She rubbed her temples. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I’m sorry, Jennie. I truly am.”
“It’s not enough that someone attempts to lure my daughter out to meet him through a mistaken text…” Her voice rose. “But now someone else is involved.” Blood whooshed in her ears.
“Jennie.”
“Don’t Jennie me.” She scanned the room and discovered several patrons staring at her. She lowered her voice. “What am I supposed to do? How am I going to protect my daughter?”
“Nothing is going to happen to Zoey. And I’m worried about you too. Brandon and I are going to work both angles until we find out who’s responsible for the pictures and both attacks, the text message and the lake incident.” He lifted his cup and took a sip. “That is a promise.”
Jennie rested her head on the back of the bench seat. “Pinewood Shores was supposed to be safe. No one was supposed to find us here.”
David’s brows pinched together. “Find you?”
Tears welled in her eyes. Why had she said that? “Thanks for letting me join you for coffee and for the update, but I need to head out. Today’s my day off, and I need to run errands and check on Tina before we join Zoey at Aunt Emily’s.”
His shoulders slumped. “I’ll keep you posted. And Jennie?”
She peered at him.
“Stay safe.”
She nodded and slid from the booth. Hitching her purse strap higher on her shoulder, she rushed out the door.
By four that afternoon, she had composed herself and found a new wave of determination.
Errands complete, she picked up Tina, and the two of them waltzed into Aunt Em’s house.
The scent of cinnamon and sugar swirled in the air.
She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. The smell brought back wonderful memories of living with her aunt. The woman tended to bake for the entire town, or so it seemed.
How had she allowed her life to go so far off the rails before turning back to the woman who’d taken her in as a hard, saucy teen and loved Jennie until she’d softened. When she’d married Brad and moved away, she missed her connection with Aunt Em but was determined to make a new life with her husband and have the family she’d always dreamed of.
Brad hadn’t been the man she’d thought he was, but she had committed to making the best of their marriage. Then he’d died and she became that lost teenager once again. Making stupid choices and being too afraid to stand on her own. Enter Kenny. A man who’d promised to help her and support her after Brad’s death. Saying he owed it to his friend.
Little did she realize at the time that he’d laid the groundwork for her dependence. Small things like telling her she couldn’t support herself and Zoey without help progressed to bigger things like she was too stupid to be a nurse. No woman worthy of being called mom would leave her child during the day and that her place was in the home. It hadn’t been until Zoey turned three that Jennie found herself not only in Kenny’s house but in his bed as well. Once he’d talked her into becominghis girlas he’d called it, Kenny had shifted from hurtful words to physical violence.
No one had noticed the bruises. Not even her friend Tina or Brad’s friends, Levi and Adam. Kenny knew where to hit her that wouldn’t be visible.
Her one and only friend, Tina, who lived down the street, had discovered the abuse a year later.
Tina had begged Jennie to get help, but she’d refused, taking the blame for Kenny’s actions. It wasn’t until Tina discovered her near death by the hands of Kenny that Jennie found the strength to face her mistakes and come home to her Aunt Emily’s love.
She looked back now and wanted to scream at her weakness. And all the time wasted. She blinked away the horrible memories.
Laughter bubbled from the kitchen.
Jennie smiled. “Em? Zoey?”
“In here, honey.”
“Come on, Tina. I want you to meet my Aunt Em.” She followed the voices to the sunny room filled with pans of cinnamon rolls.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Aunt Tina.” Zoey grinned.
“Looks like you two have enough sweets to feed half the town of Pinewood Shores.”
