Page 22 of Shattered By the Currents

“And how areyou?” She turned left, the town green and gazebo coming into view.

“I’m good.”

She had no idea if that was true. Her father had always tried to shield her from pain. And what was happening with her mother had to be hurting him.

“You haven’t received any more packages or contact from Xander, have you?” She swallowed at the thought.

“No. Nothing.”

Good. That was good.

“I need to go, Rave. Your mother’s just getting out of the shower.”

“Okay. Say hi to her for me. And Dad…I love you.”

“I love you too, darling.”

She hung up, a long, exhausted breath hissing through her teeth. That wasnotthe way she wanted to start her day. Especially after the mess that was Nathaniel at the bar last night. But it was fine. She was willing herself a good day today. She had an entire morning to settle into the office and do admin work. She’d put on some music and?—

She gasped when she parked in front of the center.

The door was open. Not only that, cars lined the street around the building and people were inside.

What the hell?

Quickly, she climbed from her Subaru. A Subaru that was absolutely parked illegally, but Ward wouldn’t ticket her—that would just create work for him.

Three steps up and she stopped inside the hall.

What in the ever-living insanity wasthis? Were the women dancing…? No, not dancing. This was Zumba.

No one stopped or turned toward her, so she just stood there for a full twenty seconds, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. The lady at the front leading the group shouted instructions and the women followed.

Suddenly, Lottie stepped out of the office.Raven’soffice.

“You.” Raven’s voice was barely a whisper.

Of course. Ofcoursethis was Lottie, because who else would break into a building, run an unapproved and unscheduled dance class, and just stroll out of an office that wasn’t hers like she owned the place?

Stepping outside and cooling down before approaching the old bat would be smart.

But Raven didn’t feel smart. She felt angry. Frustrated at everything and everyone. Xander. Nathaniel. Tim not answering her calls. And the terrible sicknesses that gripped her parents.

Without a second thought, she stormed across the hall.

Lottie’s brows shot up at the sight of Raven. “Oh. Hi. Only five minutes late today, I see.”

“What the hell is going on, Lottie?”

“Shh. A class is running.”

Shewas shushingRaven? “Yeah. The class. That’s what I’m saying what the hell to.”

Lottie grabbed her arm and tugged her into the office. “I need you to keep your voice down. It took me a lot of time to make this class happen. The teacher drove in from Bozeman.”

Holy Jesus. She was going to lose it. She was literally going to explode and take the woman down with her. “That isnotyour job, Lottie.Iam the manager of this community center.Iorganize the programs and activities. I also open the building. I should have changed the lock the second you admitted you had a key.”

“Changed the lock? You can’t?—”