Page 76 of In Hiding

“And you’ll be close enough to get to her fast,” Magnus added. “As soon as we get word of Mitchell’s parole, we’ll set up a rotating shift to keep watch. Jake’s not on his own. Nor are you or your sister.”

Emotion clogged his throat. Thinking these strangers would go to such lengths to help him left him speechless.

“There is one catch, Erik.”

There always is.

He turned in his seat to face Magnus. “Which is?”

“You,” he pointed a finger, “don’t lay a hand on Mitchell. Protect Sarah, yes. Protect her son, yes. Beyond that?” He shook his head. “You leave Mitchell to us. Think you can manage that?”

~

Standing in the kitchen, Sarah stared through the windows to the vista below. Rain fell in sweeping sheets, turning snow to slush and earth to mud. Over the last few days, it had snowed on and off, though there was more rain than anything. The temperature barely climbed above freezing during the days and plummeted through the nights. For a brief moment, the sun poked through the clouds and shone a ray of light over the gloomy afternoon.

Beside her, Jake finished drying the dishes. From this angle, she couldn’t see the scar her ex-husband had given him, though since he’d begun growing his beard, it was partially hidden no matter which way she looked at it.

“You miss him, don’t you?”

A lazy smile crossed his face as he dried a pot with a tea towel. With his hair unkempt and uncut, this new rugged look suited him. It gave him an edge she found appealing, or perhaps her attraction to him left her vulnerable to his charms regardless of his appearance.

“It’s like you said,” Jake said absently, “he’s a good kid.”

The bond between he and William surprised her almost as much as it pleased her. “It’s just a few more days until he’s home and then you two boys can catch up.”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Boys?”

Sarah shrugged and sipped her tea. The hot liquid warmed her from the inside-out. “Am I wrong?”

Adorably, he blushed. “Not entirely.”

“You’ve been a good role model for him.”

He set the pot down and hung the damp tea towel on its rack. “I’m not sure about that, Sarah. I haven’t exactly been one of the good guys over the years.” And the expression on his face suggested he hated himself for it.

“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s never too late to start over.”

He spun, disbelief lighting his dark eyes. “I think I’ve been far too selfish to even consider it.”

“I can’t speak for who you were before, but for what it’s worth, the Jake I see is far from selfish.”

He opened his mouth to reply but the sound of a motor caught his attention. “You expecting someone?”

Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. “No.”

They made their way to the front door, Jake tucking her in behind him as he peered through the window beside the entrance. His muscles relaxed in an instant and he chuffed softly as he unbolted the door and pulled it open.

A gust of cold wind rattled through her as two women stepped up onto the veranda. She recognized one as the psychologist Stevie recommended for William, but the other woman’s identity eluded her.

“Kate?”

The tiny woman smiled. While Sarah was no pixie at five-nine, Kate seemed small by comparison. She grinned and tucked a wayward strand of blond hair behind her ear.

“I hope we’re not disturbing?”

Stepping to the side, Sarah welcomed them in. “Can I offer you both coffee or tea?”

They shared a glance before accepting her offer.

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