“There’s a café nearby.”
She nodded, though she wasn’t ready to go out in public.She touched her tangled hair and found a leaf.After pulling it free, she checked the mirror on the back of the window shade.Her clothes were damp, her face was dirty, and her eyes looked strange.She wiped the smudge off her cheek with her sleeve.“I hope we don’t see any of your exes.”
“Natalie works across the street.”
“Great.”
“Do you want to borrow my sweatshirt?”
“Sure.”
He grabbed a gray hoodie from the back seat.Meredith removed her damp jacket and put on the hoodie.She was instantly warmer.They left Chico in the front seat, curled up for a nap, and walked into the café.She went to the restroom while he found a table.As she washed her hands and face, she identified the odd brightness in her eyes.
It was hope.
She leaned into the feeling, although she was afraid of optimism, and she knew she’d disappointed Wade.She’d left without saying goodbye, she hadn’t trusted him enough to confide in him, and she’d run into trouble with the law.He’d been forced to drive to Last Chance and interact with his father.
Even so, he didn’t seem angry with her.Instead of scolding her, he’d offered her a meal and the warmth of his sweatshirt.He was a good man, the best she’d ever known, and she was deeply in love with him.
She also wasn’t a coward or a quitter.Never had been.Although a part of her wanted to keep running, to avoid confrontation and safeguard her heart, she was tired of living in fear.It was time to step into the light.
Wade had chosen a booth in a quiet corner.She settled in across from him.His gaze seared into her, heating her chilled bones.She took a deep breath and tried to think of the perfect words to win him over.Before she’d come up with anything, a pretty blonde waitress arrived to take their order.
Meredith asked for hot tea and chicken noodle soup.Wade ordered coffee and a sandwich.He handed the laminated menus back to the waitress, who left with a flirty swish of her skirt.Then he stared at Meredith in sober contemplation.She stared back at him, her pulse racing.He looked tired, but the fatigue somehow added to his handsomeness.Lines bracketed his mouth, offering a hint of vulnerability that tugged at her heartstrings.She wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss away the pain she’d caused.She wanted to undo all of the mistakes she’d made.
“I assume you heard about Gilley,” he said finally.
“I did.”
“Is that why you left?Because of his death?”
“No,” she said, startled.“Why would you think that?”
“I really don’t know what to think, Meredith.Your goodbye note didn’t give any details.My mom claimed you went to Kansas for a family emergency.”
The waitress brought their hot drinks.They both went quiet until she left.
Meredith leaned forward.“Did your father tell you about Websleuths?The post about me and Tripp Gilley?”
“He mentioned that you were Poison Rose,” Wade said.“We didn’t discuss Gilley.”
“Then how did you…” She trailed off.“You already knew.”
Wade added cream to his coffee.No sugar.
“How did you find out?”
He shrugged.“The song came on the radio when I was driving to work, and I remembered your reaction to it.”
She thought back to the night he’d taken her and Daisy to the vet.“Poison Rose” had started playing, and she’d switched it off.
“The lyrics capture you perfectly.Except for the poison part.”
She reached for her tea with a shaking hand.That song would always trigger her worst memories.Wade didn’t know the entire backstory, but he knew that Tripp had been the poison in their relationship.She sat in silence as Wade used his phone to access the post Slate had mentioned.While he read the article, the waitress brought their meals.Meredith thanked her with a weak smile.
“You didn’t see this post last night,” Wade said.“It’s from this morning.”
“I saw my sister’s social media page yesterday.She planned an event to spread the word about my disappearance.She mentioned my name, Tripp’s name, and her exact location.I don’t have a phone number or any way to contact her.I tried to call the farm, but the number is disconnected.”
