Page 87 of Look for Me

“You remembered our conversation on the beach.” She stepped away, walking toward the sunlight.

“Liam is fine,” Martin said. “Pete said he’d text you.”

She stopped. “Sorry I had to leave Key Largo abruptly. I couldn’t tell anyone anything, not even you.”

“I still don’t know how you did it. You disappeared.”

“The sun was in your eyes.”

“More than that.”

Corinne shrugged. “I followed a family leaving the beach. Long lost aunt or something. They didn’t care. We were going up the same stairs anyway.”

“So that’s how you got away. I couldn’t find you.” Martin took the opportunity to ask more questions. “Where did you go? Where have you been for fifteen months?”

“They put us in a safe house. I was sworn to secrecy regarding the location. No phone calls. No internet.”

It was enough for Martin. “What did you do the entire time?”

“It was hard at first but I helped in their preschool.”

“There were other families there?”

“I can’t say more. I don’t want to put other people in danger. One thing I can tell you is that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed teaching those little kids.”

“I sense a new career path?”

Corinne nodded. “They gave me some reward money so I’m going to graduate school and get a teaching degree.”

Martin didn’t ask who they were. “Where?”

“Miami.”

Miami. So far away.

“I have to get my GRE first, and then I’ll apply for admission,” Corinne continued. “Maybe for the fall semester.”

“August?”

“Yeah. That will give me time to move to Miami and get settled in.”

Martin didn’t want to ask who was going to take care of her kids while she was in school. Corinne was independent enough to figure that out. She had to do what was needed to work and support her children.

“If you must know, Angelina has offered to watch the kids for me when I’m in class,” Corinne said. “But it won’t be until next year.”

“I guess you heard that they’re homesick for Key Largo.”

“Thank you for finding them work.”

“Only Pete. Angelina works elsewhere.”

“I know, but Angelina said you put in a good word for her at Delilah’s Landing.”

“Jacobs Landing with no apostrophe.”

Corinne giggled.

“Grad school, huh?” Martin tried to wrap his mind around it.

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