7

Laney

As we drove through Carlsbad, California, I couldn’t help but take in the beauty of the place. The ocean stretched out endlessly, its mesmerizing waves sparkling in the sunlight. I could have watched it for hours. Gideon pulled into a gated community, pressed a few buttons on the keypad, and the gates swung open.

He parked the car in a driveway, and I stepped out, trailing behind Bear. As I rounded the corner, the sight before me took my breath away. The ocean was right there, its waves crashing gently onto the sand.

I walked toward the beach, the cool sand beneath my feet. Laughter drew my attention, and I turned to see her—Haley. My heart stopped as tears spilled down my cheeks. She looked up, saw me, and screamed, “Mommy!”

I ran to her, and she flew into my arms. I held her tightly, silently vowing never to let her go again.

As I clutched her to me, I became aware of others nearby. A woman with a kind smile approached. Her beauty was striking, but it was the warmth in her eyes that stood out.

“You must be Kat,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for keeping my baby safe. You and your husband have done more for Haley than I can ever repay.”

“You might want to wait before you thank us completely,” Kat said with a knowing smile. “Just wait until you see what River gave Haley.”

Before I could respond, a tiny bark interrupted us. A small bundle of fur darted toward me, yipping excitedly and jumping against my leg. Haley’s face lit up, her eyes still glistening with tears.

“Does this little one belong to you?” I asked, laughing softly.

Haley giggled. “Her name is Little Bit! River said she’ll stay tiny. Do you love her, Mommy?”

I smiled, setting Haley down so she could cuddle the puppy. “Yes, I do. She’s perfect.”

Kat rested a hand on her belly, and I noticed for the first time how round it was. “When is your baby due?”

“Six weeks,” she said, beaming. “There are two of them in here.” She patted her stomach affectionately. “My mom is coming to help, but she’s waiting until closer to the due date. She says River and I need this time alone before life gets even crazier.”

“I think she’s right,” I said. “Finding time for just the two of you will be much harder once the babies come. She probably just wants to give you both a chance to savor these last moments of calm.”

Kat nodded. “You’re probably right. I’m just so impatient. I want to hold them already! Oh, I’m sorry—I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Kat Channing, and this is my husband, River.”

River nodded politely, his gaze steady and unreadable.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I said.

“We’re having dinner at Gage’s place later,” Kat added. “He’s an amazing cook.”

“So I’ve heard,” I replied, smiling. “By the way, Kat, have you ever tried meditating? It helped me a lot when I was pregnant with Haley. I’d row out to the middle of the lake and just breathe. Maybe it could help with the waiting.”

“I don’t need to meditate; I’m not antsy,” River said, his tone amused but firm.

I met his gaze and smiled knowingly. “Meditation isn’t just for you. It’s to support your wife. You might be surprised how much it helps when you do it together.”

River raised an eyebrow, and I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced.

Kat placed a hand on his arm. “River will meditate with me. When should we start?”

“How about tomorrow morning? Seven o’clock on the beach,” I suggested. “Gideon can join us too.”

“I love to meditate,” Gideon said.

I picked up Haley again, hugging her tightly. “We’ll never see Jonah again,” I whispered. “You won’t have to worry about him anymore. He’s gone for good.”

“Okay, Mommy,” she said softly, resting her head against my shoulder.

“Have I told you how proud I am of you?”

“Yes, you told me on the phone,” she said with a small smile. “I’m just glad you’re here. I missed you.”

“I missed you too, sweetheart,” I said, kissing her forehead as she clutched Little Bit.

Gideon stepped forward. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying. Then you can get settled before we head over to Gage’s.”

I followed Gideon into his house, taking in the open, inviting layout. Bear trailed closely behind us. He led us down a wide hallway and stopped at a door.

This can be Haley’s room,” he said, then gestured to the next door. “And this one is yours.”

I shook my head. “We’ll share a room for now. I want Haley close to me until I’m absolutely sure the danger is behind us.”

“I understand,” Gideon said. “My room is at the end of the hall. If you need anything, just let me know.”

He opened another door, revealing a cozy bedroom with its own bathroom. “This will be yours,” he said.

After being shown the bedrooms, we returned to the main living areas. “The kitchen is here, and the family room is just down there,” Gideon explained.

The house was warm and welcoming, but most importantly, it felt safe. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to breathe deeply and feel at ease.

The television is in this room,” Gideon said, gesturing toward the living area. Make yourself at home. The cleaning lady comes every Monday morning.”

Haley looked at him expectantly.

“Now, do I get a hug from Haley?”

Haley wrapped her tiny arms around his neck as he bent down to her height, resting her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Gideon, for saving us. I never want to leave here. River said no one will get me from here. And Raven said he’d kill anyone who tried to take me away.”

“So Raven is back?” Gideon asked.

“Yes, Haley replied, her voice confident. “He said he never wants to go to that place again. His eyes are the same green as mine and Mommy’s.”

“I knew I’d seen that color of green before,” Gideon said thoughtfully, then added with a smile. “But his eyes are not as beautiful as yours and your mommy’s.”

Haley giggled.

“Are we ready to head to Gage’s place?” Gideon asked.

“Sure, if you are,” I replied. Still, a nagging thought tugged at me. Were we imposing? Gideon had already done so much for us.

“Why are you frowning?” he asked, his gaze catching me off guard.

I turned my head and smiled. “Do you notice everything?”

“Do you notice everything?” I said.

“Pretty much everything,” he said with a playful grin.

I laughed, shaking my head. “I was just thinking about how we’re disrupting your life.”

“You’re not disrupting my life,” he said firmly. “I’m always alone. It feels good having you and Haley here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Besides, I hope Gage made my favorite pie. I could eat a horse right now. What about you, Laney?”

“I’d love a Pepsi and a chocolate bar right now,” I said, watching Haley run ahead.

I stopped walking, noticing a man in the distance watching me intently. Something about him seemed familiar. His eyes—they were the same green as mine and Haley’s.

He approached, his steps purposeful but calm. “Hello, my name is Raven Ledger. You must be Laney Reeves.”

“Yes, that’s me,” I said, extending my hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Raven. Thank you for being so kind to my daughter.”

He shook my hand and gave a reassuring nod. “We won’t let anything happen to you or Haley. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” I said, gratefully but slightly overwhelmed.

“Gage, this is my Mommy!” Haley exclaimed, tugging me toward a tall man standing by the grill.

He turned and gave me a warm smile. “Hey, there, Laney. I’m glad Gideon found you.”

“Me too, I said honestly. “If he hadn’t, I’d probably be dead right now. Thank you for having us for dinner.”

I sat next to Kat, and a moment later, Gideon placed a Pepsi and a chocolate bar in front of me.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on Kat’s face. “Thank you, Gideon.”

“I need a Pepsi and chocolate when I get anxious,” I explained.

Kat’s expression softened. “There is no reason for you to be anxious. You’re among friends here.”

Her words, simple and sincere, warmed my heart. “Thank you,” I said quietly, letting the kindness around me begin to settle my nerves.