Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(21)

“You doin’ okay?” For a big man, he had the gentlest voice.

“Amazing. I mean, I don’t like being in the shelter, but it’s comfortable and the people are nice. Helpful. The director helped me get a job. I’m gardening again.”

“Never understood why you love diggin’ around. My people did everything they could to stop all that. I’ll take bright lights and city life any day. I’m thinking about taking that job in Vegas.”

But he wouldn’t. His family lived just south of San Francisco. For Petey, family came first. She heard the edge in his voice. They were dancing around the reason he’d written to her.

“Petey, tell me what’s up.”

“Never could hide anything from you.”

He told her about Eddie coming into the casino. Again.

“Are you sure it was Eddie?”

“He gave me his name and card this time. But he believed me when I said I didn’t know where you were. Hell, I don’t know where you are. From the way he interrogated me, it’s probably a good thing. I’m guessing he’s a pro.”

“A pro?”

“That he’s had some training. PI or Fed. Maybe a cop.”

Her mouth went dry. She cleared her tightening throat. “Oh, Petey.”

“He said he’s looking to make amends to people he’s wronged. Some AA thing. Sounded true to me.”

“He’ll have to make do with apologizing to other people. I don’t want him ever knowing anything about Tyler.”

“I think you’re safe there. He said he had to go out of the country on business. He seemed like a man short on time, nervous-like. He’s probably long gone by now. You know how those rich boys are. Fickle-hearted bastar—”

He stopped before finishing the word.

“It’s okay, Petey. I’ve heard the word before. Thanks for keeping my secret.” Her pulse had slowed at the news that Eddie—if it really had been Eddie—was leaving the country. Good riddance. “I’m glad he’s leaving. I still look over my shoulder way too much.”

“Sorry to have to bring all this up, but I thought you should know. Be prepared, just in case.”

“It’s another world over here.” She wasn’t allowed to say where. Not while she lived in the shelter. “And I can’t believe my luck in getting the job they found for me. They have health insurance, Petey. The real deal, all paid for. And employees get to own shares of the business.”

“They need a bouncer?”

She laughed.

“I’m aiming to get a place in a few weeks. Tyler and I are on a list for some low-cost housing and it looks pretty sure we’ll get in. It’s a new place. Imagine living in a place where no one has lived but you. Once we’re settled, I’d like to cook you dinner.”

“I’ll take you up on the picnic. I need to check out that boy’s swing. He’s got potential, you know. I can see it.”

Petey had done a stint in baseball’s minor leagues before a back injury had put him out of the game. But to Tyler, he was a hero. Over the years, he’d taken the time to play ball with Tyler during school breaks and on weekends.

“He’s ten, Petey. It’s a bit early to—”

“Talent is talent. The boy has good genes.”

There was an awkward silence.

“I like to think the half he got from me are good, at least. Thanks for the warning. And thanks again for keeping me off the radar.”

“You gonna make fried chicken?”

“Only if you bring biscuits.”

“It’s a deal, Tash.”

She clicked off the phone. Whoosh, just like that, information could rock what had seemed to be a secure world.

Eddie was looking for her after all these years? She’d heard about the making-amends thing—women in the evening groups talked about their AA programs, the steps, the work to get their lives on track and rebuild respect in themselves and trust in others.

Well, Eddie would have to live with the truth of what he’d done without apologizing to her. He’d broken her jaw. She should’ve called the police. Should’ve put the bastard behind bars. But something had stopped her. Something in his eyes. She couldn’t do it. And they might not have found him anyway. All she knew was his first name, if it even was his name. She thanked the heavens that was all he knew of her too, her first name. She might’ve been a naive eighteen-year-old, but she’d been savvy enough not to tell him her last name. Or maybe somewhere deep down she’d been aware he’d be trouble.

But she’d never regret that night. Not in a million years. She would’ve endured far more if she’d known it would bring her the gift of her baby. Her boy. Tyler was everything good about the world. He’d renewed her will to live. Strange how out of horror could come its antidote.

She pulled the lettuce she’d brought home from her job from the tiny fridge and began to tear the leaves into the plastic salad bowl she’d bought at the thrift store in town. Green and tender, the leaves smelled like spring. Sometimes she imagined that spring smelled like hope. Or promise. And she didn’t trust either one.





Two days later, Natasha was fluffing the soil in one of the side garden beds nearest the kitchen of the main house at Casa del Sole when her cellphone rang. With a quick swipe, she brushed the dirt from her hands and answered.