Page 39 of Anything For This Love

A part of me wonders if she’s just trying to stay close to me. I can sense her attraction. It’s in the way she smiles and low-key flirts with me but no other guy in the office. The way she watches me when she thinks I don’t notice. But she knows I’m with Abby. She knows we have a child together. They’re not going anywhere, so why is she nurturing this crush? I certainly haven’t encouraged it. I’ll be glad when I can turn her loose and get some distance between us.

Chapter Fifteen

Abby

The mountains are blanketedin a heavy dusting of white, powdery snow, the type that’s perfect for building a snowman. I bundle Chloe up in warm clothes and cover them with a light purple snowsuit. She waddles to the door, her limbs stiff, unable to rest her arms completely at her sides, and steps into her boots. A knitted pink hat rests atop her head, her ears covered by flaps that tie beneath her chin. A little pompom made of yarn bounces on her crown as she jumps around in excitement. I can’t say I’m thrilled about going out in the cold and snow, but I can’t wait to watch Chloe frolic around, pretending to be an ice princess.

Thankfully we didn’t get more than a few inches of snowfall overnight so she can still walk in it. She scoops snow into her mittened hands and tries to form it into a ball. I crouch down, careful not to let my denim covered knee touch the damp earth and help her form snowballs.

A cold chill suddenly prickles the back of my neck and tingles all the way down my spine as an odd sensation overcomes me, as though I’m being watched. It’s just like the night at the restaurant where that creep was snapping pictures of Jacob and me. I’ve had this feeling several times over the last few months, most recently on a quick trip to town. I was walking out of the grocery store when it hit me. Unlike the night at Dante’s, I didn’t see anybody when I looked around. I’m almost afraid to look this time, scared of what I’ll discover.

Another tremor courses through me as I recall the last person who made me feel that way. It’s been more than two years, but the fear and trauma still paralyze me, stealing my breath for a moment. I suffered crippling panic attacks for more than a year after I was almost kidnapped by Caleb, a guy I used to work with. They finally started to subside when Chloe was six months old, but I’ve noticed those feelings creeping back in lately.

I close my eyes and take a few deep, calming breaths. Perhaps it’s my imagination running wild. Maybe I’m just tense. Between the reporters at the gala, meeting Jacob’s insanely gorgeous new coworker, running into his mother, and his father deciding to join the presidential primaries, I’ve been a bit on edge.

After several seconds, I finally stand and look around. The feeling is gone, and I don’t see anybody. Our house is partially obscured by trees but if someone was positioned in just the right spot, they’d have a clear view of the front yard where Chloe and I are playing. I chalk the uneasy feeling up to my nerves and try to enjoy this time spent with my daughter.

With flushed cheeks and chattering teeth, I finally coax Chloe back inside. She was having so much fun, I thought I’d have to drag her back in the house kicking and screaming, but with a little persuasion and promises of hot chocolate, she finally agrees to call it a day.

My phone rings as I’m preparing her lunch and Ethan’s name flashes across the screen. He had an appointment with his surgeon today, so I quickly answer his call, eager for an update.

We exchange greetings and jump straight to business. “What did the doctor say?”

“My leg is healing up good. Should be able to start physical therapy soon.”

I release the breath I’ve been holding. “That’s great news! Did Tiff take you to your appointment?”

He’s silent for a moment and I wonder if the connection was lost. “Nah, she’s back in Nashville,” he finally answers.

“Oh, I didn’t realize she’d gone back.”

“She had a job for some event,” he adds absently.

Tiff is becoming a popular makeup artist and her client list is growing by the day. She’s even been doing makeup for a few country singers and bands. That’s how she and Ethan reconnected after they’d both been in the city for a few months.

“Well, who drove you, then? You better not have driven yourself!” I scold.

Ethan sighs heavily. “It’s myleftleg that’s broken. I don’t even use that one to drive.”

“But the doctor said-”

“Chill, Abby,” he interrupts. “I didn’t drive.” I can practically hear him rolling his eyes. “Enisi drove me,” he says, his voice laced with hesitation, “and, um, Mom.”

Surprise washes over me and I nearly spill the milk I’m pouring into Chloe’s cup.

“Oh. How did that go?”

“It was fine,” he answers blandly, not giving anything away. His anger towards our mother has rivaled my own since she left, so this is a huge step for him. I don’t want to push too much, but I want to make sure he’s okay, that seeing her again wasn’t too hard on him.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, we talked. I said my peace. She knows how I feel. She apologized. I guess we’ll see if she sticks around.” He seems unaffected, but I know it’s an act. He’s not holding his breath, believing she’ll stay. She’s disappointed us both too many times. He won’t be getting his hopes up, thinking we’ll all be one big, happy family.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” I agree.

Jacob’sdaily call comes in just after dinner. His father plans on making his big announcement tomorrow, so he’s been spending a lot of time with his family making preparations. I know I have no say in what he does, but I hope Arthur’s announcement doesn’t bring any more attention to Chloe or me. It’s selfish to want him to put off running, but if the media is already interested in who Jacob is seeing now, they’ll be like bloodhounds who’ve just caught the scent of something they can’t resist hunting. I don’t want that kind of attention for my family. I want to stay as far out of the spotlight as possible, and I certainly don’t want the public learning about everything that’s happened between us and the destruction Evelyn’s lies caused. That would ruin their family’s reputation. Arthur, Jacob, and Logan don’t deserve to be punished for what she did.

“I requested a few days off work before Christmas so I can come in early,” Jacob announces, drawing my attention back to him.

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