Page 85 of Grand Escape

Lucky girl ... unlike me.

“You okay?” she asked, pulling me from my unhappy reverie.

“Yeah,” I said. “Tired. Weezie is getting over a cold, and she’s been coughing at night.”

Knowing Rylan’s usual order, I poured a large coffee and added milk.

“This is the Caribbean. We’re not supposed to get colds.”

I knew Rylan was kidding. Damn vacationers brought all kinds of gunk to the island.

“Exactly,” I said, teasing back, hoping she’d get out of here quickly.

Another thing about Rylan was she pretended to not get involved in people’s lives, but she did. Like mine. All. The. Time.

“Where’s your dad?” she asked.

“Took my mom to the eye doctor. No biggie. She just can’t drive after they dilate her eyes. Weezie went with them and was waiting in the car with my dad.”

“No school?”

Cripes, Rylan was a nosy one.

“Parent/teacher conference day. So, nope.”

She nodded. “These kids have it made. She’s in what? Kindergarten now?”

I nodded.

Leaning on the counter with her coffee next to her, Rylan gave me an odd look. “So, how are you, Shell? I mean, really?”

Wiping my hands on my apron, I averted my gaze.

“Shell?”

“It’s been tough. Weez misses her dad. As for me, I just wish he’d burn in hell for leaving us like he did. Sorry to say.”

“Of course you do. Ricky is slime, but you’re a better woman and the best mom.”

I shook my head. “I’m messing it all up.”

“Nah,” Rylan said, waving off my concerns. “No way. Plus, Tony is crazy for you.”

“We’re just friends,” I said a little too defensively.

I was my own worst enemy. Here I was wanting Rylan to ask less, and I was leaving little bread crumbs for her to follow a path straight to the truth.

“Tony would be good to you. He’s a good guy.”

“Look, he’s great, and I know you two are best friends, but now isn’t a good time for me to get involved like that.”

Except, I was involved, but with someone else. Someone darker, more sinister, and much worse for me than Tony.

“I hear you,” Rylan said softly. “But you’re not alone, Shell. I’m here. Teddi loves you. Reach out.”

“By the way, you didn’t run here from the new house, did you?”

Everyone knew Rylan’s guy, Adam, had bought a huge house on the West Bay. He decided to live here for most of the year, traveling back and forth to the States, wooing her along the way. Of course, she’d moved in with him.

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