“I’ve seen all the ladies wearing this necklace,” she said. “It’s beautiful. But why are they giving me one?”
Here goes nothing.
I blurted it out quickly, like ripping off a Band-Aid.
“It’s a tracking device.”
Waiting, I stood there letting her think about that for a minute. She cocked her head, her cute nose scrunched up and her eyes squinted as she pondered what I’d just said. She looked adorable. Then she straightened and reared her head back a little and I could tell something clicked.
“That’s how Paxton found Capri wasn't it?”
Yup, she’d figured it out.
I nodded. “With everything that was going on in Capri’s past and life, Paxton used his scary connections and came up with thenecklace which probably saved her life. She then thought all her friends needed one.”
I let that sink in for a second.
“And she and the women wanted me to have one?”
My heart broke a bit that she was questioning anything but I knew Lake hadn’t had it easy throughout school and the only person she was truly close to was me. The one person who left her alone. She didn’t trust easily but I had seen the changes and she had let the women in. One day she’d completely get it.
“You’re their friend so of course they wanted you to have one. So you are safe. Are you okay with that?” I looked deep into her eyes. “It means me and the others will be able to track you, but it’s not to invade your privacy.”
Looking deep into my eyes, she asked, “Do you want me to have it?”
Breathing in through my nose and blowing it out, I ran my free hand through the strands of her silky, brown hair. “More than anything. As much as I hate to think about the things that have happened, I’m concerned and it makes me feel like it could keep you safe.”
My hand came around to rest on the side of her neck.
“I lost you once because of my insanity, but I can’t lose you now when we just found each other again.”
She took the necklace from the box and held it out to me. “Then put it on.”
Dropping my hand, I took the item from her and had her turn so I could do as she asked. When I was done she turned back around and she fingered the heart at her neck.
“I will have to thank the ladies but I want to thank you too.”
Confused, I asked, “Thank me for what, baby?”
“For caring so much,” she whispered in reply.
Leaning in, I gave her a quick, featherlight kiss. “You don’t ever have to thank me for that. I love you, Lake.”
Her smile was radiant as she sighed.
“I love you too.”
Those words would never get old coming from her.
“What do you say we put the flowers in water and get on with our date?”
“Sounds perfect,” she answered.
It felt odd not to see Stormi and say goodnight but Ruby had already picked her up. Once again, my little muffin had many options to choose from as far as where she could stay for the evening.
She was making her rounds at the houses, wanting time with everyone but she decided it was time with Autumn. And with Autumn, she got to see not only Patience, her boy, Ruby, Lyric, their son, but Gramps too. Everyone adored that man.
“Ready,” Lake announced as she placed the vase of flowers on the entry table by the door.
