The Truest Home by Melissa Storm

Author:Melissa Storm [Storm, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Partridge & Pear Press

Chapter 25

Liz stepped out of the car and into Lauren’s waiting arms. How long would she have to stay before she could return to her hunt in Anchorage? She felt bad already looking to form an escape plan, especially since Lauren seemed so happy to see here.

“I’m so excited you’re here!” her friend squealed. “It just hasn’t been the same since Scarlett moved back to the city. It’s so lonely, Shane and I are even talking about starting a family.”

Well, this was unexpected, and something easy to latch onto. Lauren didn’t have to know about the call from Sofia or Liz’s plan to return to the city by tomorrow morning. While she was here, she could play the part of the good friend. Normally, she wouldn’t have to pretend. She liked Lauren, but she just didn’t have any more pieces of herself left to give.

“Oh my gosh! Are you?” Liz let her hand fall to Lauren’s belly, but her friend batted it away with a laugh.

“No, and I better not look it, either!”

“So tell me everything. Have you…?” Liz’s enthusiasm was waning already. She felt terrible about not being here fully for her friend. Why couldn’t she enjoy anything anymore? Would she ever be able to enjoy her life again?

Lauren kept on talking. “Not yet. I want to get through at least one more Iditarod before having to take a year off. Pregnancy and extreme sports don’t exactly mix, you know?”

Liz nodded. “Well, yeah, of course, but that’s so exciting.” She tried to make her voice go up at the end, but her words and the way she said them clashed terribly.

Still, Lauren smiled, a woman content with her life and place in the world—a woman very much unlike Liz. “Anyway, that’s enough about me,” her friend said, her voice taking on a more serious tone, telling Liz exactly what would come next. “What was that all about? Some creepy guy?”

Here it was, an easy out. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“No, but you asked me to take the dogs and I overheard. Besides, Scarlett may have called and told me everything.”

“What? I’ll kill her.” Scarlett had found a way to ruin her plans all the way from Texas. There was no way Lauren would let Liz slip away now, and the last thing she needed was a friend following her into a possibly dangerous situation.

Lauren frowned as if maybe she regretted making this revelation. “She just wants you to be safe and, based on what I’ve heard, she’s right to worry.”

“Well, I’m out here now. Safe and sound in Puffin Ridge where no one can ever hurt me.” Or tell me the truths about my own life, she mentally added, trying so hard not to scowl.

“Are they trying to hurt you back in Anchorage? What was that call about? New information?”

“Let’s just go inside and have some cocoa or something,” Liz suggested, heading toward the door, but Lauren stepped into her path, cutting her off.

“You can talk to me, Liz. I know we’re both closer to Scarlett than to each other, but I’d love for us to be like sisters, too.

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