Page 51 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
“There it is,” said Rick. “Your mother handed you to them on a silver platter.”
“I didn’t hand Addy to anyone,” Marilyn said. “I got her a free car wash.”
“Mom, they cut my brakes!” Addy said. “Did you tell them where I was staying, too? What else do they know?”
“I just – they didn’t do this, I’ll have you know.”
“What did you say, Mom?” Sheila said sternly.
“I told them her car was outside the tea shop and they should have no trouble finding it.”
Addy let out a breath. At least they didn’t know where she lived. Maybe.
But were they still around? Watching her? She sat up, glancing around the tearoom.
Eliza walked in at that moment, her jaw dropping. “I’m sorry. I was on the phone, but I heard everything. I can’t believe those guys cut your brakes!”
Patty swooped in. “I didn’t see any suspicious men around, but when I do…” She slammed her hand on the table. The teacup jumped and clattered back into place.
Addy stood. “I think I need to get some air. Excuse me.”
She brushed past Rick and through the back door to the patio. The picnic table sat empty. She wouldn’t be able to work there anymore, would she? With the fear of goons looming over her? She’d have to run back to Canada, her tail between her legs…
She took long strides down to the water. When she got there, Rick was two steps behind her.
“I’m sorry about exploding like that,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me,” Addy said, turning to face him. She clutched her shoulder. “I knew what I did was wrong. I was being defensive.”
He sighed. “I knew I shouldn’t have left.”
“No, it’s not your fault.” She shook her head. “I just…I got it in my head that I needed to figure this out. I needed to prove something.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, Addy.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t a washed-up middle-aged divorcée. She wasn’t going to get into that now. “I can’t believe they found me. And they wanted to…”
She couldn’t say the words. She should’ve listened to Rick. Addy had no idea what she was doing after all.
“I know.” He shook his head. “I’m going to find them.”
“I was supposed to be in danger from some random group in Canada, yet here I am, stirring up my own trouble like an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot,” Rick said gently. “You’re just trying to help your insufferable mother.”
Addy laughed. “Hey.”
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe what she did. The danger she put you in.”
“She was trying to be helpful, I guess.” Addy looked at her feet. The water lapped at the tip of her shoes.
If it were a little warmer, she’d go for a swim. Maybe she still would.
Rick cleared his throat and she looked up at him.
“About what I said. About losing you.”
Her chest constricted. She had heard that right. “Have you lost someone before? As a bodyguard?”
