Page 70 of Run with Me

I was sittingon a wooden chair. The platform underneath me swayed over the river. It had been two weeks since we’d left Pace and came to settle somewhere in the swamps of Louisiana. I didn’t even know which part of Louisiana we were in because I’d slept most of the way here and hadn’t ventured anywhere outside the confines of our rented cottage. When I saw Jack and Mary waiting for us, holding both Cameron and Hope in their arms, my knees gave in. The thought of never seeing them again still gave me nightmares at night. We had all stayed at this little home ever since our return, but according to Xavier, this was not our last stop, and when we moved again, Jack and Mary couldn’t know where we’d move to. They were making similar arrangements in New York. Today our ties would be cut, for everyone’s safety. Anyone connected to me or Xavier was now in danger.

“Hey, what are you doing up so early?” Mary joined me in the chair next to mine. It wasn’t easy with her swollen belly. The baby was due in less than three months, and she was beginning to waddle like a duck again.

“Hope woke up. I gave her the bottle and she went back to sleep, but I couldn’t.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Grateful and indebted.”

“We are the ones who will be indebted to you for the rest of our lives. Cameron is doing so well.” A tear glistened in the corner of her eye, and she wiped itaway.

“I’m happy to hear that something good came out of my visit.”

“Hey, don’t sell yourself short! And keep your heart open. You deserve happiness just like everyone elsedoes.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Mary. For everything. Is the baby active?” I asked.

“Heis.”

“He?”

“I’m guessing that Cameron will have a brother.”

I sighed. It was more difficult to not think about my friends leaving today than I expected.

“What is it, Anna?”

“I wish this didn’t have to be a goodbye.”

“It’s not a goodbye. It’s a ‘see you later,’ and it’s for the best, sweetheart. I have a feeling that Xavier and Jack will both keep tabs on our families, but the less we know about it, the safer we’llbe.”

A gentle breeze swept across the river, rippling the water. We sat on the dock in silence, avoiding the time that was drawing closer to say our goodbyes, although we’d agreed we wouldn’t call it that. We’d agreed on a ‘see you later,’ the way John suggested.

“I didn’t tell John about Hope. It didn’t feel entirely right, but if I had… I just didn’t want him to question his faith and leave everything he’d worked so hard for, behind. He’ll be a good priest. He’ll be exactly what Pace needs when the Cortez family leaves.”

“You have good instincts, Anna. I don’t blame you for keeping this little one a secret. You shouldn’t feel bad. You’re protecting your child.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Hey, don’t be so sad. Think of this as a new beginning. And you have a wonderful man at yourside.”

I felt my cheeks heat and my heart flutter.

“You do like Xavier, don’t you?” she asked. “Because I think he’s head over heels in love withyou.”

I remembered his words back in Pace, when he’d asked me to run with him, at the same time promising to love me forever.

“I think my feelings for Xavier are a bit stronger than just liking him. I think they’ve been that way for a while, I was just afraid to admitthem.”

“I knew it!” Mary smiled. “You’re in love with him as well. It doesn’t surprise me. Your heart has been through so much. You’ve been guarding it for a long time, but you need to open it up, Anna. You need to let him love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

Could I find true happiness with Xavier, the way Mary said I could? I hoped so. I had that delightful feeling in my stomach when I thought about Xavier that way. It wasn’t butterflies and it wasn’t a stampede of bulls, but it felt wonderful and right. It felt special.

“Thank you for taking care ofHope.”

“It’s the least we coulddo.”

We heard footsteps along the platform and both turned. Jack came with two steaming cups of tea in his hands and handed one to each ofus.

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