Page 70 of Unsealing Her Fate

All My Love,

-A

After clicking send, push myself up from the chair and pace back and forth across the small motel room.

“He landed and went straight to the bank.” I mutter to myself. “He said, ‘that much cash’ in the recording, so surely, he carried a bag into the bank.” I continue to pace, working through my thoughts. “He would’ve left with an empty bag, and a camera would have caught his entrance and exit. Or would seeing my name on the ledger have stopped him? If he didn’t put it in the safe deposit box, then he had the bag of money when he came in to confront me. Okay, assuming he put the money in the safety deposit box… Would he have paid the hitman by now, or is the money still there?” Sitting on the end of the bed, I press my palms to my temples. “Think, Andrea, think!”

I’m going to drive myself insane.

I flop back on the bed and close my eyes, running each scenario through my mind until my mind gives in to sleep.

When I wake up later, I don’t recognize my surroundings at all. Blinking the darkness away, I realize I’m in bed at the motel. I crashed trying to unravel Christopher’s web last night.

Glancing at the clock, I see the alarm is about to go off. It’s time to get up, anyway. As I drag myself to the bathroom for a quick shower, I think how odd it is that I wake up automatically at this wee hour now.

My morning routine is pretty much down at this point. After applying just a little makeup, I tie my hair up into a tight bun, slip into some jeans, a café t-shirt, my comfortable shoes, and boom I’m ready.

As I shrug my coat on, the Chromebook catches my eye as I give my room a once over. I don’t want to leave it on the table, so I grab it and slide it under the mattress on the opposite side from the door. Satisfied, I head out the door, ready for the day.

My mind is running as usual during my walk to work. I arrived in Fraser full of fear, with no idea what to expect here. I certainly didn’t expect to fall in love with this little town.

I grow a little sad as I remember back to the part of Addy’s email where she called Sacramento my home, saying I belong there. Part of me always believed that too, but I’m not so sure about that now. Fraser feels like home, a home I didn’t know I was missing until I landed here completely by accident.

Working at the café has become something I look forward to every day. Not just working with Charlie and Irene, but interacting with the customers, too.

A flash of Jack’s bright blue eyes pop into my head, and a smile spreads across my lips. I mentally chastise myself for thinking of him that way. He’s only a customer, and I’m in no situation to even be able to entertain anything. However, having a thought or two about the handsome stranger shouldn’t hurt.

The café isn’t far off, and I see Irene and Charlie standing with a third person. I pick up my pace, thinking something may be wrong. I squint in the darkness, trying to make out who it could be, but all I can see is the person’s back.

Panic kicks up my heart rate as I hurry to get close enough to make out the person’s features more. Relief slams into me when I realize it’s Jack. He sure is early this morning!

Inwardly groaning, I mentally chastise myself for thinking the worst.Calm down. Andrea. Christopher doesn’t know you’re here.

“Morning,” I say with a curious look.

“Good morning, Andi,” Jack says with a sleepy smile.

“You’re extra early today, aren’t you?” I ask him.

He nods in response but doesn’t elaborate further, piquing my interest even more.

Irene unlocks the door, letting us all into the café. The warmth is heavenly. She turns and points toward the door. “Lock that back for me, eh, Jack? Give us just a few minutes, and we’ll have your coffee ready.”

Without a word, Jack locks the door before taking a seat to wait. He’s usually a man of few words, but this is too quiet, even for him.

Charlie fires up the ovens, and I get the coffee on. I don’t want to make Jack wait any longer than necessary. Something is off, and it’s giving me a strange feeling I don’t particularly enjoy. While he’s fun to look at, I’d like to get him out of here as quickly as possible.

Charlie stops me as I head into the back to grab our usual ingredients. “I’ll get everything started; just get Jack’s coffee ready. There will be plenty to do when you’re finished.”

I give her a strange look but decide against questioning her.

As I head up front, I see Irene pouring Jack’s coffee. She glances up at me, and I say, “A little more sugar,” knowing how he usually takes it.

She adds the sugar, giving it a stir before she hands it to me. I head over to the table where Jack is waiting, and Irene trails behind me. This morning is just getting stranger and stranger.

“Thank you,” Jack mutters as I set the coffee on the table.

“You’re welcome,” I say with a smile.

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