Page 79 of Rescued Dreams
“I wish I knew who it was. The woman with the hat.”
Ridge frowned. “What woman?”
“In the bank. She had a hat on so no one could see her face,” Amelia said. “The cops said they were going to talk to the teller tomorrow, but I won’t be holding my breath for what they come up with.”
Ridge touched her cheek. “It’s going to work out. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He had an odd thought that might distract her. “I saw a hat tonight as well. At the callout. Must’ve been fifteen people we took down the ladder out of that blaze. Every time I went back up, I saw it on the hallway floor. This huge straw thing with a black band around it.” He shook his head. “That was random, but I saw it so many times.”
Amelia frowned. “That sounds like the hat in the bank surveillance video.”
“Okay, but it’s just coincidence, right? It isn’t like it’s the same hat.”
Amelia took her mug from the counter. “I have no idea what it is, but with my history, it’s more likely that this turns out to be the thing that proves I’m the one who set the fire you fought tonight. So it isn’t like I’m going to ignore something like that.”
“Forget I mentioned it.” Ridge lifted his hands. “Let Kane and the police work the case. Just focus on getting better, okay?”
“When someone is most likely going to show up tomorrow and tell everyone that I’m so stressed out by being injured that I set that fire because I’m an arsonist? Sure, that’ll help me rest easy.” She blew out a breath.
His phone ringing cut off anything either one was about to say next. She didn’t know what she’d have said anyway.
Ridge frowned at the screen of his phone. “Hey, Mom?—”
He was cut off by the caller, who had a deep voice. So loud that Amelia could probably hear it.Did you get her to tell you where that money is yet?
Amelia flinched. She stared at Ridge.
His cheeks heated. “Don’t call me unless it’s because you’ve decided to set up a college fund for the twins.” He hung up.
The girls looked over from the couch.
He set his phone on the counter beside him. “That was my stepdad. He doesn’t?—”
“You think I’d believe you’re actually after the money and nothing else?”
“Maybe not, but?—”
“Listen, I’m glad we came. It’s just that nothing in my life ever goes smoothly. I’m glad you think it will all work out fine. But why would I believe that when it never has for me?”
“Amelia—”
“Thanks for talking to me. It means a lot.” She squeezed his arm. “But I’m going to drink this and then go with the girls. Right now I want to be at your house, where I can pretend none of this exists and I’m just a normal person no one is targeting with an elaborate plan to destroy my entire life.” She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, then wandered off.
Leaving Ridge standing there wondering what had just happened.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Amelia climbed out of her car just after nine, when the bank would be open. She had a few hours until she was supposed to meet Meg at the Bridgewater Café for lunch. The twins were safely at school. Ridge’s shift lasted until six tonight, and she didn’t know where Maria and Kane were. It didn’t matter. She had business to take care of.
She was still off-kilter from hearing his stepdad on the phone the night before. Plus not wanting to help the cops with anything if they weren’t going to trust that she wasn’t a criminal.
It was like her last few years being a firefighter meant nothing.
Dark clouds hung in the sky, giving the busy street an ominous feeling—which was of course ridiculous, since the weather didn’t have feelings. Just an association that came with the dim light, the cool temperature, and the breeze that sent strands of her hair across her face.
She slid her wallet into her jacket pocket and her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. For a second, her mind flashed back to the night before. Ridge had walked her to her car. Even after she’d made her point about people never believing her, he’d walked her to her car.
The twins had gone with Kane and Maria, so Amelia had used the drive to think in private. Kane didn’t leave until she did, following her the whole way. Which meant the twins saw Ridge kiss her.
She knew he’d done it on purpose and because he wanted to. Staking his claim in front of anyone watching, making it clear they were…together? She wasn’t sure about that, since they hadn’t officially even been on a date.
