Page 48 of Behind the Cascades
While Charlie hovers over Zeke and Elise, counting the eggs, I walk over to stand by Dan and Luke.
“That was awesome. Brought back some of the good training memories. The ones that weren’t so serious and more about team bonding than anything else.”
Dan laughs and hands me a beer. "Yeah, Pop has always gone all out. It's good training for the team and they still get to have fun. I can't believe how many you two found, though."
"Have you met Charlie? Once she loses at something, she's determined for the next round."
"Learned that during a lively game of Uno. Thought she was going to kick my ass when I put down a 'draw 4.’"
I chuckle back. "Been there before."
"How's she holding up since the release?"
“Better than me. I’m seeing shadows everywhere I look." I don't normally vent to people I've only known for a short amount of time. However, Dan is one of those guys who's easy to talk to.
He takes a sip of his beer and then asks, "You worried he’s going to come all the way out here?"
"I don’t know. I want to say no. It seems crazy to think that he’d try to get across the country. But…”
“But it’s crazy to think that she had a stalker to begin with.”
“Exactly. My gut is telling me this isn't over.”
Dan nods and sighs, "Mine too. I called Detective Paul after you gave me his number at the Winter Festival. He thinks Carter is smarmy and arrogant, and his gut is telling him the same thing as ours. Carter’s still obsessed with Charlie. Guy got a sleeve of white roses tattooed on him in prison.”
"Fuck." I scrub my hand down my face.
He claps me on the shoulder. "I'm glad she has you. I was worried, based on your history, but I can tell you're one of the good ones."
"Thanks, Dan. Feel the same about you. All of you, really. I'll always be thankful that this town hid my girl so well. But I'll forever be indebted toyoufor sending her to Liv. Without her, I don't think she would've stayed and flourished the way she did."
"Those two are kindred spirits. They both helped each other in a way that you and I couldn't."
I nodded in response. The two of them are inseparable. They work together every day, hang out on weekends, and text when they aren’t together. They act like they’ve known each other their entire lives—sisters more than friends.
I know Drew holds some resentment toward them for hiding her, but I don’t look at it that way. They did what weshould have—took care of her and supported her during a time she felt scared and abandoned. If it ever came down to it, I'd do everything in my power to repay both Dan and Olivia for all they’ve done for Charlie.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Charlie
Friday, August 30.
Olivia and I have been working non-stop all day. She’s been on the phone, handling one crisis after another, while I try to keep up with our normal workload. Both of us ended up eating lunch at our desk, working straight through it. Fridays can be a mess sometimes. Everyone knows our office is closed on the weekends and decides to call with whatever issue they think can’t wait until Monday.
I try not to laugh as she animatedly talks to Jared, who owns the landscape company we use. She’s been trying to convince him to switch their route so that our tenant, Mrs. Lentfer, doesn’t have her meditation interrupted anymore. Mrs. Lentfer calls every Friday, like clockwork, complaining about the noise. It’s exhausting to listen to, and finally, Olivia couldn’t deal anymore and decided to beg Jared to switch her timeframe.
She hangs up the phone and flops back in her chair. “All the tenants do is bitch. Every one of them has a problem.”
I chuckle back. “That’s why you get paid the big bucks.”
She sighs. “Fine. You’re right. Want to ride with me to Maisie’s? I need some caffeine to survive this afternoon crash.”
“Absolutely. Everything still super weird with all that?”
“Yup. I’m going to keep trying, though. Let her know my friendship is still there when she’s ready.”
The drive to Maisie’s coffee hut isn’t far, but it is on the other side of town. Olivia pulls in behind a line that is three cars deep. When we are next in line, I look up to see a giant bouquet of white roses on the ledge of the window.
