Save Me (17 page)

As soon as customers walk in, the counter is off to the left with the store opening up on the right. Directly in front of them is a table full of Vermont specialties and diagonally from there, you’ll find our coffee and pastries stand with the bathrooms in the back corner. Groceries and the deli are straight ahead when you walk in. It’s truly the perfect little country store.

Another couple, followed by a family, walks in—meaning I should leave my duty of dusting. I stand at the counter with my hands behind my back, making eye contact with them when they look my way. The goal is to make them feel welcomed. That’s what Laura did for me, same with Ray. Claire and I were barely making it, but we had each other and I was determined. I never liked working at the gas station. It’s freezing in the winter and stifling in the summer, but it paid my rent and put food on the table for Claire. People used to drop things off for her when we were at work. We’d walk home, a mile down the busy stretch of the road, and find a bag of clothes. She’d be so excited and on the inside I was, too, but as soon as she went to sleep for the night I cried my eyes out in the bathroom. My life wasn’t supposed to be like this. When my husband died I should’ve been able to pack up my home and find a new place for us to live. I have no doubt I would’ve gone to stay with Ryley, who was pregnant at the time. I’ve always wondered how she’s doing today and whether or not she had the baby.

I’ve been tempted to hunt for her on the web, see if I can find a picture of her, anything to curb my curiosity, but at the same time, I don’t want to know. I don’t want to risk someone looking over my shoulder, or somehow knowing I looked her up. That part of my life is dead and buried, and as much as I miss it, I’ll never be there again.

The first couple that walked in comes up to the counter. Both of them are carrying cinnamon rolls and cups of coffee.

“Traveling far today?” I ask, as I ring them in.

“We just moved to New York from Oklahoma and we’ve been exploring as much of New England as we can. We’re looking for the perfect place to host our wedding. It’s so beautiful up here but it’s so cold,” the woman says while I make change from the twenty that her fiancé gave me.

“Yes it is. Enjoy your trip and please drive carefully. Oh, and congratulations. Weddings in the fall are simply gorgeous around here.”

She waves good-bye as her fiancé pulls her out of the store. I don’t have much time to recover, not that I need it, before the family comes up to the counter with their arms full of snacks. As I ring them in, the kids pretend to box behind their parents, the dad reads the newspapers, and the mom fiddles with her phone. They’re likely locals from another town, not interested in conversation.

After I give them their total and they pay, I wait for the last two people, who decide they don’t need anything after using the rest room. I wave good-bye and glance at the clock; two hours left.

Laura’s never been strict on electronics in the store, as long as it’s clean, she doesn’t care what we do. I pull out my tablet—determined to read—when my finger accidentally hits my email button. I rarely check my email since everyone I know lives in town and my parents had passed away long before … well, for a long time now.

Email after email comes in, most of them junk, but one from late last night catches my attention.
You told me to email!
I look around the store to make sure it’s empty before I open it. I know I shouldn’t but this can’t be a coincidence.

Dear Amy,

Earlier today an FBI lady and her partner came in asking questions about you and your storage unit. They said you were missing and were shocked to find that you’ve been paying. They confiscated the motorcycle for evidence or something.

Buzz.

My heart drops to the floor, followed by my stomach and knees. Pain radiates through my legs when I hit the ground and the breath I need to keep me from hyperventilating isn’t anywhere to be found.
She’s
found me.
She’s
coming for me.
She’s
coming to take my baby away from me.

She
took the last thing I had of Tucker. And with that knowledge my heart breaks into a million pieces. The day I found out he died, I ran. I knew Lawson was coming to take Claire and would likely kill me if I didn’t hand her over. There was no way in hell that scum was getting my baby. So I left and walked away from everything. I held out hope that one day I’d return and have something left over from my life with Tucker. Now I have nothing except Claire and she doesn’t even remember him.

I try to control my breathing before someone comes in. The last thing I want to do is start more gossip about the status of my health. I try to type a response, but my fingers aren’t working correctly and everything seems blurry. Resting my hands on the counter, I stare down at the words, memorizing them before I shut my tablet off and put it back in my bag. This is exactly why I never look on the web. It never yields anything good, just torment and pain.

When Laura walks in I try to hide the indifference I’m feeling about myself right now. It’s taking everything within me to not run. All I can see is Claire and I in a car, driving until I’m far away from here and there are no traces that I ever existed, except I can’t do that to Ray. He’s been so good to us, loving Claire as if he’s her father. He’s been there through all the bumps and bruises, the late night homework sessions and that first crush. Ray is a good man and deserves to know what I’m bringing down on him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say with the wave of my hand. “I stumbled a little getting my tablet out of my bag. I’m just sore.” I fumble my way through the muddy waters that I’m creating. Laura looks at me and shrugs, and I can’t tell if she’s bought my story or not. Either way, I’m leaning against the counter for support because my knees hurt.

“Well I’m here if you want to go home.”

“Thank you.” Breathing out a sigh of relief, I gather my things quickly, almost forgetting to take off my apron. I’m almost free until I touch the handle on the door and my name is called.

“Amy?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and turn around. I smile softly at my boss and friend, praying my tears stay at bay.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I tell her, but know my face doesn’t agree.

“You know you can talk to me. I won’t tell anyone, if you’re having troubles at home. I’ll help you.”

I shake my head adamantly. “Ray and I are great.” I nod my head, hoping I’m conveying my message.

“Is there someone else?”

Yes, but he’s dead and my last physical memento of him has been stolen
. Furrowing my brows, I shake my head. “No, of course not, Laura. I should go.” I point to the door with my thumb over my shoulder. “My knees hurt.”

I don’t wait for her to saying anything, and I hope she realizes I won’t be at work tomorrow. I need time. These past few days have really done a number on me and I have to find a way to get past this.

And I either need to tell Ray everything or I need to run because Frannie is coming after us and I can’t let her hurt my family. Ray will be better off if Claire and I aren’t here. He’ll be safe. I know he won’t understand and he’ll tell me to stay, and that he’ll protect me, but he can’t. He’s a gentle man, a kind soul who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

There’s only one way I’m safe and that’s if she’s dead.

THE NAME AMY JONES stares back at me, almost mocking me because it knows that I’m limited in what I can do to find out who this person is. My cell phone sits next to me, the ringer switched on as I wait for Marley to call back with details on where I’m going to find Amy Jones.

Marley and Cara spoke briefly today when Marley returned my call. Cara informed her that we’d fly to the East Coast once Marley could locate this Amy Jones. I’m not convinced this person is my Penelope, but Cara has hope. I guess that’s part of her job, to be optimistic.

“A watched phone will never ring,” Carole says as she enters the dining room in her wheelchair. When her and Ryley were in their accident, Carole ended up taking the brunt of the impact. If I remember correctly, she had a broken pelvis to go along with two broken legs, but I can’t be for sure. Ryley told me her mom goes through extensive rehab and has to learn to walk again, which Carole says will be accomplished by the summer so she can hold Nate’s arm as he walks her down the aisle to her seat for Ryley and Evan’s wedding. And because it’ll be on the beach, Carole has to be confident in her steps since walking in sand is a bitch for anyone. Unless Carole wants to wear her combat boots.

“I know, but I’m afraid to leave it.”

“It’s portable, it can go with you.” She points out the obvious, except I’m afraid that if I move it from its spot my cell coverage will weaken and I’ll still miss the call or won’t be able to hear Marley clearly.

“You’re going to find them, Tucker. Penelope is out there just waiting for you to come and get her.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. She thinks I’m dead and knows people are looking for her. If I were her, I’d be hiding in plain sight just so I could watch my surroundings. I wouldn’t trust anyone, which is why I’m confused about this Amy Jones person. Whoever she is, she knows where to find Penelope.”

“And what are you going to do when you find her?”

Cry. Scream. Jump for joy
. “I don’t know.” I shrug. “I’m trying to tell myself that my situation will be different from Archer’s or Rask’s, but the truth is, it’ll likely be the same. I’m going to have to convince her I’m alive and pray that my daughter remembers me, but I doubt she will.”

“And what if Penelope has moved on?”

Shaking my head, I drop my head into my hands and sigh. “I can’t think about that. I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s remarried. I wouldn’t blame her, though, because it’s been six years and she should remarry and find happiness, but she’s my wife … at least for a few more months. If I don’t find her soon, it’s not going to matter what I think.”

“How are you liking Marley?”

I crack a brief smile. “Marley is efficient. You were right when you suggested that I try using a female PI.”

Carole smiles and rests her hand on my mine. “Cara shared with me what Marley found. Penny is brave, Tucker. She did what any mother would’ve done in her position. She couldn’t turn to you and feared for her daughter’s safety. You can’t hold that against her.”

“I don’t. I just pray that wherever she is, she’s safe and happy. And that Claire is loved and enjoying life.”

A phone rings off in the distance and even though I know it’s not mine, I pick it up and say hello. Carole must think I’m a goof because she’s laughing.

“I’m freaking out.”

“I know,” she says, patting my hand. “But Marley will call when she finds something. I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s always been efficient.”

EJ comes into the room with his camo pants on and a shirt that says ‘Future SEAL’. It makes me wonder how Ryley and her family feel about his desire to go into the Navy. I think, under the circumstances, they’d probably discourage him when he’s older. I know I would now.

“Wanna go fishing, Uncle Tucker?”

“Thanks, Buddy, but I’m going to hang out here with your grandma.”

“Why?” He puts his hands up in a shrug. I guess to him, hanging out with grandma over going fishing with him and his grandpa doesn’t make much sense. Honestly, it doesn’t make sense to me, either. For all I know Marley won’t call for days.