Page 84 of This Stays Between Us

I turn, before I can rethink it, heading back the way I came. As I walk, I allow my hands to caress my abdomen.

“We’ll make this work, little one,” I mumble softly. “Somehow we’ll make it work.”

I’ll go back to the United States and be the mother to this baby that I never had. It’ll be hard, that much is certain, but I’ll have help. I’ll have Claire. Maybe I can even move, join her in Illinois.

For the first time since I’ve arrived in Jagged Rock, the future once again feels bearable, if not—dare I say—bright.

Until I hear one word that shakes me to my core.

“Stop.”

I recognize the voice immediately, and my spine stiffens.

And that one word, enough for a chill to race up my neck, is all it takes to snuff out any hope for the future.

40

Claire

Now

The footsteps keep coming. Any second now someone will be outside the door, pulling it open to find me here with Ellery’s phone in my hands.

I shut my eyes tight, as if that will ward off the inevitable.

And I wait.

The seconds tick by and I crane my ears to hear, but the footsteps have stopped.

This is my chance. I need to get out. I scramble up, trying to be as quiet as possible and tiptoe rapidly to the door, Ellery’s phone still clenched in my hand.

This is a risk, I know. Someone could still be standing in the hallway. If I leave now, they’ll see me. But I have no choice.

I put my free hand on the door handle, ready to push. And then the door suddenly vibrates, accompanied by the short, rapid sound of a knock.

The shock of the sound propels me backward, and I manage to catch myself before stumbling over my feet.

“Claire?” Declan’s voice, so soft it’s nearly a whisper, filters through the door. “Are you in there?”

I breathe a deep sigh of relief and throw open the door.

“We need to go,” Declan says, “They’re about to come up.”

I obey wordlessly, letting him lead me quickly down the hall, closing the door behind me just as I hear another set of footsteps on the stairs.

Once we’re back in my room, I eagerly pull out Ellery’s phone, navigating once again to that mysterious string of messages.

“What is that?” Declan asks.

“Ellery,” I say offhand, barely aware of the words I’m stringing together as I open the message chain. “She was…”

I don’t finish the thought. Because I’m finally reading the message chain between Ellery and “P.” It’s entirely one-sided. All outgoing messages, no responses. The first one to catch my eye is the most recent, from yesterday.

I can’t believe we’re here without you. It doesn’t seem real.

I feel my forehead scrunch, my eyes narrow. I scroll upwards, skimming as I go.

We checked into the Inn today. So many memories.