Page 56 of Question Everything

“He can handle it. He’s a big boy and he’s been through much worse. Plus, I can’t imagine he’s going to sit back and let you walk out the door alone. I mean, do you truly know him at all? No way that’s going to happen.”

Deep down, Maeve knew that Sibby was right. She felt relief and then felt terrible for feeling that way – she didn’t deserve Kyle, his protection, or his love. “All I can say, Sibby, is that I will love him for the rest of my days, whether we are together or apart. And that’s the truth.”

Sibby reached out then with her free hand and laced Maeve’s fingers with her own. “I’m proud to know you, Maeve. Proud to call you my sister.”

“It’s mutual, Sibby.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. They both heard Kyle’s voice at the same time.

“Wellfleet, Mia. Wellfleet. Open up. It’s okay, just a false alarm.”

“Why is he telling us the name of this town? Has he lost his mind?” Sibby remarked.

“No. It’s our password to let me know that it’s okay to unlock the door.” She quickly stood and turned the deadbolt. Nothing could have surprised her more than seeing Kyle standing there with another man.

It was her brother, Finn.

If she hadn’t been holdingthe still sleeping Daisy, Maeve knew she would have fainted. The sight of her beloved brother was so shocking that at first, she thought he was an illusion, an effect of that long-healed concussion she’d gotten from the car accident that led her into Kyle’s arms.

“Finn?” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “How did you find me?”

“It wasn’t easy, dearie. And these chaps almost shot me as I was trying to see if I’d located your hideaway.”

“It wasn’t that close, I promise,” Kyle said. “We did have our guns drawn but Finn was trespassing on private property, after all.”

“Nearly had a heart attack, I did. But you look good, Maeve. I can tell these people have taken good care of you and the babe.”

“Maeve?” Colleen questioned as stepped closer and listened to the conversation between this stranger and Mia.

“C’mon, Mom. Let’s leave them alone for a minute. We’ll go upstairs and I’ll explain everything to you. Or at least everything I know.” Sibby led her mother and the boys out of the safe room.

Maeve turned to her brother. “I had an accident, Finn. I couldn’t remember who I was or where I was going,” she said quietly.

“I know. Kyle here filled me in. But Maeve. We must go. The Firm is on to ya. They aren’t too far behind me now. They’ll be cresting that hill by sunrise, I’m sure of it. Say your goodbyes and let’s be off.”

Kyle stepped between them. “Not so fast. There’s no guarantee that whomever these goons are, they won’t find you. They’ve tracked Maeve down before.”

Finn let out a slow breath. “I hear you and I can appreciate your concern. But I’ve got this now. I’m going to take my sister and my niece and get them to the safe house in Port Hope, right over the border into Canada. That’s where Maeve was headed when she had the accident. I have a network of people who can provide her with a new identity and a place to regroup and start over again.”

“Right. Just like you provided her with the name Mia Sawyer. One click, and I was able to find out that the real Mia Sawyer was already dead. Not a great system you’ve got going there, Finn.”

Her brother took a step closer to Kyle. “Listen. She’s my blood. I’ll take care of her and the baby from here on out.”

“No. No, Finn, you won’t.” Maeve wasn’t sure where her courage came from, but she was determined not to let either man make this decision for her. “And Kyle, while you know how much I appreciate all that you and your family has already done for me, I can’t allow you to continue to put them in the line of fire. I have a different plan in mind.”

“You can’t just leave, Maeve,” Kyle implored. “Those men will be on you in a minute.”

“I don’t plan on going anywhere, at least not right yet. I have an idea, but it will require time on the phone informing some of the people who need to be brought up to speed on everything that’s happened to me since that night the prince showed up at my shop after closing. Once I’m done, I’ll get out of your hair, Kyle. You need to go back to the life you had before me. You deserve to get your badge back and return to doing what you love. And I need to move forward as well, if not for me, then for my daughter. I’ll clear our names and be done with it, once and for all.”

He didn’t get a chance to respond before she turned back to Finn and said, “Give me some time. I’m going to fix this, I promise.”

Four hours later,as the sun was beginning to rise over the beach outside the office windows, Maeve sat, surrounded by notes she’d taken during her phone conversations, grateful for the time difference between Massachusetts and London. Even though the day was just beginning here, it was already in full swing across the pond, and she was dizzy from all that she had learned in a short while. She had made her way up through the hierarchy of the British press, reaching out first to a reviewer who had said some kind words about her bakery years before and publishing her thoughts in “The Daily Mail.” From there, and with the promise of a twelve-hour lead time for her to file her own exclusive story, that reporter gave her the numbers of editors at both “The Sun” and “The Daily Telegraph.” Finally, she was able to make contact with someone who could put her in touch with “The Guardian.” Maeve felt confident that her story would be told with accuracy once she could provide these sources with the DNA test results. After that, the world would know the truth and she’d be in the clear.

Now all she wanted was a cup of tea before Daisy woke up; Maeve knew that there was no chance of getting any sleep now, not that she’d be able to close her eyes anyway. Too much had been left unsaid between Kyle and herself; she knew that she’d need to have a conversation with him as soon as they could grab a minute alone. Maybe there was a chance for them when this was over, after the story broke.

Or maybe he’d no longer want to be exposed and in the middle of the media circus that was about to be her life…

CHAPTER 32

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