Page 28 of The Finder

“Why not?!” Amy asked. “I would! Can you imagine whatthatwould be...”

Emma slapped her hand over Amy’s mouth. “No more.”

Amy nodded. “Okay. Sorry. I just got carried away. You don’t see a man like that very often, and one that’s nice? It’s unheard of.”

Emma shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. “It’s a good thing your daughter can’t hear you,” Emma said quietly.

Amy grimaced. “Yeah. Again, I'm sorry.”

Emma knelt down in front of Olivia and signed a few words to her. Olivia smiled and signed back. Olivia gave her a big hug that almost knocked Emma over and signed that she was glad Emma was okay. Emma swallowed the emotion in her throat. She smiled at Olivia and stood up. “All right. Now if you think you can contain yourself, I’ll take you over and introduce you to him.”

Amy nodded. “I’ll be good. I promise.” Emma walked over to the counter and grabbed the coffee.

She felt Garrett’s eyes on her as they approached, but she didn't look up until she was at their table. She set the coffee down in front of him. “Thank you,” he said in a low voice.

“Garrett,” Emma began without looking him in the eye. “This is Amy and Olivia.” Garrett stood up.

Amy stuck her hand out to Garrett’s and he responded in like manner. “Thank you so much for sending over the babysitter. She was a godsend, and she and Olivia had a great time together.”

Garrett smiled a genuine smile at Amy, and Emma felt a pang of jealously before quickly squelching it. The door to the shop opened, and Emma turned around to go help the customer. She left Amy and Oliva with Garrett and Levi. She made a mental note to talk to Garrett about Amy and Olivia as soon as possible.

There was a steady stream of customers after that. At one point, Amy and Olivia waved goodbye to her and she waved back. When the line finally died down, Emma glanced at the clock. It was almost one. She was grateful. Her headache was starting to worsen, her stomach ached, and she was absolutely exhausted. She grabbed a towel and spray so she could start cleaning tables.

She started cleaning the table closest to the window. She glanced out the window to see if it looked like any more customers were coming. Just as she looked out, a man turned the corner across the street, and Emma froze. Fear flooded her, and she knew she needed to move but she couldn’t seem to get her body to respond. Then the man looked up and Emma threw herself behind the beam by the front door. She had no idea if he had seen her or not. She felt like she couldn’t draw air into her starving lungs.

She felt a presence in front of her and knew who it was before she even opened her eyes. “Emma, what’s going on?” Garrett asked in a low tone.

Emma kept her eyes closed. “Nothing,” she managed to get out.

“I can practically feel the fear coming off of you. Don’t tell me it’s nothing,” Garrett snapped.

Emma heard the door to the shop open. She didn’t think; she just moved. A moment later, she found herself standing behind Garrett. He said something, but her heart was pounding so hard she couldn’t hear Garrett over it. She closed her eyes tightly, scared to death that if she opened them, she would see her step-brother. A new feeling of fear coursed through her.

Garrett took her by the elbow and maneuvered her through the shop. He said something over his shoulder to Levi. Then he pulled her into the one-person bathroom at the back of the shop and closed the door behind them. He dropped her arm and stepped closer to her.

Emma couldn’t think through the fear.He found me. All my hard work in running away. I’ll have to run again. But I don’t have any money. What am I going to do? What if he catches me? I’m not going back there!She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“Emma,” Garrett called her name and shook her gently. “Emma, talk to me. What's going on?”

She heard a knock on the bathroom door, and terror coursed through her again. Garrett turned to answer the knock. “No!” she shouted at him and grabbed his arms. “No, please don’t let him in!” she gasped out.

Garrett put his hands on her shoulders. “Emma, look at me,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. Emma lifted her eyes to his. “It’s just Levi. He’s checking on us. Whoever you are afraid of can’t hurt you here. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” Emma looked into the sincerity in his eyes and nodded. She believed him.

“Take a deep breath,” he said. Emma did as he said. She felt his thumbs gently wipe the tears from her face. She kept her eyes closed and focused on breathing. “Are you okay now?” he asked. Emma nodded. “Open your eyes, Emma.” Emma couldn't help but obey. She looked up at him. He was looking at her with such concern; it melted her heart. “I’m just going to open the door and check with Levi. I’ll be right back,” he said.

Emma wanted to grab his arms and tell him not to go, but she kept herself restrained, barely. Garrett watched her for a moment, then left the bathroom. Emma's weak legs couldn’t hold her up anymore, and she sank to the ground. It was only a minute or two before Garrett was back. He stepped into the bathroom and looked down at her. A moment later, he was crouched in front of her. “Everything is good. Whoever you saw is long gone. Helen thinks you’re just in the bathroom, which you are,” he said with a small smile. “I’ll tell Helen you’re not feeling well. Levi already started the car. Let's get you out of here,” he said, putting his hand out towards her.

Emma’s head had cleared some, now that the fear had passed. “I just need to finish my shift,” she said.

Garrett’s face instantly closed off. “Emma,” he said in a warning voice she was getting to know all too well.

“Please,” Emma said. “Just let me finish, and then I’ll go with you. I promise. I just want to do my job. I can’t afford to lose this job.”

“You’re not going to,” Garrett argued with her.

“Please, Garrett,” she said softly.

Garrett sighed. She could tell she had won. He stood up and put out a hand to pull her to her feet. “Finish, but I’m staying,” Garrett said firmly.

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