I feel myself bristle as Buford looms over her. Everything inside me wants to charge forward and get the fucker out of her face. Thankfully Tim takes over, sliding between her and the older man. They’re almost nose to nose, and though Buford’s street-tough and burly, Tim has youth and good health on his side. Not to mention a badge and a gun. Finally, Buford backs down, holding his hands up in a gesture of placation. He doesn’t do a convincing job of it. “All right,” he grinds out. “Whatever you say.” Though I can still see his mud-brown eyes narrowed on Arielle and Austin. I couldn’t tell her our plan. If she’d known, she’d have given us away. She had to be as convincing as possible. And right now, her fear is entirely convincing. Most likely because it’s real.
I hate doing this to her. I want to sweep her up and hold her against me. I still can’t take that chance. As long as Buford is around, I can’t be anywhere near her. I catch my breath as I hear the announcer’s nasal twang calling out the details for the next flight to Los Angeles. Tim is shepherding Arielle’s resisting form to the check-in counter while Buford and his men look on. We’ve cut it fine. She’ll just have time to check in and get boarded. There’s no way the goons are going to get past security. Once she’s through, they’re home free.
I exhale a sigh of relief as I watch them hand over their passports and get their tickets confirmed – partially because I was a little afraid our documentation might not bear scrutiny. But she and Austin are waved on without a hitch. With just hand-luggage, and nothing to check in as baggage, the procedure takes barely a few minutes. Yet it feels like hours.
Tim reaches down to sweep her into a bearhug, which, strangely, doesn’t bother me – Tim’s a good guy. Better than I am, if I’m honest with myself. He ruffles Austin’s hair, and then they’re off. Still, she’s casting furtive glances around her, and I know she’s looking for me.
If I can just make it past Buford, I’ll meet her on the other side. But he and his men form an impenetrable wall across the check-in queue, watching her every move. I can’t come out now. There’s too much risk I’ll be spotted, and then we’ll all go down. If worst comes to worst, I’ll take the heat and let her go. I can’t take a chance on putting her in danger again.
I hear the PA system announcing the last call and watch as she and Austin vanish from sight.
Chapter 18
India
Arielle Nygard
India is crowded and noisy, and mildly overwhelming. I’ve only been here for two weeks, but I came to love it quickly. After landing in New Delhi, Sam, Austin, and I set up a temporary base at a hotel in the heart of the city. We had arrived with no plan, virtually no belongings, and only short-term tourist visas. But Sam turns on his charm and flashes cash, and he’s discreetly introduced to the people who can sort out our paperwork. The transactions are definitely not above board, but since I’m no longer Arielle, widow of a cop, I look the other way.
Josie is a lot more comfortable with the situation, especially since we’re not hurting anyone. Sam – or Jack, as I’m slowly learning to call him – manages to secure all the paperwork for our new life. Within days we have birth certificates, a marriage certificate, permanent residency, cell phones, and bank accounts for both of us. And today he’s meeting with the head of a charity to find out how we can do the most good.
The weather is balmy, and I don’t feel like spending the morning in our hotel room waiting for him, so I take Austin out to a coffee shop a few blocks away. “Have a good morning, Mrs. Ellis,” the receptionist says with a thick Indian accent as we leave the hotel. After two weeks, I’m responding more readily to my new name.
“Thank you, Meera. We’re going to that coffee shop you recommended. Austin loves their milkshakes.”
She gives Austin a friendly smile. “They are the best.”
My red hair stands out noticeably on the streets of New Delhi, but I’m no longer worried about being spotted or harassed. The people are kind and I project an air of confidence that deters potential pickpockets. The sidewalks are less crowded at midmorning on a weekday, so we walk in peace to the small eatery. Our table next to the window looks out onto the street and I content myself with people-watching while we wait for our drinks. As I sit there, I marvel at the turn my life has taken.
A few weeks ago I was stressed about work, money, my house, my relationship. I was also afraid for my life on a few occasions. I left everything behind, even my name. It all seems like a dream. Even now, sitting across from my son on a warm, sunny Friday morning, in a quaint coffee shop in bustling New Delhi, I can hardly believe this is all real.
An image of Steve pops up in my mind’s eye. He smiles and gives me a thumbs up. There’s a sharp pain in my chest as I remember his goofy grin, his mop of blond hair, and his silly sense of humor. My first love, the father of my beautiful boy. For the longest time, I thought we were going to grow old together, raise our son and fill our life with a ton of happy memories. Once Steve was gone, I resigned myself to a solitary existence, taking pride, joy, and comfort in Austin, making him the focus of my life. But from this side of my journey, I can see how unfair that was to both of us. No child should have to be the sole focus of his mother.
But my world has opened up dramatically. And I’m looking forward to making memories with Sam and Austin. I have no idea what’s going to happen next, where I’m going from this place, but as long as Sam is with me, I don’t care.
The waiter brings our drinks, setting a truly huge chocolate milkshake in front of Austin with a flourish. “Please do enjoy,” he says in the thickly accented English I’ve come to love. Austin wastes no time in tucking into his sugary treat, and I smile as I watch him suck the ice cream through a straw. My phone pings. A message from Sam.
I’ve got good news. Let’s celebrate.
I guess his meeting went well.
We’re at that great little coffee shop near the hotel. Come join us.
Perfect. See you in 10.
Sam bursts through the door in a whirlwind of smiles. He plants a kiss on my lips, and one on the top of Austin’s head, and fills an empty seat at the table.
“Wow,” I say, “this is the best mood I’ve ever seen you in.”
“It’s all coming together.” He grins. “I was with the governor downtown for an hour, then went over to the Mission to speak to the director there.” Sam’s become very careful about letting me know his whereabouts at all times now. Since our experience in Vegas, I’ve grown gun shy about letting him out of my sight.
That day at the airport ranked among one of the scariest of my life – which is saying a lot, considering what I’d been through until then. I shudder now at the thought of it, remembering my confusion when we’d stopped on the way to the airport and Tim had climbed into the car. My anxiety hadn’t dissipated as we’d driven. Grimly focused, Tim had given little by way of explanation, and when we arrived and were accosted by Buford and his men, it had been all I could do not to spiral into a complete panic attack. I had to keep it together, though; my son needed me.
The gangster had confronted Tim, surprised when he’d seen who it was. It was clear to me that the man had expected Sam, and I realized that my two men – because that’s what they’d become – had anticipated this all along. But still, when Tim told them I was on my way to California, I’d felt my knees buckle. California? Part of me had wondered if Sam was cutting me loose. I’d felt the ring on my finger – the one I now twist regularly, out of habit – and I’d wondered if it had been his way of saying goodbye. When I dragged myself through the boarding gates, Austin thankfully tagging along without resistance, there’d still been no sign of him. Tears had come when I finally sank into my seat on the plane. Austin was lost in his own world, headphones in place and a kids’ activity book on his lap. I’d dropped my face into my hands and wept.
“Is this seat taken?” a voice had said. When I’d looked up into Sam’s face, I’d sobbed with relief. He’d been waiting in the departures lounge with us all along, but needed a diversion to get past Buford. Thankfully, Tim had figured that much out and gotten himself into an altercation with the old thug. My dear friend had ended up with a black eye, but it had worked. I’ll always love Tim, in that way reserved for lifelong friends. He’s going to visit us in a couple of months, when his next leave is due.
“Babe?” a voice breaks into my thoughts and I see Sam staring at me, head tilted. I smile gently as I come back to the present.
