“Until I know what’s going on, I consider this is a safe place, but it’s still exposed. We can talk in my car.”
She narrows her eyes.
“For Pete’s sake, Maddy. I know you have horrible memories of being in a car alone with a guy here, but do you really think I’m here to harm you? That’s insulting.”
She looks duly chagrined. “I’m sorry.”
She gets in, and I close the door. I hurry back to my side and climb in. I watch her from the corner of my eye. I’ve pushed—shoved—as hard as I dare. Now, I have to let her open up to me. If I do more, I’ll be nothing short of a bully. She won’t trust me, and she’ll either lie or omit a shit ton. I don’t want her to feel like I’m interrogating her just with my eyes. I’ve been told my stare can be intense.
“Javi, I won’t give you any specifics. Know that now. You won’t convince me to, so don’t try. I was dating a guy who got rough with me a few times. I was dumb enough to forgive him the first time it happened because he was drunk. I believed him when he said he thought I was someone else and shouldn’t have walked up behind him.”
She didn’t believe him, and I can tell. The bastard knew who she was and hurt her, anyway. But I remain quiet.
“It happened a couple more times, and I felt trapped. He has money and connections, so I got scared he would track me down. I decided an alias would be better.”
“An alias that must have a driver’s license, a credit card, and car registration. That’s not just breaking up and moving home.”
Those were observations, not questions. But from the mulish set of her jaw, I can tell she took them as accusations.
“I wanted to disappear for a bit.”
“So, you went to your parents?”
“Not my fault your uncle decided to get married this weekandinvited my entire family to the reception.”
Once upon a time, they would have been at the wedding too. Maybe not Laura and Maks, but she and her parents would’vebeen. Maks might’ve waited outside the church for Laura. Now that wasn’t even a remote possibility.
“When did you tell your parents you’re headed back up to Albany?”
“After lunch.”
“Today?”
“Yeah. They think I need to get back to work.”
“But you quit.”
She remains silent.
“Last I heard, you were with the same guy for a few years. Drew something or other.”
“I’m not with him anymore.”
“Because of this?”
“Our relationship ended when there just wasn’t anything left between us.”
“Maddy, being evasive doesn’t mean I can’t read between the lines. Don’t treat me like I’m too dumb to get the subtext.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb.”
“But you are being evasive.”
“I told you I would be from the start. I won’t give you details.”
I twist in my seat, so I can look at her more easily. She’s reluctant, but she turns toward me. Her hands are knotted in her lap, and her left thumb rubs the back of her right. It’s an obvious tell, but it’s been hers since we were teens. I reach out and cover her hands with mine.
“I can learn everything about the guy in five minutes if I want to. You can force me to dig, or you can just tell me. Either way, I’ll know.”
