Lucy’s mouth dropped open. “Simone,” she whispered. “You don’t know the danger you are putting us both in. You mustn’t be here.”
“What danger?” Simone pressed.
Taking a step back, Lucy said, “I swore I would never speak to you again. It had to be this way, for your sake and mine.”
“You aren’t making any sense,” Simone stated. “Who did you promise?”
Lucy brought her hand up to her mouth. “I have said too much.”
“But you haven’t said anything at all,” Simone argued.
Lucy’s eyes swiftly scanned the crowd before she lowered her voice. “Whatever you do, don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t trust your father.”
“My father?” Simone repeated. “Why shouldn’t I trust him?”
Regret shadowed Lucy’s face as she replied, “Goodbye, Simone. This is for the best. You must trust me on this.”
Without waiting for their response, Lucy darted into the crowd, vanishing from view.
Simone’s eyes remained on the crowd as she said, “I don’t understand. What is she trying to protect me from?”
“It was evident that she is afraid of something, or someone,” Caleb stated. “And I think that someone is your father.”
“Why would she be afraid of my father?” Simone asked. “He is not the warmest person, but he isn’t awful.”
Caleb put his hand on her sleeve. “We should get you home before anyone notices your absence,” he encouraged.
“You are right,” Simone said. “There is no reason to tarry.”
He could hear the dejection in her voice, and he wished there was a way that he could fix it. He didn’t know how, or when, but he would find a way to help Simone.
Chapter Nine
Simone’s mind was in a whirlwind as she tried to make sense of what Lucy had just told her. Why shouldn’t she trust her father? None of this made any sense. But it was evident by the panicked look on Lucy’s face that she was utterly afraid of something. Or someone.
Could that “someone” truly be her father?
No.
Her father was not a bad man. He may be gruff, and hard around the edges, but he had a kind heart. She had seen it before.
Caleb’s voice broke through the silence. “Are you all right?” he asked, the concern evident in his voice.
“Yes… no… I don’t rightly know,” Simone admitted. And for the first time in a long time, she had no idea where to go from here.
Caleb gently placed his hand on her arm, turning her towards him. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do,” Caleb said. “What are your ‘spy senses’ telling you to do?”
Simone knew he was just trying to help, but she was at a loss as to what she should do. “It is not that simple.”
“It is,” he asserted. “What do you want to do?”
As she saw the determination in Caleb’s gaze, Simone felt her shoulders slump and she lowered her gaze. Caleb was asking for her to be strong, but she couldn’t do it.
Caleb rested his hands on her shoulders and leaned closer. “You must look objectively at this,” he urged. “Based upon what Lucy revealed about your father, what would you do next? I want you to think, Simone.”
