Page 24 of Love in the Wild

“Yeah. Thea is staying with me until she gets well enough to travel. I’ve missed having someone around all the time, so it’ll be nice.”

Stella’s hand slid behind Hadley’s back and around her other shoulder before pulling her in for a hug. “You’re doing a good thing. I know it probably isn’t easy.”

Hadley hugged Stella back, letting go of some of the fear that was silently clinging to her like a tick. “It’ll be fine,” she whispered.

Stella pulled out of the hug. “Look up Hebrews 13:2.”

Hadley pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened the Bible app. She was still in the complete overwhelm stage of her Bible studies, but Stella and Vera were always pointing her in the right direction and showing her how to apply the Word to everyday life.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,” Hadley read. “Okay. That’s pretty clear.”

“It is, but we’ll be praying for you and Thea just the same,” Vera said.

Hadley looked back to the table where Brett sat smiling beside Thea. She’d learned a lot about him today too. Until a few days ago, she’d had no idea Brett and Jess had suffered for years with abusive parents. Brett was always so happy and fun.

But Hadley put on that same face every day, too. Thankfully, her dad’s abuse hadn’t lasted long, but now she made a conscious decision to seek out happiness every day. If she didn’t, the weight of the past would sit heavy on her shoulders, pushing her down until she couldn’t get back up.

“Don’t leave Brett and Jess out. They’ve got a lot going on right now too,” Hadley said.

“Oh those two stay on the list. It’s a miracle they turned out as good as they did.”

Wasn’t that the truth. Kids who experienced trauma usually either repeated the sins of their parents or resolved to be the opposite.

Hadley picked up a tray and headed for the kitchen. “I think we’re playing trivia in a little bit. Want to join?”

“You go on,” Vera said. “We’ve got this.”

Hadley checked her watch. “Can we get together a little later to talk about Ava’s baby shower? I’d like to get things finalized before we have to start on Remi’s. I think we should have both before the tourist season starts so they can get their nurseries ready.”

“Absolutely. Come to our place when you’re ready,” Stella said.

“You got it. I might bring Everly with me. She knows all about planning events, and this is my first time.”

Vera swatted a dish towel at Hadley. “Go on. We’ll see you later.”

“Thanks!” Hadley waved over her shoulder as she went to join her friends for games.

A few hours later, Hadley parked beside Brett’s truck at her cabin. Spending time with friends had boosted her outlook on the situation with Thea. She wouldn’t be here long, and Hadley could be a good friend to her through the hardship.

The freezing night stung her face as she raced to the front door. Quickly shutting out the cold behind her, Hadley shivered. “Burr.”

Brett and Thea sat in the living room, and their wide eyes and pursed lips turned Hadley’s already chilly blood to ice.

“What’s wrong?”

“My uncle filed a missing person’s report on me,” Thea said.

Hadley tensed, trying to hide the immediate reaction to the revelation. It was one thing to know the Howards were looking for Thea. It was another to know what lengths they were going to in their search. “Oh, no, no, no. The police didn’t tell them anything, did they?”

Thea’s cheeks were pale in the spaces without bruising. “No, but it means he knows I’m here, and he’s looking for me.”

Hadley sucked a breath through her teeth. Think, think, think. What could they do? “That’s not good.”

Understatement of the day.

Brett sat on the coffee table in front of Thea. Seeing him worried like this only amped up the tension in Hadley’s muscles. “I won’t let them find you.”

Hadley knew the truth in those words. Brett might be a jokester, but he was determined to a fault. He’d keep Thea safe at all costs.

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