She curled to her side and hugged one of her many blankets. It was Saturday—her one day to sleep in.
There was a soft knock on her bedroom door, which caused her to sit up. “Come in,” she said.
The door opened and Sunny stood in the doorway with a way too big smile on her face. Danielle studied her.
“What’s up with you?” Danielle asked, the feeling of worry and suspicion brewing inside of her.
Sunny just shrugged as she walked across Danielle’s bedroom and threw open the blinds. “Oh, nothing. Get up, we are going out.”
Danielle groaned as the bright sun assaulted her eyes. She flopped back onto her bed and pulled the covers up over her face. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, her voice muffled by the material.
Her blanket was pulled from her body and dumped on the floor. Sunny stood next to it with a triumphant look on her face. “Not today. You’re going to get dressed. You’re going to look pretty. And we are going out.”
Danielle covered her face with her hands until she realized that it was futile to argue with this tiny blonde girl. So she groaned—shooting a very annoyed look Sunny’s direction—and climbed off her bed and into the bathroom.
Which was a mistake because one look at the drywall patch, and the image of Zach that she’d been trying keep pushed to the back of her mind floated its way to the surface.
Once in the shower, she washed as fast as she could. Maybe going out would be a good thing. Since Zach’s presence could be felt in just about every room in her tiny apartment, some fresh—and hot—Georgia air might actually do her some good.
She wrapped a towel around her body and slipped from the bathroom. Once in her room, she dressed in a pair of cut off shorts and a lacy tank. After brushing her hair and applying some product into it, she glanced in the mirror. It felt good to go relaxed today. Most days, she was in the office or on assignment. But today, she could just be Danielle, and it felt great.
After grabbing her strappy sandals from her closet, she made her way into the living room where Sunny was pouring Jesse a bowl of cereal. She glanced up at Danielle and gave her an approving look.
Danielle shook her head as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured a cup of coffee. “So, what’s the plan?” she asked as she held her mug of coffee and blew on the steam.
Sunny pressed her finger to her lips.
“She’s not saying. Won’t even tell me,” Jesse said through cereal and milk.
“Not with your mouth full,” Danielle said, motioning toward her mouth.
Jesse just shrugged and turned his attention back to his book that he had sprawled across the table. Danielle turned her attention back over to Sunny who was looking quite amused with herself as she studied her phone. Feeling a tad annoyed, Danielle finished her coffee and then rinsed out her mug.
Ten minutes later, Sunny announced that it was time to go and ushered everyone from the apartment. They made their way downstairs and out onto the sidewalk.
There was a black Lincoln parked next to the curb and Danielle knew, with the sinking feeling in her gut, that this relaxing Saturday afternoon excursion was no longer going to be that.
“Sunny?” she asked, dragging out every syllable.
Sunny waved her away and ushered Jesse to the car. “You’ll be fine. He’s just loaning us his car.”
Danielle folded her arms as she studied Sunny. But, when they both got into the car, she realized that they were going to go with or without her. Sighing, she marched over to the passenger door and pulled it open. Paul was sitting in the driver’s seat, smiling over at her.
“How’s it going?” he asked, once she slammed her door and buckled.
“I’m being held hostage,” she sighed.
Paul glanced around the interior of the car. “This is the nicest hostile encounter I’ve ever seen,” he said, giving her a wink and then pulling out onto the main road.
Danielle settled back in her seat and sighed. This was happening. She might as well get on board with it. After all, wasn’t that something she always told Jesse? That it was his job to make a situation better instead of waiting for everyone to do that for him?
So she forced down all of the frustration that had crept up into her chest and shot Paul a smile. “I’m guessing there’s no way you can tell me where we are going?”
Paul pretended to lock his lips and throw the key. “Sorry. I’m sworn to secrecy.”
Danielle sighed as she glanced out the window to watch the shops and people whip by. Sunny was in the back texting and Jesse had his nose buried in a book. Neither of them looked as panicked as she felt. Perhaps she was making a bigger deal out of this than necessary.
Fifteen minutes later, Paul pulled to the front gates of the traveling carnival that had set up on the fair grounds in Atlanta. The large Ferris wheel and rollercoasters could be seen from miles away.
