Page 130 of Love on the Run

“Brittany. What are you doing here?” Anna asked, mustering every ounce of care and concern she’d been holding onto for weeks.

Shivering, Brittany just stared at her feet. She had to be freezing.

Anna unlocked the door and ushered Brittany inside. “Let’s get you warmed up.”

After taking her coat and leading Brittany to the couch, Anna made them all some hot tea while Beau started the fire.

While she prepared the kettle, Anna silently prayed for guidance and discernment. She couldn’t help Brittany if she didn’t want to open up about what she needed.

When Anna returned with mugs of hot tea, Brittany continued to stare into the fire. Beau sat in the recliner, but he remained on the edgeof the seat.

Anna gently handed Brittany the tea. “Here. This should warm you up. How long have you been waiting?”

Brittany broke her trance and looked up at Anna. “A few hours.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have come sooner.”

Brittany inhaled a shaky breath. “I don’t know. I—I don’t know why I’m here.”

Anna sat beside Brittany on the couch. Resting a hand on Brittany’s shoulder, she whispered, “It’s okay. Maybe we can figure that out together.”

Brittany took a few more stuttering breaths, but they didn’t even out. Instead, the shaking grew worse until her entire body convulsed. “I’m just…lost.”

The tears came immediately, and Anna wrapped her arms around her friend. The emotions she’d been hiding for months broke free in gut-wrenching sobs.

Anna caught sight of Beau over Brittany’s head. His head was bowed and his eyes were closed. Was he praying? Probably. He didn’t have much experience with emotions, and if she knew Beau, he was asking for guidance in a situation he wasn’t equipped to handle.

“I…I should just quit. I should just end it all, and this pain would go away,” Brittany said, loud and sorrowful through her tears.

Anna tightened her hold. “No. Listen to me. We can do this together. I can’t promise to have all the answers, but I know someone who does.”

Brittany’s eyes widened. “Really? Who?”

“God. Our Heavenly Father. He’s the only one who knows us inside and out. He knows your struggles, and I believe He led you here for help. Let me try my best.”

Brittany shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand. I want to,” Anna begged.

Brittany’s chin quivered as she tried to gather the courage to speak. “You’ll hate me.”

“I can promise you that I won’t hate you,” Anna swore.

Sniffing, Brittany grabbed a tissue from a box on the end table. “I went to your wedding.”

The wedding that never actually happened. It wasn’t Anna’s wedding because she never married Dean. Her life had changed so much since then. Everything had fallen into place just as it was meant to—hard times and all.

“I invited you, but you never said you were coming. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there. When I heard about what Dean did, I just…ran.”

“I didn’t see you either, but I met your mother.”

No. Anna’s mom had been on a rampage that day. Olivia and Everly said Catherine screamed at everyone in her path after Anna left.

“What did she say?” Anna asked.

“I introduced myself because I was looking for you. She was furious with you for not staying, but when she found out I was your friend, she offered me a lot of money to…find you.”

The hit stung. Anna knew her mom was mad at her, but hiring someone—a friend—to spy on her was a breach of privacy. She’d needed space, but her mother wouldn’t allow it. Her mom had to have Anna under her control at all times.

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