Plain Roots by Becki Willis

Author:Becki Willis [Willis, Becki]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2018-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

“I’m sorry, Taryn, but I need to get back to the office.”

Bryce apologized after Helen left them, their coffee now cold. “I came in a day early, so I can wrap up my current case and concentrate on yours.”

“I understand.”

He could see how distracted she was. Helen’s announcement left her understandably upset.

“Are you okay?”

“I will be.” She offered a wan smile. “It shouldn’t be a surprise. Of course, she left me behind. How could she hide, with a newborn baby to care for? I would have slowed her down, made her more conspicuous.”

“You can’t really believe that she left you to save herself, can you?”

Taryn thought about it for a moment, but in the end, she shook her head. “No. After reading her journals, I feel like I know the kind of person Rebecca was. She would never have done something so selfish. If anything, she would have sacrificed herself, to keep her baby safe.”

A terrible thought came to her. She sucked in her breath and clutched the fingers that still held hers. “Bryce? You don’t think that’s what happened, do you? You don’t think she would have drawn the Toad to her, just to take attention off me, do you?” Her voice rose in panic. “You don’t think she sacrificed herself for me, do you?” The thought was unbearable.

“Shh. Don’t hyperventilate on me. Just calm down.” He used his calming voice, talking her down off the ledge of hysteria. “Take a deep breath and look at me.”

She did so, if unsteadily.

“It’s what mothers do, Taryn. They do whatever it takes, to keep their children safe.”

Taryn gave a tiny hiccup of a nod. “Fathers, too,” she whispered. “I understand now. That’s why my grandfather sent her away in the first place. He chose to never see his daughter again, if it meant keeping her safe.”

“I just wonder if it was in vain,” Bryce murmured aloud.

“I need to read the rest of the letters.”

“Let’s regroup this evening.” He stood and threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table, making sure Katie saw the gesture. As he ushered Taryn out the door, he asked, “Where was that restaurant you found? I have a busy afternoon, but maybe we can have dinner there tonight, and discuss whatever you find.”

They made plans to meet at seven thirty.

As Taryn drove back to the farm, she noticed a light-colored car behind her. She thought nothing of it, until it turned behind her. By the second turn, she became nervous.

She knew she was being paranoid, but her nerves were naked and raw. Instead of turning on the farm road, she kept straight. She finally turned into a roadside stand selling fresh strawberries, but she stayed in her car.

The other car sped up and away, leaving her there to tremble in peace.

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