Page 125 of Hidden Ascent

“Oh. That’s too bad. So you’ve heard from him?”

“Yeah. He’s doing really well. He’s busy and thought it would be better to let us all catch up ourselves.”

“Wait,” Charlotte said. “Isla, I thought you guys were together.”

“No. We met when all of this began. He was here to help me find the truth. Now, he’s moved on.”

“So, what was that thing before?” Maddy said.

“What thing?”

“When we first got here, I thought we were brought in because, initially, he didn’t want you to be a part of it. That doesn’t sound like a guy who was just doing a job.”

“I don’t remember.” Isla had spent a lot of time trying to forget.

“Yeah, when we first turned up. You escorted him into the kitchen to set him straight.”

Isla stiffened, fighting against the warmth in her cheeks. “That’s right. We talked about it, and I set him straight.”

Maddy laughed. “No wonder you brought us in. Jay was right. You’re a terrible liar. You both came out of that kitchen in a head spin. We all knew what happened.”

“Maddy,” Charlotte said. “Leave her alone. They obviously decided to cool things off.”

“Hey, I’m only calling it like it is. If you saw the way Jay looked at her when he found us at the Red Wolves’ hideout, you can’t blame me for getting it wrong.”

“I…didn’t handle things very well, and so it didn’t work out.”

“But you were hoping to see him here?” Charlotte said.

“I thought I might—Look, I don’t want to talk about Jay, okay? Can we stick to the topic at hand? We’re here to go over the operation, so let’s do that.”

“I don’t know if it matters,” Peter said, “but I know where you can find him. In case you wanted to.”

“I don’t. It doesn’t matter. He’s moved on.”

“Okay. But if you change your mind, he’s working with his friend on a new project.”

“What friend?”

“Carl Blanchet. He’s got a program going on with kids in gangs or something. I know Jay’s been helping him out.”

“What’s Blanchet doing with gang kids?”

“Getting them off the street. It’s brand new, but it sounds like it’s started off strong. You should go check it out.”

“Or not. Jay didn’t come because he didn’t want to see me.”

“Isla, I’m not one for the girl chasing the guy, but if the guy doesn’t even know he has a shot, how’s he know to go after her?”

“Thanks for the advice, but what I’d really like to do right now is eat that meal you promised. I’m starving.”

* * *

It was late by the time they left the dinner table. Jemi sat beside Isla on the couch, holding her hand.

“I’m really proud of you,” she said. “I can hear in the way you talked tonight how much you’ve grown over this short time.”

“Thanks. Every time I have to remind myself that God is close to me, I think of you, and I thank God that He’s close to you too.”

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