She remembered how the lights went out that evening. She screamed and cried, cowering under the bed because she was so frightened of the shadows. Grandma couldn’t reassure her. She couldn’t beckon her out. But Lucas was there and when Grandma couldn’t reach her, he tried.
He held out his little hand. How old were they? Barely seven?
‘Come on, Will,’ he said gently. ‘I’ll keep you safe.’
And she took it. Because she knew he would.
She always believed him.
‘I guess it’s good that Jake is still looking out for you,’ Greg said, nodding in her direction. ‘At least it shows he has your best interests at heart.’
‘I guess—’
‘You don’t exactly sound sure.’
Willow wasn’t sure and she didn’t really know how best to answer this. She was glad Jake had called to warn her, of course, but it had also been irritating. The timing had been so bad and was just complicating things again. She was enjoying having Lucas with her and it looked like he was finally going to open up to her. That had all been destroyed the minute Jake called.
Willow had been so distracted, thinking about Jake up mountains and the incoming nightmare weather, that she had barely noticed Lucas afterwards. She knew she had messed up. Lucas was bound to be feeling rejected.
If only he knew that something stirred inside her every time he moved closer to her or touched her.
It was driving her crazy.
‘Did Jake say anything else?’ Greg asked.
‘Not really,’ she admitted. ‘He was too busy talkingabout his day and then this storm. He suggested I should come back today. Spend the rest of the week in Seattle.’
Greg raised an eyebrow. ‘Go back? I thought you two were over?’
‘It would be platonic,’ Willow replied quickly, even though doubt niggled at her. There was something in Jake’s tone – the way he said ‘come home’ that made her think that he was starting to regret their breakup.
And that wasn’t something she was ready to deal with right now.
‘Well, I guess that’s thoughtful of him,’ Greg said dryly. ‘I’m sure he’d like some company …’
Willow shot him a warning look. She didn’t want to carry on this conversation. It didn’t matter anyway, even though there was something appealing about running away from her worst fear – she was not going back to Seattle.
And she was not going back to Jake.
‘Seems to me that being apart is a good thing for you both,’ Greg said, getting up. ‘And don’t worry about the storm. It’ll be nothing, I’m sure.’
Mia and Adam came over to the van at lunchtime when Willow was having a busy period. She was pleased to see Mia though; there was something about her bright smile that immediately put Willow at ease. Mia looked so cute in her neat skirt and plain white shirt; she was clearly making an effort to fit into her new role at the bookstore.
‘How was your first day?’ Willow asked, preparing them both a strawberry matcha.
‘I think OK so far,’ Mia said, looking to Adam for reassurance.
Adam took both the drinks and nodded. ‘I stopped bytoday to order a book. I have to say, I’m impressed. Mia is a natural. Great on the phone and the customers love her. I’m thinking Ernie is lucky to have her.’
‘Really?’ Mia replied, glowing. ‘You really think that?’
Adam grinned. ‘I do.’
Willow couldn’t help but notice how Adam was looking at Mia. It was like he was totally in awe of her.
‘We can’t stay long,’ Mia explained. ‘Ernie has a class he needs to get to, so I have to take over. Adam has his own issues at his place. Alice Parker is demanding her cat is seen before he closes.’
‘I want to shut early, just in case this storm picks up.’ Adam stared up towards the sky as if he could already sense it. ‘It’s best to be sensible about these things.’
