It must have been difficult for Annie to leave her baby. A part of Ava felt strongly that Annie would have come back for her. Maybe that was just because she wanted that for Gracie.
She tucked the Diné blanket closer around the baby and went to the changing table where she had left some clothes to be folded. It felt like someone was watching her, and she pushed the sheer curtains aside to look up and down the street.
Nothing.
That conversation with her mom must have spooked her more than she’d guessed. She was a woman, so she always took extra precautions. She called her friends when she was walking home alone. She texted them when she went on a first date with a stranger. She walked with her keys out to use as a weapon late at night when she left the hospital and the parking lot was almost empty.
But sometimes all the precautions weren’t enough. Women who did everything right were still taken and hurt. Like Fern and Annie Ross.
Feeling safe in her house wasn’t even enough. She had double locks on her front door because of that one incident in college. She’d never known for sure how Daniel Wayne had gotten into her apartment or why he’d been waiting for her there. Luckily she’d been with Greg, and that had been enough to frighten Daniel off.
Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she left the baby’s room. Daniel was still in prison. He’d stalked and attacked another young woman after she’d reported him and gotten a restraining order. There were times when she realized just how lucky she was to be alive.
For some reason Daniel Wayne hadn’t killed her…maybe Greg’s presence.
But Greg was gone. God, she was getting sucked into a negative thought spiral. She dropped down on the floor and satin the lotus position. Centering herself, she started to some box breathing. Counting and concentration on her breath pulled her mind away from the past and her fears and straight into just breathing.
It took her fifteen minutes before she felt calm enough to get up. She heard a truck in her driveway and went to put the coffee maker on. Getting to her front door just as the doorbell rang.
Opening it, she took a deep breath.
Chay.
He wore a thick sheepskin jacket and a pair of jeans and boots. He took off his aviator-style sunglasses, putting them in his breast pocket. He had a Tupperware container in one hand and held his hat in the other.
“Hope I’m not too early. We never set a time,” he said.
“You’re just right,” she said, stepping back so he could enter. He put his hat on the hook near the door and looked down at his boots, handing her the Tupperware.
“Shoes off? I didn’t ask the other day.”
“I don’t mind if you want to keep them on unless they’re slushy.”
He toed his boots off, and she watched as he bent down to stand them neatly side by side. When he straightened, he noticed her watching him.
She flushed slightly. He had a nice butt. It wasn’t illegal to look at it.
His grandmother had made a batch of blue corn cookies for him to bring over. She was intrigued by Gracie and had seconded his desire to have the baby raised on the Navajo Nation. He’d invited her to come along but she already had plans with her best friend, Fiona. They liked to get together and weave and talk.
Which was fine with him; he’d sort of wanted to be alone with Ava again. She had her hair down today and wore a henley top and a pair of faded jeans. She had socks on her feet that were patterned with hearts. It wasn’t just that she might add something to his investigation—actually, he’d pretty much given up on that front. He liked her. She was sassy and funny and caring. He’d seen how much she loved Gracie and cared for Fern. She was very protective of the injured woman.
Seemed she might like him, too.
“Like what you see?”
“Yes. Also I have some news for you…that you’ll need to verify. Let’s go into the kitchen so we can chat and enjoy what you brought.”
He followed her, this time taking in the photos on the wall. Most of her house was decorated with photos of family rather than art. There were two cross-stitched scenes that had been framed and hung as well. One was of a German shepherd named Brandy and the other was of a house and had the title “Home.”
She had poured two mugs of coffee and had one sitting in front of the seat he’d used last time when he entered. She’d set out some cloth napkins as well. The baby monitor was near her side as she sat cross-legged on the chair across from him again.
“What’d you bring to eat?”
“My grandmother’s blue corn cookies. She made some fancy ones for you,” he said, opening the box to reveal the heart-shaped cookies. “She’s getting ready for Valentine’s Day.”
“They look really nice. Can’t wait to try one,” she said.
He held the box out to her and she took one, taking a bite and closing her eyes as she chewed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, watching the enjoyment spread over her face. She opened her eyes to find him watching, and he didn’t look away.
