“Hi.” She glanced at the other woman over her shoulder. Rowena appeared nervous as though she’d committed the ultimate crime. Her behavior heightened Aria’s edginess.
“I’m sorry, but I had to make friends with these lovely girls. I hope you don’t mind. I brought them in for some ice cream. My apologies if you were worried,” the other woman offered a contrite smile.
“It’s okay.” Aria straightened. Reece, Kelly, and Samantha stood at her rear. “Sorry I ran off,” she mumbled. He snaked an arm around her waist with a wink. Aria turned to her friend with an apologetic smile. “Kelly, my cousin, Samantha.”
“Yeah, we met before we scurried after you.” Her friend grinned, blue gaze accusing.
“Sam, Reece, this is Rowena. She’s our new barista,” Aria introduced the other woman. Rowena’s gaze lingered on Reece then shifted as she greeted Samantha.
“Would someone please fill me in?” Kelly asked.
As if she’d sensed Rowena wasn’t privy to Aria’s past, Samantha said, “Aria, go chat with Kelly, I’ll keep Rowena and the girls’ company.”
With a quick nod to her cousin, Aria moved away with Reece and Kelly. “Jay got an early release,” she whispered as soon as she was out of earshot and sure Prisha wasn’t paying any attention.
“What?” her friend gasped in shock. “Jesus, sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
“Fortunately, he doesn’t know where Aria is,” Reece said.
“Yet,” Aria exhaled on a ragged sigh. The single word played in her head like a scratched CD stuck on the same beat. It hurt thinking of what-ifs. Despite Reece’s comforting presence, visions of Jay pitching up unexpectedly plagued her mind. Was she ever destined to be free of the man?
Chapter Twenty One
Reece was concerned. Aria’s strength amazed him. She cherished her independence. Jay’s release, however, brought with it tension and anxiety. Reece didn’t blame her, though. Women with her past caved into fear quickly. His usual charm failed to bring her out of her gloom. Her distracted state of mind made him uneasy. Whether he’d consoled her enough, he wasn’t sure. Over the last week, he’d tried everything to divert her attention. Apart from gentle smiles, she offered nothing.
Although he hadn’t seen anything yet, it worried him Prisha might be affected by Aria’s apprehension. His presence, however, kept the child preoccupied. She followed him everywhere. Always bugged him with constant questions, he couldn’t answer quick enough. He grinned, loving the way her eyes rolled if he answered incorrectly. God, he loved that child. While he was happy to help with Prisha, he was concerned about Aria. She needed a distraction.
“I’d like some toast with my lunch, please.” Prisha interrupted his thoughts with a tug on his arm.
He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her cheek. “Anythin’ else, sweetheart?”
She shook her head with a giggle then leaned closer to his ear. “Why is Mommy so sad?”
Reece smiled. “She isn’t sad, sweetheart. Your mommy has some work she’s thinking about.”
“Oh, like when she’s drawing at her desk and doesn’t hear me?”
