28 Days(57)
He’d certainly been loving, especially since she was in the hospital. But before she was taken, they’d argued and had many a disagreement about how he thought Saige should live her life, as opposed to how she wanted to live it.
Her father hadn’t agreed with her choice in men either. To their face, he’d been polite, but she remembered hearing him ranting on and on to Christina about every boyfriend she’d brought home. She remembered how violent those arguments had become when he talked about Quinten and how he wasn’t good enough for her.
She’d hated that.
About to ask Christina about Quinten, raindrops landed on Saige’s bare shoulders. She glanced at her stepmom, who’d glanced back at her. “We better hurry,” Christina suggested.
Scrambling up, they jogged along the jetty toward the boathouse as the drops became a lot heavier.
“I have to be somewhere soon so I’ll see you in the morning,” Christina said as she continued jogging up to the house. She’d be soaked by the time she got there.
“What were you talking about?”
Saige jumped a mile and laughed. “You scared the crap out of me, Alex.”
“Sorry.” He grinned, although it was clear from the mischievous look on his face that he wasn’t sorry at all.
“Hmm.” Saige stood under the overhang above the door to the boathouse and watched Alex as he watched her. She smiled and shook her head. “She told me what my father told you about her, which was a lie in case you were wondering.”
Alex blinked and his eyes had lost all humor. “She told you that?”
Saige tipped her head to the side and realized Alex had been hurt just as much as Christina had. “I overheard it, first out of my father’s mouth. He hit her and told her to end your affair and if she didn’t, he’d end it for her, and not in a way that she’d like. He threatened you, and at that point, Christina agreed to end it. She loved you, Alex, and wanted you safe. It hurt her that you believed what my father had told you.”
Alex shoved his hands into his pockets. “It was obvious that she needed me to leave her alone, so I chose to let her believe what she did. I went away and got drunk. Just when I decided I wasn’t willing to give her up and intended to fight for her, all the shit with you and Quinten happened.”
Saige waited until he met her gaze. “Don’t let her go this time.” Once her words had been received, she decided against the boathouse and went back up to the house.
Day 14
3:00pm
* * *
Unable to sit at home any longer, Saige headed into town with the plan of going into the pharmacy again. With a bit of luck, Paul would be inside stocking the shelves. She wanted to talk to him because the last time she’d been inside she’d gotten the feeling he was nervous and she wanted to know why.
She’d gone to school with Paul but had never really spoken to him. He’d been a loner and others had been cruel with the name calling. Back then, his mother, Agnes, used to make the best milkshakes anyone had ever had.
A lot had changed in Port Jude over the years and the town was more geared toward tourists passing through than for the people who lived in the area. It was a shame to see some of the changes from what she’d held as fond childhood memories.
Some things would probably never change and that was the barbershop quartet. Mr. Matheson was the eldest and had held his chair from when she’d been in high school, and he never missed a thing. As she started across the street now, he watched her—so did the others.
“You stepping inside?” Rosa asked, pulling her out of her reverie.
Rosa was forever fifty, but was probably close to ninety now. Her hair was pure white and her brown wrinkled face had aged well, and she always had a welcoming smile. Although she smiled now for Saige, the elderly woman had a frown marring her brow.
Saige smiled. “I am. How are you today?”
“Just fine.”
Saige went to step past Rosa but paused when the other woman took hold of her wrist. “I never believed that young man had anything to do with your abduction,” she whispered before skittering away like a scared mouse.
Saige frowned after her as she continued into the pharmacy. Did Rosa know something?
Rubbing her brow, Saige turned and met Paul’s gaze. The minute she did, Paul looked away and continued with his work. His hands shook the closer Saige got to him.
Saige glanced around and noticed he was alone, which was good. If Agnes had been there, then Saige’s chances of talking to the man would have been zero.
“Afternoon, Paul,” she said, hoping to put him at ease. “It’s too warm to be outside and I started reminiscing about the milkshakes that your mother used to sell here. Do you remember? They were so popular that the kids would grumble when she closed that down during the winter months.”
Paul smiled. “I remember,” he mumbled. “You used to like the strawberry, peanut butter one.” He screwed his face up. “I remember trying that one and it made me sick.”
“It was my favorite back then. I don’t think I could drink it now though. Now I’m more of a coffee drinker than anything.” She smiled. “How are you doing?”
He hesitated. “I’m doing well. Still hoping to get away from small-time life, but it isn’t easy,” he whispered. “Everyone knows something about someone else that can get them into trouble. I know it’s what happens when you live in a place like Port Jude, but I hate that. At least, no one knows my secret.” He grinned but it didn’t reach his eyes. A chill raced down her spine forcing her to take a step back.