s okay if I write you tonight,” he said and started to laugh.

Margot laughed, too. “That would be fine.”

“Have a good day, Margaret.”

“Thank you!”

Dazed, she stared after him as he left. She hadn’t really considered what her future love life could be like. She’d thought only of escape—the chance to find peace while raising her children. Meeting someone else could add a whole new dimension. Although she wasn’t ready to move forward on that front quite yet, this guy didn’t seem to be in any hurry.

She glanced down at her phone and a new text from Gia.

What’s happening? Are you okay?

Drawing a deep breath, she typed a response. I was terrified for a minute. But it was a false alarm. Everything’s fine.

Who was it?

Just a guy who finds me attractive, I guess.

Be careful. Just because he’s not connected to Sheldon doesn’t mean he’s safe.

She smiled as she remembered how deferential he’d been. Max seemed like the total opposite of Sheldon. And the depth of feeling he’d had for his wife, the sorrow that was still in his face after losing her, told her he knew how to love.

She’d learned that not everyone did.

He’s nothing to worry about. I’m actually glad I met him.

So you’re safe? Do you have enough money? Do you need anything?

I’m happier than I’ve been in ages. I just wish I’d listened to you and never married Sheldon in the first place. How’re Mom and Dad?

Hanging in there. I’m taking good care of them.

I knew you would come through. I doubt I’ve told you this before, but I admire your strength.

I’m going to make sure you and the boys can come home and see Mom again before... Well, soon!

Could that really be possible? Margot didn’t see how. But she smiled as she put some cooking utensils into her cart. If anyone could do it, it would be Gia.

Gia’s phone chimed and she read Sheldon’s text message twice.

He was telling her where he’d be—as if he wanted her to come join him? He was up to something. She could feel it. And she wasn’t going to be stupid enough to fall for it.

“What is it?” Cormac asked. He’d come over for dinner as soon as he’d gotten off work—she’d made lettuce wraps—and they were playing a game of liar’s dice with her parents.

“That’s not Margot, is it?” Ida added in a hopeful voice.

The dice clacked as Gia poured them back into her cup. “No, it’s the bozo she married.”

The blood drained from her mother’s face. “Why is Sheldon texting you? I already told Peggy there’s no way I’ll ever put him in contact with Margot, not after what he’s done to us since she left—shooting up our property and spray-painting profanity! He should have to pay for the damage.”

“Except he claims it wasn’t him,” Leo said. “And the police believe him.”

“When Peggy insisted her son would never do anything like that, I started to laugh,” Ida said. “We all know it was him.”

Leo jerked his head toward Gia. “What does he want with you?”

“There’s no telling,” she said. “He’s playing some sort of game. Just wanted to let me know he’d be at the bar tonight, if I’d like to join him.”

“Why would you ever want to join him?” Ida was suitably put off, but she also had no frame of reference, didn’t know about last night. She was getting so fragile; Gia tried not to tell her anything that might upset her.

“He’s just taunting me,” she said. “Trying to get a response.”

Cormac lowered his voice, which imbued it with more meaning. “Surely, you’re not going...”

“No.” Now that she had the security cameras in place—Leo had helped her install them this afternoon—she didn’t feel as though she had to keep such a close eye on Sheldon. If her brother-in-law came over and tried to cause any more trouble, he’d be caught on video.

“Thank God for small miracles,” Cormac grumbled, and Gia gave his foot a slight kick under the table to let him know she didn’t want him to say anything else for fear her parents would get suspicious that there was something she hadn’t told them.

When he yelped, obviously on purpose because she hadn’t kicked him that hard, Ida and Leo looked up in surprise. He excused it by claiming he’d accidentally bitten his tongue, then he shot her a grin to let her know he could’ve paid her back for that kick but had chosen not to.

She chuckled to herself. Cormac was fun and engaging and so damn easy to be around. Too easy. That she liked having him hang out with her and her parents was sort of alarming. Usually, once she got to this stage of a relationship, when whoever she was dating felt they had a spot in her life and could be part of even mundane daily activities, she was ready to run the other way.

But that wasn’t the case with Cormac. She liked having him with her no matter what she was doing and was grateful for his support. She admired him in so many ways. He stood up for what he thought was right—even when he’d had to turn on his own family. In her opinion, that was the definition of integrity.

They were nearly finished with the game when Ida slumped lower in her seat and nearly dropped her cup of dice. “I’m sorry,” she said as she managed to get the cup safely onto the table. “I just... I don’t have the strength to continue.” She offered them a feeble smile. “Maybe tomorrow.”

Alarmed, Gia stood up and came around the table. “Can I get you something? More painkillers? A drink of water?”

“No, I... I don’t need anything,” her mother said. “I just... I think I’ll go to bed a little early tonight.”

Leo exchanged a concerned look with Gia. “I’ll help you to bed, honey. I’m tired, too. Why don’t we put on a movie, and you can drift off to sleep in my arms.”

Ida’s gaze met and locked with his as a faint smile curved her lips. “I’m so glad I married you.”

Gia’s eyes filled with tears as she watched her father help her mother up the stairs. Ida was fading fast. Gia didn’t see how she was going to bring Margot home before it was too late.

Cormac came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. “I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear. “It’s going to be okay.”

But it wasn’t going to be okay. Because of Sheldon, Margot couldn’t be here, couldn’t say a proper goodbye to the woman who’d borne and raised her.