Page 34 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

“There’s a look I haven’t seen in a while,” Sally said from her spot on the recliner. Her sparkly cane leaned against the seat and a knowing smile lifted her lips, creating more wrinkles around her mouth.

Clearing the awkwardness from her throat, Clara shifted on the couch. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’m sure you don’t dear, but that doesn’t matter now anyway. How are you holding up?”

She blew out a long breath, debating how to answer. Heath’s mom seemed like a straight shooter. No need for her to pretend like everything was roses and sunshine. If it was, she wouldn’t be here. “Overwhelmed. Appreciative. Terrified. Worried I’ve damaged my children for life. Wondering how I keep ending up running from a man who I thought loved me but now seems hellbent on destroying me.” Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes, and she dashed them away. “I’m sorry. You don’t need me to dump all my troubles on your lap.”

“Honey, I’d love nothing more. When Heath asked me about you and your family staying here, I wanted to help for multiple reasons. Giving you a safe place to weather your current storm is only one of them.”

Clara thought back to what Heath had said about his mother. “Did someone give you a safe place when you needed it?”

Sally shook her head. “I was never that lucky. But I got out, with a little boy of my own, and built a wonderful life for us both. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve been overwhelmed. Appreciative. Terrified. Worried I’ve damaged my child for life.”

Clara couldn’t help but smile as her words were tossed back at her.

“When I moved here, I found my village. My people. My community. But most importantly, I found myself. My freedom to discover who I was, to make mistakes and live my life the way I wanted it. Sparkly canes and all. And that child of mine, I think he turned out pretty well.”

“I’d say more than pretty well.” Clara ran the pad of her finger against the mug’s rim as all the ways Heath had shown up for her filled her mind—warmed her heart. “He’s a good man. He’s kind and thoughtful and takes the job of protecting his town very seriously. I’m lucky he cares enough to take me and my kids under that protective wing and make sure we’re safe.”

“Do you really think that all he’s done for you is because he’s doing his job?”

Not knowing how to answer, she shrugged. She wanted to believe his actions were more but also wasn’t sure it was safe to believe that. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to open herself to a possibility that there could be more between the two of them.

“Do you know how many people he’s shared his past with?”

She shook her head.

“Zero.”

Her jaw dropped. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“He’s never opened up to anyone about what brought us to Water’s Edge,” Sally continued. “He’s always claimed it was no one’s business. That it was better to lock the past in the past, to leave it alone so it couldn’t hurt him anymore. I think he just has never found anyone to trust. There’s never been anyone he’s cared enough about to lower his guard. He’s done a lot for you, and something tells me that he’s not finished, but you’ve done something for him too. And my mama’s heart will be forever grateful to you for that.”

She opened her mouth, hoping some kind of words would pop out, when the front door opened and Heath stepped inside.

“Sorry that took so long,” he said, a large duffle flung over his shoulder.

Her mouth went dry. If he’d looked good in a deputy’s uniform, she hadn’t been prepared for him in fitted blue jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt that emphasized every muscle in his chest and arms. His beard was trimmed and hair slightly tousled like he’d quickly ran his hands through it before running out the door.

“Tommy drove by a few times and made sure everything was all right.” He stopped and stared at what the kid’s had accomplished while he’d been gone. “Oh wow, look at the tree.”

“I think it’s the best it’s looked in years,” Sally said. She pushed against the arms of her chair to get to her feet. “Hungry? Mila made lunch for the kids before she took off. If I know her, I bet there’s plenty waiting for the rest of us. I believe she said something about grilled cheese.”

Heath hurried across the room to steady his mom and handed her the cane. “Sounds delicious. What do you think Clara? Going to join us?”

The question stirred something deep inside of her. A feeling she hadn’t experienced in far too long, and one she didn’t want to ignore. Smiling, she rose to her feet. “I’d love to.”

* * *

Setting the picture book aside,Heath stood and smiled down at Avery and Davey snuggled in the bed. “All right, munchkins. Time for sleep.”

“One more story,” Davey said, the words muffled around a large yawn.

“Yeah. More.” Avery joined in, adding her big eyes and pouty lips to the request.

His resolve to read only one story crumbled quicker than the crackers that were now ground into his mother’s couch. “I’m not sure if we have any more books.”

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