Page 16 of In Her Fears
Mom’s smile was gentle now, tinged with sadness.“I’ll be okay, Jenna.I’m not the broken woman I was.And your happiness matters more to me than having you nearby.”
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Jenna said, trying to process her mother’s unexpected suggestion.“My life is here.My work is here.”
“Your sister was here,” Mom corrected softly.“And I understand why that keeps you bound to this place.But at some point, honey, you have to ask yourself if you’re staying for the right reasons.”
They had reached an impasse, staring at each other across a gulf of different perspectives, different priorities.Jenna recognized the concern in her mother’s eyes, the genuine wish for her happiness.But she couldn’t make her understand why leaving was impossible.
“Mom,” she said finally, “promise me you’ll call Zeke.Today, as soon as I’m gone.”
Mom hesitated, then nodded.“I will.I promise.”
“Good.”Jenna glanced at her watch.“I should get back to the station.”
They moved to the front door together, an awkward silence hanging between them.At the threshold, Jenna turned and pulled her mother into a tight hug.
“I love you,” she said.“Dad would be proud of how far you’ve come.”
Mom’s arms tightened around her.“I love you too.More than you know.”
Jenna pressed a kiss to her mother’s cheek, then stepped back.“Call me after you talk to Zeke, okay?”
“I will.”
The drive back toward the station felt longer somehow, the conversation with her mother weighing on her mind.The landscape of Trentville slid past her window—the hardware store where her father had bought supplies for weekend projects, the ice cream shop where she and Piper had celebrated every report card, the park where they’d practiced soccer until dusk drove them home.
Her phone rang, the sound startling in the quiet car.
“Sheriff Graves,” she answered, grateful for the distraction.
“Jenna, it’s Jake.”His voice was all business, though she detected the underlying warmth that seemed reserved just for her.“Got a situation over at Meyerson’s farm.Couple of his cattle got loose and wandered onto Route 16.Already got one fender-bender, no injuries, but we need to clear it up before something worse happens.”
“I’m on my way,” she replied, making a U-turn at the next intersection.
“How’s your mom?”
The simple question caught her off guard with its genuine concern.“She’s...dealing with some things.I’ll tell you later.”
“Copy that.”
As she headed toward Route 16, the images of Martin Holbrook’s body suddenly flashed in her mind—the dead eyes staring at nothing, the wooden stake protruding from his chest, the crude pentagram carved into the ancient oak tree.
Jenna pushed that thought aside as the flashing lights of Jake’s patrol car came into view ahead.Right now, there were loose cattle to round up and a road to clear.The darkness would wait for her, as it always did.
CHAPTER SIX
The full September moon hung impossibly large in the night sky, its silver light spilling across the modest backyard of the house Alexis Downey shared with Chloe Bennett.Alexis adjusted the moon filter on their telescope, the metal cool despite the lingering summer warmth that clung to Trentville even after sunset.The filter dimmed the moon’s overwhelming brightness, revealing the intricate pattern of craters and ancient lava flows that had fascinated her since childhood.Beside her, Chloe took a sip from her beer bottle.
“There’s something about a full moon that makes me feel so small,” Alexis said, stepping back from the telescope to let Chloe look.“In a good way, though.”
Chloe bent to peer through the eyepiece, her dark hair falling forward.“Wow.I always forget how detailed it looks up close.”She adjusted her position slightly.“Is that the Sea of Tranquility?”
“Mm-hmm.Where Apollo 11 landed.”
Alexis settled into one of the two lawn chairs they'd positioned on the patchy grass.Her beer sat on the small table between them, condensation rolling down the bottle and pooling at its base."Did I ever tell you my dad took me to see a moon rock when I was eight?Some traveling NASA exhibit.I was completely obsessed after that."
“Only about a dozen times,” Chloe replied with a laugh, straightening up.Her scrubs from her hospital shift had been exchanged for worn pajama shorts and a faded university t-shirt.“But I don’t mind.I like how your face lights up when you talk about space stuff.”
Alexis smiled, watching as Chloe lowered herself into the other chair with an exaggerated groan.“Rough day?”
