She’d never felt like this before. Her body still hummed with the aftershocks of all the sex, as if every single nerve ending was on fire. As if her heart were beating out of her chest. But her head felt as if she were underwater. Like she was drowning.
The past had finally caught up to her. She glanced at the table beside her bed and the cell phone that lay there.
She picked it up and stared at the last message that had come through earlier from her father’s lawyer requesting a meeting. There was another from her mother.
Why are you not answering me? I’ve called numerous times. We need to speak.
She sank to the bed, fingers hovering over the keyboard for a few seconds, and began to type.
I’m coming home.
Faith slowly exhaled. She wiped away tears and then rolled onto the bed and grabbed her pillow. It still smelled like Gus. It was the last thought she had before, exhausted, she fell asleep.
When she woke up, the sun was streaming through the window, and Taco was curled up against her side. She hugged the dog, wishing she could stay in bed and not think about Gus or her mother and father. She didn’t want to think about the meeting with the lawyers. Or, more importantly, the second meeting she’d scheduled. The one no one knew about.
“I can’t hide anymore, Taco.”
She made a quick coffee and sipped it while throwing clothes into her backpack. She was nearly finished when a knock at the door sounded, and she crossed over but hesitated. What if it was Gus? What would she say?
Heart in her throat, she unlocked the door and threw it open, then smiled and tried to hide her disappointment when she spied Hal.
“Hello there,” he said warmly.
“Come in. I’m running late and need to get Taco’s things together.”
While Hal waited, she grabbed the dog’s food, treats, dishes, and leash. She handed them over. “I don’t know how long I’ll be but I’m so grateful you can take Taco. Especially considering I’m leaving you on such short notice. I know that next week you start preparing for Labor Day carnival and there’s so much to do and—”
“It’s okay. Don’t you worry your pretty head about nothing. Your dog will be well looked after, and we’ll be here waiting when your business is done.”
She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer as great big sobs wracked her body. Hal folded her into his arms and patted her back. He knew everything. Her family. Her shame. She’d told him the whole sordid story when she’d called earlier.
“You go and do what needs to be done and then you come back here. Okay?”
“I sound like a blubbering idiot.” She wiped the hot tears that fell unchecked.
“You can sound any way you need to.” His kind eyes were warm and understanding. “Now, here are the keys to Samantha’s car. Make sure you call us when you get to San Francisco safely.”
“I’ll be flying from Albany tonight, though I have a layover and won’t be back in California until tomorrow morning.”
Hal grabbed Taco’s leash. “If you need anything, just call.”
“Thank you.” They’d been so kind.
Once Hal was gone, she finished packing what little she needed and then locked up. She managed to escape Lawson House without seeing Candy or any of the other tenants or . . . Gus. His truck was gone.
She made it out of Fire Lake with no issues, and as she pointed the car toward Albany, a sense of dread bloomed.
It stayed with her the entire way.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gus’s woke up in a shit mood, and it didn’t improve. He’d left his place well before the sun was up and put in a full day’s work by mid-morning.
“You look like someone crapped in your cornflakes.”
He scowled and chugged some water before sending a withering look to Walker.
“You gonna spill, or do I have to guess?” They’d just finished the porch on number five, and Walker leaned against the railing.
