Safeguarding the Witness by Laurie Winter

Author:Laurie Winter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-01-20T18:56:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Kayla’s fingers hovered over her phone screen. She longed to text Nicolas or call him even. Plead for him to come back. Instead, she set her phone facedown on the table, then scrubbed her eyes. It wasn’t late, but the day had sucked out all her energy. Those minutes when she couldn’t find Olive had aged her years.

Steadfast Nicolas had come to the rescue, located her sister and placed her back with Kayla. She shouldn’t have taken out her bad mood on him. Her irritation and frustration weren’t his fault. History had a way of poking through the veil of time and finding the spots still tender. The reason she’d left Snowberry had been on display today at the park. Judgmental, small-minded people who made her feel vulnerable. She’d left for college without ridding herself of the chip on her shoulder. Even Nicolas remained in her line of fire.

Years ago, after the bar fight and his injury, she’d assumed he never wanted to speak with her again, and she avoided him. Her past with Nicolas had shored up her protective nature. Don’t put your faith in others and you won’t get hurt.

Kayla’s mom shuffled into the kitchen and yawned. “Olive refuses to take a bath.”

“She probably doesn’t want her face paint washed off.” Kayla pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “Sit. You’ve been on your feet all day.”

“My feet are fine.” Even so, her mom dropped into the chair. “It’s the rest of me crying out for rest.”

“I’ll tackle Olive and her bath.” The teakettle on the stove whistled. Kayla poured hot water into a mug she’d placed a tea bag in earlier. Instead of taking the mug with her, she set it down on the table by her mom. “Take a moment to relax.”

Before Kayla could walk away, her mom grasped her wrist. “Don’t let pride keep you from calling Nicolas,” she said. “It’s not weakness to admit you need him.”

“I don’t want to ask too much of him. He should be with his family.”

Her mom blew over the top of the mug, temporarily displacing the rising steam. “If he hadn’t been with you at the park...”

“I know.” Kayla raised her hands in a stop gesture. “I owe him so much already. The last thing I need is to add to my debt.”

“Nicolas isn’t keeping a tab.”

“Maybe I am.” Her foot tapped on the tile floor. “We’re fine here in the house. On-duty deputies are driving by to check on us. Olive isn’t wandering off again. Well, unless she really wants to avoid taking a bath.” She sighed. “How about we watch a movie after bath time?”

“A nice relaxing activity that requires no physical effort. You got my vote.”

Kayla left her mom sipping hot tea. She let Sasha outside to do her business and sniff around the yard. Next, she went into her bedroom to change into fleece pants and a comfy sweatshirt.

“No,” Olive yelled from inside her bedroom down the hall. “I don’t want a bath.”

In the fenced-in backyard, Sasha barked.

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