Sam had refused to drive Dad to the ranch on Sunday. Stood firm on that decision. He didn’t have time to make a two-hour detour with Becky after the cast and crew party, and still arrive at the ranch in time for Easter Sunday dinner. A family dinner that was important to Mom.
Dad needed to prove to Mom that he was willing to compromise and work on their marriage. Dad taking the initiative and driving to Colorado would be a positive step. Sam prayed his parents would put in the effort. He’d heard both sides of the story, and his loyalties were divided. Not a fun situation.
Sam placed his coffee order and joined the group in the waiting area. He smiled and nodded at familiar faces. Becky had visited earlier during her walk and collected her morning coffee. She’d changed her routine to avoid being delayed by the morning rush.
His name was called and he collected his coffee. He reached for the door handle at the exit.
“Sam. Wait.”
He groaned. Mrs. Alleghany. Why would she want to see him? He turned around.
Mrs. Alleghany smiled. “Can we talk outside?”
“Sure.” He opened the door, the cowbell clanging as they walked through to the sidewalk.
“Sam, there’s something I need to show you.” She walked past the neon Heavenly Brew open sign in the window.
He followed and put his coffee on a nearby shop window ledge. This was weird. Mrs. Alleghany’s usual way of communicating was to fake whisper gossip loud enough for others nearby to eavesdrop.
“It’s about Becky.” Mrs. Alleghany handed over her phone. “She’s not who you think she is.”
What? He scanned the phone screen, scrolling down, his stomach churning acid. No. This must be a fake fan site. He checked the URL in the menu bar. An online international news site with an Australian division.
He placed Mrs. Alleghany’s phone beside his coffee, retrieved his phone from his pocket, and typed in the URL. “How did you find this?”
“Quite by accident. Yesterday, a nice man who buys coffee here and takes photographs, told me to search for Logan Miles on this site this morning.”
Oh no. Mrs. Alleghany’s curiosity would lead her to the gossip site with minimal prompting. The Australian news site headline was in bold capital letters, like an online billboard screaming at him.
LOGAN MILES HIDING WITH SECRET FIANCEE.
Sam enlarged the lead photo on his phone screen. Becky and Logan. Or a Logan lookalike. Sam recognized the campus pond and the park bench where he’d chatted with Becky. He recognized Becky’s clothing and baseball cap from her morning walks.
There were more photos. Wait. Was that the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background? He scanned through a dozen photos connected to the article, his heart thumping harder than a jackhammer.
Mrs. Alleghany clucked like a cranky hen rounding up her chicks. “I can’t believe it, Sam. Your Becky. She has a secret life.”
He shoved his phone in his pocket and picked up his coffee. “Gotta go. Have a good Easter.”
“You, too.” Mrs. Alleghany picked up her phone. “Goodbye.”
Sam crossed the road, leaving Mrs. Alleghany to cluck on her own. He hopped inside his truck and switched on the engine. He needed to think. He drove a few blocks and turned onto a quiet side street, then parked under a tree and picked up his phone.
The article was there. In technicolor. It wasn’t a bad dream. Mrs. Alleghany wasn’t making up crazy stories.
He read the text. Twice. Drank coffee. Prayed. He snapped half a dozen screenshots and saved all the individual photos from the article in his phone.
Becky and Logan. Or Bek. Bek was her name in the article. A name she sometimes used when ordering coffee from Letty. He’d figured Becky had shortened her name during peak times to make it easier for Letty, who wrote everyone’s names on the takeout cups.
It looked like Becky was known as Bek in Australia. Becky had known Logan in Australia. How was that possible?
The photos looked legit. According to the article, Becky had cheated on a guy called Jarrod, an Aussie actor who was Logan’s friend. She’d had a torrid love affair with Logan behind Jarrod’s back. Becky had dumped Jarrod and, months later, created a secret love nest hideaway in Kansas. The article implied Logan and Becky were living together in Gilead.
Sam closed his eyes, frowning. The story didn’t make sense. Becky didn’t sleep anywhere other than in her dorm. There were rules governing the dorms. Cindy would have opened her big mouth and said something if Becky was ever missing at night.
And Logan had never planned to be in Kansas. He’d volunteered to fill in for Leo at the last minute. Leo’s unexpected accident was the only reason Logan had participated in the play.
And Becky. He’d seen her genuine surprise when she’d first met Logan at the rehearsal. Sam had watched Logan watch Becky, but not in a creepy way. Logan had been supportive and had encouraged Sam to pursue a relationship with Becky. It didn’t make sense. Becky wasn’t like the other girls who’d sought Logan’s attention.
