Page 10 of You're the Reason

“Isabella.” Jon yanked out his phone, pulled up a photo, and turned it toward him.

“She’s beautiful.” That was what people always said about babies, right? Truth was, she looked pretty red and wrinkly, but he wasn’t about to say that. And by the huge grin on Jon’s face, he guessed that was how newborns were supposed to look.

Jon tucked his phone back in his pocket as he unlocked the Shelby with the fob. “Breaking and entering? Really?”

Seth shrugged and climbed in. “The house was abandoned. I didn’t think anyone would notice. I just had some things to put to rest.”

“And did you?” He started the car and turned toward Heritage.

“Not really.” Seth eyed the passing signs. “Where are we headed? Michigan Ave. is faster to your place ... which you just passed.”

“Your car is at the MIM.”

“Mim?”

“The store on the square Leah and I opened three years ago. Stands for Made in Michigan, but we just call it the MIM.”

Awesome. Back to Heritage. Twenty-four hours ago, he was trying to build up the courage to ask Jon for a job, now he just wanted to get away from this town, even if it meant living out of his car for another six months.

“Did you know I caught Leah breaking into the MIM once? Of course, it wasn’t the MIM then, and cops weren’t involved that time.”

“Well, I guess people look the other way when spunky redheads who they know break in. Not so much for former druggies with a felony on their record.”

“It’s kind of funny actually.” Jon flipped on his blinker and turned onto Richard Street.

“Probably will be. But not today.”

“It could’ve happened to anybody.” Jon turned right on Henderson, then a moment later pulled into the parking lot behind a row of businesses. Jon parked next to Seth’s Chevy, which looked sadder than ever after his time in the GT.

“Could’ve ... but it didn’t.” Seth popped the door open and stepped out of the car and walked to his Lumina. “You don’t have to wait. I’m sure Leah is waiting for you.”

Jon hopped out and glanced at him over the roof of the Mustang. “Leah told me ... to take my time.”

Seth pulled the door, but it was locked. Seriously, as if any self-respecting thief would bother. “You locked it?”

“You seem to have your whole life in there.”

Caught.

When Seth didn’t respond, Jon nodded toward one of the alley doors. “Let me show you something.”

Jon worked the key in the old lock, then eyed Seth over his shoulder. “Who’s Grace?”

“What?”

“When we were leaving the station. You said bye to a woman named Grace. Who’s Grace?”

“Someone I hadn’t seen for a long time. And someone who probably wished it had been longer.”

Jon finally clicked the lock and pushed the door open and stepped into the main floor. It had once been a dance studio. There were floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and two wooden bars circled the room about waist high. “It’s been a while since anyone’s been in here.”

“You could say that.” Seth crossed the large open space and laid his hand on one of the bars but quickly removed it before dusting his hands off. “I forgot about this place. You own this?”

“Yup. This and many more properties that my uncle Dale acquired under the Kensington Fruits name while I was in Europe.”

“You could do so much with this place. Why do you leave it empty?”

“Because lately I have just too much on my plate. Which is where you come in. I offered you a job three years ago, and the offer still stands.”

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