I flipped my notebook closed. “There’s not one job I’d be more excited about or better qualified for.” A hint of a smile ghosted Tessa’s lips. Progress. “Tell me what we’ve got here.”
She pointed to bite-sized pieces of cookie as she spoke. “Hot chocolate, potato chip chocolate chip, maple glazed apple crisp, and key lime.”
My brows rose as she made her way down the list. “Impressive. I can get behind just about anything on that list except for the potato chip one. Potato chips are for sandwiches, not sweets.”
Tessa let out a soft laugh. It was just the tease of a sound, but I longed to hear the full thing. “You’ll have to agree to try them all if you want to be a taste-tester. I can’t have an uninformed voter.”
“Fair enough. I guess I can suffer through one potato chip cookie if the future of The Tea Kettle’s menu rests in my hands.”
Tessa pressed her lips together, stifling another laugh. I hated that motion, I was so desperate to hear the sound. “You’re so very selfless.”
“That’s me.” I reached out, opting for the apple crisp first. Heaven in food form. I slowly made my way around the plate, careful to take my time with each bite. I saved the potato chip cookie for last, grimacing as I lifted it to my mouth. I chewed slowly. My eyes flared.
The smallest grin appeared on Tessa’s lips. “Good, right?”
“That’s amazing. I need like a dozen of those.”
Tessa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s the combination of salty and sweet. It always makes for the best concoctions in my opinion.”
“You are clearly the expert. I beg ignorance. Please, make these every day.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Tessa began to turn towards the table behind me, but I held up a hand in a gesture that asked her to wait. “I have something for you.” Her forehead wrinkled. “An apology for making you break your drawing pencil the other night and crashing into you that first day.”
Tessa’s shoulders tensed. “You don’t need to apologize.”
“I do. It’ll make me feel better.” I handed her the tin of drawing charcoal. “For you.”
She stared down at the tin, her eyes blinking rapidly. “This brand is the best,” she whispered, almost to herself. A rapid-fire flash of emotions crossed her face, changing from one to the next faster than I could follow, as if she were at war with herself. She swallowed hard. “Thank you. This was very kind of you.”
“No problem—” Before I could finish my sentence, she’d turned and strode away. I watched as she chatted with the men playing bridge. The longer they talked, the more her muscles seemed to ease. She joked and teased, making the guys’ eyes light up.
Tessa asked one about what the doctor had said about his blood pressure at his last appointment, and another about whether his granddaughter had liked the doll he’d gotten her for the girl’s birthday. There was genuine kindness and caring in Tessa, but I noticed that she artfully dodged all questions directed at her that were any more specific than how she was doing.
What was her story? And what was it about me that put her on edge? I flipped my notebook back open and tried to find the answer there, but it seemed those wisps of music had floated away when Tessa left.
7
Tessa
Islipped my key into the slot on the car door, turning it until the lock popped down. The vehicle was so old that the remote no longer worked, but the relic got me where I needed to go, and that was all I needed.
I took a moment to survey the town around me. Pine Ridge was about the same size as Sutter Lake, maybe a little larger, and about an hour away. It was one of six towns I used to do my research. I didn’t have a computer of my own, and I didn’t want any library staff members wondering what I was doing there so often if I always went to the same one.
I adjusted the brim of my hat so that it mostly concealed my eyes and headed towards the library. I ducked my head as I entered, avoiding the video camera at the front doors. Not being caught on filmanywherewas one of my cardinal rules. The good thing about small towns was that security measures like cameras were few and far between.
I moved through stacks of books until I found the computer lab. All that was required was signing in. I scrawled a random name and took the station most removed from the people already seated, and one that still gave me a view of the door.
Placing my bag on the seat next to me, I pulled out a slip of paper with a list of names. It had taken me a year of careful searches to come up with the list. A year of building fake social media profiles and sending messages, pretending to be someone I wasn’t, just hoping I’d find the person I was looking for.
When Garrett and I had been at the beginning of our relationship, he’d talked more openly. He’d spoken of an ex, someone he’d said had almost ruined his life with lies. After going through what I had with him, I had a feeling this ex had nearly taken him down with the truth. I had to find her.
I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do when I did, what the best approach would be. Was an email or call more appropriate when asking if someone’s ex-boyfriend had beaten them, too? I rolled my shoulders back. If I could find this woman, and if she would stand with me, the police would have to believe us.
My stomach pitched. Garrett was such a good manipulator. Would he be able to convince the police that we were both crazy?
I gripped the edge of the computer desk. I had to try. Because what would my life be like if I didn’t? Would I hide forever? Be afraid to let anyone in. The image of Walker gazing down at Taylor with pure adoration flashed in my mind. I rubbed my sternum, trying to relieve the spasm there. Maybe one day I’d have that.
