“I pressed on it. Hard. I really had to shove.” She shifted position to stay opposite him. “This is probably a total waste of time.”
“What else have we got to do tonight?”
“Sleep.”
Noah crouched down, disappearing from view. “Okay, there’s that.”
Jenna knelt on the walkway and studied the foundation connecting the tank to the hull. Instantly she saw there was ample room to hide a drawer safe. A ten-inch fiberglass ledge ran the entire length of the tank. She ran her hand over the rough surface, searching, pressing. She tried to tell herself that Dino probably thought the boat was gift enough, she needed to work out for herself how to keep it going . . .
Jenna heard a faint click. Then Noah called, “I found it.”
CHAPTER40
The next day, Wallace Myers returned.
He and his team used the same portable crane to lift the boat off its wooden supports and settle it back on the tractor-trailer. The boat shone like a massive white jewel in the sunlight.
Lane Pritchard’s Mercedes was parked nose out, facing back down the valley road. The driver remained stationary behind the wheel, the motor running. Lane made circuits of the barn and backyard. He continually supervised Wallace loading the boat. But Jenna was fairly certain it was all pretense. Lane cast too many glances their way. Using his sunglasses to hide the way he inspected them in turn. Amos and Aldana, their two girls. Zia and Briana and their sons. Noah, Sol, Ethan, Ryan, Liam. And Jenna. Studying them intently. Searching for cracks.
Sol’s wife was named Rachel, a pediatric surgeon working out of San Lu’s main hospital. She was a tall, angular woman with sharply intelligent features and a wealth of dark hair. She drew Jenna away from the crowd, walked them out to the road, said, “I’m sorry for speaking with you on such a day. And again for being blunt. But I’ve received a call, a young boy was struck by a baseball just below his heart. He’s having difficulty breathing.”
Jenna liked having a reason to turn away. “I understand.”
“Sol has spoken highly of you. For years. I wish we had met before now. And in better circumstances.” She waved that aside. “Our hospital is facing a very serious shortage of experienced nurses. I was wondering if by any chance you might be thinking about staying. Putting down roots.”
She saw Lane inspecting them and thought,Look all you like.“I haven’t really considered it. But . . .”
“Yes?”
“To tell you the truth, everything is up in the air right now.”
She nodded. “Why don’t you come down, let me show you around. We’ll have lunch.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
She offered Jenna her card. “I’m working days all next week.” And started for her car.
Jenna walked back to where Noah stood on the porch. He asked, “What was all that about?”
“Later.” She saw how Aldana had taken up position by the trestle tables, her arms around her daughters, both of whom wept silently. She saw how Lane studied the women, then went back to surveying Wallace at work. Jenna was beyond glad they had not said anything. To anyone.
Amos and Zia and Ryan stood together, arms crossed, gazes hard as granite. Liam sat next to where Ethan stood. Grim. Sad.
Perfect.
This was the only version Lane Pritchard was allowed to see. The only way they would ever be safe. The tragic loss. The defeat. The sorrow. He would go away satisfied.
Noah held Jenna’s hand until it was over. But as Wallace climbed into the truck cab and Lane started toward his Mercedes, Noah called out, “Wait!”
Noah walked to the boat in its mobile cradle. He reached up, placed a hand on the boat’s stern . . .
And just stood there.
Finally, Jenna couldn’t bear it any longer. She approached him, gripped him with both arms, and settled her head on his shoulder. After a moment, she said, “It’s time to let go.”
CHAPTER41
They needed six weeks to put it all in place.
