Page 13 of Tracking Safety

He stared at the row of storefronts across the street without seeing any of them.

Twelve years. He’d known this woman for twelve years. He’d built a life with her, had children with her, had stood in a church and made promises he intended to keep.

He’d spent so much time not knowing what happened to her. He’d sat across from a grief counselor for six weeks because Liam had stopped talking at school and his teacher was worried. He’d learned to braid Cora’s hair from a video, badly, three times over, because some things a father was supposed to know how to do, and braiding hair had never been one of them.

He’d done all of it alone.

And now Jenna was asking him if they could talk.

She didn’t deserve a conversation. She certainly hadn’t given him that choice when she left. Why should he treat her any differently?

Finally, he turned around. Breathe, Luke. Breathe.

Jenna stood where he’d left her, watching him with those big eyes he’d always found impossible to say no to. But he couldn’t let her get to him now. He had to keep his emotions in check. If not for his sake, then for his kids.

He remembered what she’d said, the words he still needed to respond to. I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m not asking you for anything except to talk. Sometime. When you’re ready. Please.

“I don’t know, Jenna.”

It was the most honest answer he had. Luke didn’t know if he wanted to hear what Jenna had to say. Didn’t know if any explanation would make things better or if it would simply tear open something he’d spent months and months learning to manage.

All he knew right now was that his chest had tightened until he could hardly draw a full breath.

Jenna nodded as if she’d expected exactly that response. Then she strode closer and handed him a slip of paper. “This is my number. I’m staying at Hollow House Bed and Breakfast. You can call me or find me there—but only if and when you’re ready.”

He stared at her, trying to read her expression. She sounded sincere—maybe even sorry. But this situation was entirely more complicated than an apology.

“How long are you planning to stay?” he finally asked.

“As long as it takes.”

He absorbed that revelation.

She wouldn’t disappear again—that was what she was telling him. She was planting herself in Blue Ridge Hollow, and she would wait him out.

But she’d made promises before that she hadn’t kept. He couldn’t let himself believe this time would be different.

He gave her a short nod but said nothing. Instead, he walked to his truck, climbed inside, and pulled the door shut behind him.

As silence surrounded him, he sat with his hands on the wheel and stared through the windshield at nothing. At the pale spring sky. At the storefronts across the street. At a bird as it fluttered to a stop on top of a lamp post.

Jenna was alive. She was here.

He pressed the palms of his hands against the steering wheel until his knuckles went white. Then he let out a slow breath through his nose.

In the side mirror, he saw Jenna still standing where he’d left her, watching him.

He forced himself to start the engine.

He had three kids who needed him to be stable. He had cottages to build and a schedule to keep. He had a life that didn’t stop just because Jenna King had walked back into it.

Without looking in the mirror again, he pulled out of the lot.

He needed to think carefully about his decision.

Jenna watched Luke’s truck disappear around the corner.

That hadn’t gone well.