Page 26 of Island Protector

“Bottom line, I was naive.”

“You were a kid,” Jess corrected her.

“A kid with grown-up issues.” She sat forward. “But I never heard anything about the case being resolved and I kept up with the news for a few months. Tommy was presumed dead, but I don’t think it was everconfirmed.”

Jess bent over her phone. “Sending that to the researchers. Go on.”

“Okay. Well.” She took a breath and spilled the rest. “Last night I started wondering if maybe because Tommy wasn’t found, that they blamed me for that too. Maybe they tracked me down expecting to find Tommy?—”

“And discovered Bryce instead,” Sharon finished.

“Stranger things have happened,” Lila murmured, exchanging a look with her grandmother.

“That doesn’t explain why they would try to take Bryce,” Nina pointed out.

“I don’t know.” Molly sank back in her chair. “Could be the concussion talking. They warned me it might be hard to think clearly over the next few days.” She’d been warned not to make any big decisions. So whenever she thought about taking Bryce and running away to a new city, she forced herself to stay put.

She was currently winning the battle, but she had no idea how long she could hold out. Her eyes caught Sharon’s and she leaned into the calm strength she saw there.

“The doctors specifically told you not to think,” Sharon said. “To let your mind rest and heal.”

“It’s tough,” Molly admitted. Especially when she was so scared about losing Bryce.

“I’m sure it is.” Sharon shifted her attention to the other women. “It kind of makes sense,” she said. “The Graingers are definitely a power couple in the Tampa area where Molly was raised. Where I was raised actually,” she explained. “The money goes back several generations. They aren’t used to hearing no. If something happened to their son, they would definitely pursue all avenues, estranged or not. And if the police were involved, I’m sure Molly’s name was mentioned somewhere along the way as an associate of Tommy’s.”

“Have you told the attorney all of this?” Roxy asked.

“He or she should definitely know,” Connie chimed in. “Might help them connect some loose dots.”

“I won’t hold back any details,” Molly assured the group. “To be clear, I didn’t do anything but date a bad actor. He never included me in his scams.”

“No one thinks otherwise,” Nina said.

Maybe no one in this room. The Graingers were another story. Fighting off another urge to run, she reminded herself that if they’d found her and Bryce here, they’d likely be able to find her again.

Better to face them now, with friends to help, than take them on alone. Grateful as she was for the incredible show of support and delicious food, she was more than ready to get home. Sharon promised to take care of Bryce, dinner, and anything else that came up. All Molly needed to do was rest and speak with her lawyer if he called.

Molly obeyed. Almost. She went to her room and stretched out on the bed. But she did set an alarm so she’d be up and awake when Bryce got home from school. She needed the rest, but she also needed to be up and around to reassure her little boy that she was fine.

When she woke up, Sharon was leaving her a note on the counter, next to another glass of water.

“I didn’t expect you up.”

Molly smiled. “I want Bryce to see me feeling better.”

“Are you?”

“A little.”

“Good. Lila said they’d bring over food in a bit.” She smiled. “Or Bryce and I can bring something home after we visit the marina if it’s been a good-behavior day.”

“Either way works.” Maybe it was best that she stayed here. Just thinking about getting back in a car made her queasy. “I just want life to be normal again.”

“It will be, sweetheart.” Sharon gave her a big hug. “Takeyour time with the attorney if he calls. Ask all the questions and cut it short if you need to. Your recovery must come first.”

“I don’t want to be a burden,” she blurted. “You’ve done so much and—” The vicious scowl on Sharon’s face stopped her. She’d never seen her aunt so angry. “Wh—what’s wrong?”

With obvious effort, Sharon’s frown eased. She reached out and smoothed Molly’s hair away from her face, mindful of the bandages and bruising. “It’s moments like this when I most want to strangle my brother and his wife. You haven’t been a burden a single day of your life. I was there when you were born, so I can say that with complete confidence.”

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