Page 136 of The Archer Brothers

After my email from Buzz, I decided that telling Ray could wait. When I changed my name I chose something so common that it’d be hard to trace. The money I put into the bank is cash that I mail in. Once a month I travel to the bigger city and mail it. If it’s being traced now, after six years, then so be it. But I will not strike fear in my husband’s life about someone that may or may not be coming to get me.

If I told Ray now, he’d worry and he’d fuss over me. I can’t have that. He’d want me to quit my job and I need to stay busy. My mind has to have something to do so I’m not constantly worrying, although despite my best endeavors, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

I feel like everyone who comes into the store is staring at me. The cracks are starting to show, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep my lies straight. Yesterday, before I went to work I had to remind myself what my name was, where I’m from, and that Chloe doesn’t have a biological father. They’re all lies that I’ve told people in town so that when someone does come looking for Penelope McCoy, people won’t know who they’re talking about.

“Are you going to put a coat on?” Ray asks, shaking me out of my thoughts.

I smile softly at him and grab my coat before following him outside. This afternoon we’re heading to the Village Green for the winter flea market, arts festival, and snow-sculpting contest. I’m not a big fan of the cold, but Chloe has fun at it and Ray has a duty to make appearances at the town gatherings.

“Mom, did you know they had to bring trucks of snow in for this?”

“Yes, I saw them yesterday dumping it all. Then the drivers came in for lunch.”

“One of these years I’m going to enter,” Ray says as I look at him sideways. He’s never sculpted anything in his life.

“Well I’m sure we’ll get plenty of snow this year for you to practice.” I pat his hand with mine as he navigates down the road. We don’t live very far from the Green and probably should’ve walked.

The Green is bustling with people, a lot of them I don’t recognize, which is a good thing. Tonight at the store, Laura is working and I told her if she needs me to let me know. I’ll happily step out of the cold and into the store for warmth. But she won’t call. I know she overheard Ray saying how much he was looking forward to tonight.

Ray parks and we get out linking hands as a family. There’s live music coming from the gazebo and a few people are dancing.

“Are there fireworks tonight?” Ray asks. I nod, remembering the flyer that hangs in the store stating as such.

As soon as we hit the Green, Chloe runs off to find her friends. My heart races, knowing she won’t be next to me, but I can’t let my fear get in the way of her having a healthy and fun relationship with her peers.

Ray pulls me through the crowd and onto the makeshift dance floor, spinning me around before setting us right into a dance. The band playing has a pretty good following and you can tell a lot of their fans are here, singing right along with the lead singer.

Once our dance is over, Ray takes me by the hand, still dancing as we move toward the front of the market area. Each booth we stop at turns into a chat session, and it takes us about twenty minutes before we’re moving on to the next.

“Oh taste this.” I hold up a cracker with maple honey mustard for Ray to take.

“Hmm, that’s good. We should buy some. Hey, I’m going to go check to the snow sculptures.” He kisses me quickly before running off to the other end of the Green. I nod, and turn my attention back to the stall.

“I’ll take a jar.” The lady behind the table isn’t local and has obviously traveled to town to sell her products. “You should ask Laura at the General Store if she’d like to sell this. I’m sure you could work something out. We have other Vermont made products in there.”

“Thanks, I’ll give her a call.” She hands me my bag just as I pay for my purchase. “Thanks, again.”

I wave and start toward the next tent.

“Hello, Penelope.”

I freeze at the sound of my name, a name I haven’t heard roll off anyone’s lips since I left California. I close my eyes and fight the impending tears before turning very slowly.

“I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong person.” I’m not very convincing with the infliction in my voice, but I do my best to hide anything that might give me away.

“I don’t, and you know it.” She flashes her badge, but it’s so fast I can’t tell who she is. As I look at her face, I find that she looks familiar and it dawns on me that I had seen this very same woman the day before.

“You were in the store yesterday. How do you know who I am?” I try to keep my voice low and not draw any attention to myself.

“We’ve met a few times, a long time ago.”

I quickly glance around to see if anyone is paying attention to us. Thankfully they’re not.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember, but you need to leave.”

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, you know I can’t. Let me show you my badge again.” She does and this time I look at the name. Cara Hughes. I rack my brain, digging up long buried memories.

“Nate’s girlfriend?” She nods as I cover my mouth and feel the first of what’s sure to be many tears falling.

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