Page 4 of A Secret Escape

Usually the only emotion she felt before seeing Nicole was excitement, but tonight her stomach churned with an uncomfortable mix of hurt and resentment.

Where had Nicole been when Milly had needed her?

She was upset and a little bit angry but, most of all, deeply disappointed that their friendship had fallen short of what she’d believed it to be. Never before had she felt the need to protect herself in the friendship, but she did now. And it made her feel lonely.

Not lonely for company, because she had plenty of that, but lonely for that one person she could say anything to in the knowledge she’d be understood and not judged. Someone who knew what she was feeling without Milly having to spell it out.

The train slowed down and stopped, and Milly peered into the dimly lit station, but there were only two people visible. One was a man in his fifties, who immediately strode toward the parked car that Milly had noticed earlier, and the other was a woman of significantly advanced years wearing a coat that had seen better days and a hat that concealed most of her white hair. She was dragging a small suitcase and stooping badly, so bent over she was struggling to walk even with the help of a walking stick.

There was no sign of Nicole, which was confusing because it had been Nicole who had insisted Milly be poised for a quick getaway.

A quick getaway. Was that even possible in a small family hatchback? Milly hadn’t been in the mood for drama.We’re not in a movie now, Nicole.

And Nicole’s response to her.You have no idea what my life is like.

Milly couldn’t argue with that.

She had no idea what it was like to be one of the most in-demand actors of her generation, commanding millions for each movie.And as if acting talent and looks (voted Most Beautiful Woman two years running) wasn’t enough, Nicole’s last blockbuster had required her to sing, and she’d stunned the world with her voice.

Milly sighed.

The last thing you should do when your life was a total mess was to spend time with someone whose life was perfect.

She glanced at the train again. Still no Nicole, and no sign of anyone else leaving the train. Maybe she was hiding in a dark corner, waiting for these other people to leave before emerging. Or maybe she’d changed her mind.

The old woman teetered slightly, almost losing her balance, and Milly shot out of the car, concern for the woman’s safety overriding her promise to keep a low profile.

“Can I help you?” She put a hand on the woman’s arm. “It’s very late. Is someone meeting you?”

The woman lifted her head and looked directly at Milly and Milly stared into those unmistakable eyes and thoughtI really am a fool.

“You have to be kidding me. N—”

“Shh. Not until we’re in the car.”

Milly would have been impressed if she hadn’t been so frustrated. Part of that frustration was directed at herself for being so easily duped. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, and there is no one around.”

“They’re always around.” Nicole slid her arm into Milly’s and adopted her stoop again. “Help me into the car.”

“Help you?”

How long was this charade supposed to continue?

But she wanted to get out of here as much as Nicole, so she dutifully put her arm around her friend and felt a flicker of shock as she registered how thin she was.

She guided her to the passenger side of the car, hoping no one was watching because she was pretty confident her acting abilities would fool no one.

Nicole handed her the walking stick and Milly tucked it into the back of the car along with the suitcase.

She took another quick glance around the station. “There is no one here.” She slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door. “You’re going to bake inside that coat. Why the heavy disguise? Have you robbed a bank in real life or something? If I’m harboring a criminal, I’d like to know.”

Nicole’s eyes were closed. “I just need a short window of time when no one knows where I am. Can we talk about it later? I’m really not—” her voice shook a little “—I’m not feeling too good. And I’m freezing. I need the coat.”

Freezing?

There was so much Milly had planned to say, but there was something about Nicole’s fragility that sucked all the heat out of her emotions. But then she remembered her assertiveness course.

Her feelings mattered too. This wasn’t only about Nicole.

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