Beside her, Gray laughed and patted her shoulder.“Not a chance, Olivia.You’re one of us, now.We stick together.”
A deep breath helped her keep the tears at bay.“You’re all so wonderful.I don’t know how to thank you for what you’ve already done for us.”
Amber smiled.“You’re welcome.We’re glad you’re here.”
Another deep breath.“Okay.I grew up in foster homes and spent my teen years in a group home.I met my best friend there.Mary Mae and I hit it off immediately.She fell in love with a boy in the home.When we aged out of the system, the three of us found an apartment in another area.Liam and Mary Mae got married soon after.”
She twisted her hands together.“Liam had a stepbrother who was also in the group home.Unlike Liam, Adam wasn’t a nice guy.He became obsessed with Mary.He didn’t like that she preferred Liam, and he tried to coerce her into going with him.Somehow, he found where we lived.He tried to grab Mary more than once.We moved multiple times, but he always found us.”
Nash ran his fingers over her shoulders, and she focused on the touch.“This went on for a decade.When Adam discovered Mary was pregnant, he broke into our place and destroyed everything.”
Nash’s hand tightened on her and she realized she hadn’t told him that part.She leaned into his touch and continued.“The police couldn’t prove anything, but we all had restraining orders against Adam.Mary and Liam got a will before Ella was born, naming me as their baby’s guardian and stating that Adam wasn’t allowed to ever have contact, and certainly not custody.”
Knowing the next part would be the most difficult, she took a couple of breaths to steady herself.Nash scooted even closer.
Her voice shook when she picked up the tale.“We’d arranged for a new apartment.I was working a shift at a restaurant when they took the final load to the new place.They never made it.A car crashed into theirs and sent them over a railing.Ella’s car seat saved her, but neither Mary nor Liam survived.I have no proof, but I believe Adam caused the crash that killed them.”
Nash turned her into his arms when her breath came out in a sob.On her other side, Gray patted her arm.She heard words of sorrow and condolence from the others.
When she could speak, she wiped her face and spoke again.“I took guardianship of Ella.I’m not sure if Adam’s obsession with Mary extends to her, but I’m not willing to take a chance.With our lawyer’s help, I changed both our names and bought a car.We’ve been on the move ever since.”
Nash ran his hand over her arm.“Then she arrived in Phail, and you know the rest.”
She sighed.“Except for what happened earlier today.Nash and I had both ordered items for Christmas.When we picked them up today, one of the employees helping load the truck looked like Adam and I panicked a bit and scared Charlie.I told him the basics, and now he’s worried, too.”
Nash nodded.“We stopped at the first DMV we reached in Vermont, and I changed out my Florida plates for Vermont ones.”
Knox nodded.“Good plan.Even if he did spot you, the new plates will help.”
She nodded, fear running through her again.“I should tell you the entire story.We went to New York so I could do some interviews about the books I write.It seemed next to impossible that we would run into Adam, and I thought it was safe.Now, I’m worried he’ll see or read one of the interviews, and figure out where we are.”
Jolie leaned in.“What kinds of books?Do you write under your original name, or do you use a pen name?”
“I’ve always used a pen name.Livie Sanchez.I chose Olivia for my new name because it would be easy to remember.”
Amber’s eyes widened.“You’re Livie Sanchez?I love your books.Norissamin is such a fabulous world.One of the ladies on staff at my last job got me into them.”
Warmth from Amber’s words sent some comfort through her.“Thank you.That means a lot.”
Knox tapped his fingers lightly on the table.“Even if this Adam had worked at the store and had access to your credit card information, I’m going to guess that neither of you has updated your address with your credit card companies yet.Is that right?”
Hope soared through Olivia, and she straightened to look at Nash.“I haven’t.”
He shook his head.“Me neither.Didn’t even think about it actually.”
Knox smiled.“Put that off for a bit longer.”
Olivia nodded.“That should make it more difficult for him to find Ella.Do you think it’s enough?”
Everyone around the table nodded without hesitation and Knox spoke.“The farm has some security in place.It’s too big to have the entire property wired, but both farmhouses and the barns have security systems installed.We’ll order in another set of cameras and get the cider cabin wired as well.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
Knox waved her off.“We have an account for expenses for the farm.We’ve been using that to do the upgrades to the buildings and security.It’s all good.”
“But—”
Amber reached past Gray to take Olivia’s hand.“We want everyone here safe.Security systems are part of operating expenses.Please let us do this for you and your daughter.”
