Page 51 of Waitress at the Shadow Ridge Inn
“Seriously? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I didn’t want to jinx it.”
“Anyone I know?”
“Maybe,” she hedged.
An awkward silence descended while I waited for her to say more. She didn’t. I guessed she was still worried about jinxing things, but that in itself seemed like a red flag.
I bit my tongue to keep from saying so and instead said, “I’m thinking of trying that hypnotherapy that my psychiatrist recommended too.”
“Oh, Case, why? Aren’t you afraid that dredging up the past will throw you back into a bad place? I remember what it was like for you. The nightmares. The paranoia. Maybe you’re notsupposedto remember.”
“Maybe,” I agreed, wishing she were a bit more supportive. “But I’m still having nightmares, only now, I’m seeing a little more with each one.”
“A face? A name?”
“Not yet, but I’m close, Ang—I can feel it. It’s like the answers are right there, just out of reach. I think I might finally be ready to deal with what happened that night, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to identify my attacker and get him put away for good. Anyway, I haven’t made up my mind about the hypnotherapy yet. I might try something here first.”
“Like what?”
“Remember I told you about that psychic I work with?”
She scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”
“I know; it sounds crazy. But apparently, she’s the real deal. And something weird happened. Something that makes me think she might be able to see what happened that night even if I can’t.”
For the second time that day, I relayed the story of the incident in the kitchen.
“I honestly don’t know how to respond to that.”
“You don’t have to. I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”
She sighed heavily. “Fair enough. So, when are you coming?”
“Not for another two weeks. I’ve got to make some calls to the lawyers handling my family’s estate so they can get everything ready, and I need to talk to the owners here when I go in for my shift tonight. They’ve been good to me, so I don’t want to leave them in a lurch.”
Another sigh. “All right. Sounds like you’ve made up your mind. What do you need from me?”
“Nothing. I just wanted you to know. Maybe we can get together when I get there. Have some dinner, catch up.”
“Is your man coming with you? Do I get to meet Mr. Perfect?”
“I don’t know. He’s offered, but I’m not sure I want to drag him into my hot mess until I’ve got a better handle on things.”
“Only you could call claiming your inheritance a hot mess.”
I couldn’t see her, but I imagined her rolling her eyes.
“It’s more than that, and you know it. What if my stalker realizes I’m there?”
“How would he know that?”
“I don’t know,” I said irritably. “How did he know anything about me?”
“Good point,” Angie agreed. “Your man can protect you.”
“He is the protective type,” I admitted. “I think he’s going to do what he can to convince me to bring him along.”
