Page 71 of Secrets in the Deep

Did the woman have amnesia? She’dfiredher.

Emily: I have plans tonight.

Mom: With Ryan?

Shaking her head, she dropped the cell into her bag without replying. It didn’t seem to matter what she said, her mother didn’t listen.

She was about to leave when her phone rang, Ryan’s name on the screen this time.

The smile returned. “Hey. Are you here?”

“Sorry, I’m running late. A couple of kids got lost, and I had to go out and get them back on the trail.” Wind blew over the line. “Just heading back to the old firehouse now.”

“Oh. That’s okay. I’m still getting ready anyway.” Kind of. Not really. She still had to put shoes on.

“I’ll be there in twenty.”

“No rush.”

“Emi…”

“Yeah.”

“I’m really looking forward to seeing you.”

The smile returned in full force. “Me too.”

She hung up and looked at herself in the mirror again. The glow in her eyes was so strong now, she almost didn’t recognize herself.

Be careful.

The quiet words whispered in her head, a gentle warning she’d heard more than once over the last week. Maybe because even though they hadn’t talked about a future together, she was already rearranging her life in her head. To one that would fit Ryan and Deep River and this relationship.

Theywouldhave that conversation. When they were both ready. And everything would work out this time.

Even if Ryan hadn’t reentered her life, things would have needed to change. She wasn’t happy. She hadn’t been for a long time, and the relationship with her mother wasn’t healthy.

It hadn’t always been like this. Over the years, her mother had become more and more controlling. Now, every conversation seemed to end in a fight.

Just last night, she’d demanded her mother hand over the key card she had for her room. She’d gotten it, but the argument wasn’t pretty. And her mother didn’t seem to have any remorse for the meddling she’d done in her and Ryan’s relationship.None.

How could Emily forgive a woman who wasn’t even sorry? She couldn’t.

She slipped on her shoes, then stepped into the hall, intending to wait in the foyer, when a scream pierced the air. A familiar scream, coming from close by.

Mom.

She hurried to the room beside hers and tried the handle, but it didn’t budge.Shit.

Another scream, louder this time, and coated in terror.

“Mom! Open the door.” Her fist pounded the door in rapid succession, but it didn’t open.

Quickly, she spun and raced back to her room. She yanked open the second drawer of the dresser and rifled through cosmetics and makeup.

Where was it?

Her fingers shook as she searched.