Page 10 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

“And?”

Sighing, she pulled one of the stools to the opposite side of the island and sat. “And I watched her like a hawk. Made sure she was clean and took care of herself. Went to all the doctor visits with her. I drove her to the hospital when she went into labor, prepared to continue helping both of them when the baby arrived.”

“Let me guess,” he said with a snort. “She slipped back into her old ways, putting both her and her child in danger. Was that finally the last straw for you? Obviously, Stella needed to hurt more than just me to open your eyes.”

His anger churned her stomach. She’d underestimated how hard it’d be to discuss anything pertaining to her sister with Calvin. But she didn’t have a choice now so she might as wellfinish the story. “Yes, she went back to her old ways, but she didn’t hurt the baby. She actually left him in the hospital. Said she wasn’t ready to be a mom.”

Calvin’s mouth dropped open for a beat before snapping it closed. “What happened to the baby?”

“I adopted him.” She couldn’t help but smile at the mention of her sweet Oliver. “I hadn’t seen Stella since the day she signed the papers and left us both behind. Until last night.”

A chill swept over her. Stella had been so angry. So obstinate and full of spite. The determination in her sister’s threat of taking away Oliver had filled her with a kind of terror she’d never experienced before.

“Why did she show up?” Calvin asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She swallowed the bile creeping up her esophagus. “She wanted Oliver. Said she was ready to be a mother now and was taking back what was hers.”

“Shit.” Calvin tossed his phone on the counter. “Anyone overhear this conversation?”

“Mrs. Collins, the woman who runs the women’s shelter, interrupted us when the conversation escalated. Another volunteer was in the kitchen and heard the yelling. I talked with them both after Stella left, explained everything.”

“Any chance either of those women would tell the police what they heard?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. If the police asked them, they wouldn’t lie.”

“Police could see that as a motive for murder,” Calvin said. “Even if the law is on your side as far as parental rights go. Stella couldn’t sweep in and take back a child she gave away, but emotions were high, and people react rashly in those situations.”

A lump lodged in her throat. Mrs. Collins and Elsie wouldn’t have accused her of anything if asked, but that didn’t meanStella hadn’t mentioned their argument to someone else. She had no clue who’d been in Stella’s life these last couple of years. No telling who the police had spoken with or the picture they’d painted of Jenna.

“So you have no other information about where Stella lives or what she’s been doing the last couple years?”

Overwhelmed, Jenna’s ears buzzed. She blinked in rapid succession, struggling to remain focused. “Umm, she mentioned moving to Pine Valley and starting her own business. I’m over there a couple times a week, but rarely stop anywhere other than the shelter. I’ve never seen her around town.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard to figure out where she lives and what her business is. That’ll be a good start. From there I can find friends, possibly employees, who may have a little more insight into her personal life.”

The dang tears came back, clouding her vision. “I failed her.”

Calvin’s pinched face melted into an expression filled with compassion, even as a hardness stayed firmly in place. “You gave up almost everything for Stella. Did whatever you could to help keep her life on track. She’s the one who screwed that up. Not you.”

A lump lodged in her throat. “My head knows you’re right. But I’ll never get a chance to be her friend again, to see her happy and laughing. Finally free of all the demons that refused to let her go…I just?—"

The front door swung open and interrupted the conversation.

“Hello! We’re home.” Mrs. Franklin’s jolly voice rang inside the house, followed by an excited squeal.

“My babysitter and son,” she told Calvin. “We’ll need to finish this away from tiny ears. He’s not even two yet, but I don’t want him to be around any talk about Stella.”

Calvin stood and slipped his phone into the front pocket of his jeans. “Okay. I’ll get started.”

“Will you let me know if you find anything?”

“Sure.”

“Mama!” Oliver toddled into the kitchen with his arms stretched high and drool pooled at the corner of his mouth. “Uppy!”

She scooped him into her arms and held him tight, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo that never went away. She kissed his chubby cheek as joy coated the fear refusing to let her go. When she was with Oliver, he was her main focus. She’d need to figure out how to ignore all the turmoil boiling in her gut.

Calvin started for the front door, facing her before reaching for the handle, his eyes wide and lips downturned. His gaze flitted to Oliver for a second before he nodded at Mrs. Franklin and disappeared outside.

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