a reason to live(10)
A bottle and four shot glasses landed on the table before I could leave, then Max took a seat next to his wife.
“What are we toasting?” he asked as he started filling the glasses.
“Not what, but whom. Private Emma Jane Sloan, United States Army,” Maxine answered, then grabbed a shot glass and raised it.
I turned to her in shock. Tears welled as we stared back at one another. With a nod of appreciation, I reached out and took one for myself. Then I raised it and mumbled in a broken voice, “To Em,” as a tear trailed down my cheek.
“Who’s Emma?” Max asked softly.
“My sister. I’m Sage Sloan, by the way. My sister was in Sergeant, I mean Shane’s unit in Afghanistan. She died one year ago today, and he blames himself for her death.”
Max looked at his mother then closed his eyes slowly, muttering, “Jesus.” He stayed that way for a moment then he opened his eyes and turned back to me, clinking his glass to mine. “To Emma,” he stated with emotion. Mia and Maxine followed suit, then we all threw back our shots.
Max stood immediately after, pulling his keys from his pocket, asking Maxine to take Mia home. Then he kissed his wife sweetly and marched out of the bar with a determined look on his face.
“Now that we have the four-one-one on Shane, how about you tell me why you’re afraid to go home?”
“I’m sorry?” I replied, stalling.
“Don’t give me that ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ look.”
“What look?” Mia asked. “Are you in trouble, Sage?”
“Um—”
“You’re staying with me. I’ve got an ax under my pillow.”
“I don’t think—a what under your pillow? “
“An ax. You know, sharp edge, used for chopping. I won’t take no for an answer, so don’t even try,” Maxine warned.
I stared for a moment then decided she was joking. An ax? Funny woman.
“But I’ve already rented a cabin outside of town and planned to look for a job tomorrow if I decide to stay. I’d just be in your way.” However, after my encounter with the Sergeant, I knew I wasn’t staying long. I’d have to leave Trails End so I wasn’t a constant reminder to him of Emma Jane.
“What danger?” Mia asked again.
“It’s not smart for a woman to be on her own when trouble is following her. Just ask Mia.” Maxine pointed to her daughter-in-law, and I remembered reading about her brush with a killer.
“How on earth did you know?”
“Easy. When Shane said, ‘go home,’ your face lost all its color. The thought of returning scared the shit out of you.”
“What trouble?” Mia fairly shouted.
After dealing with the two women for close to an hour, I figured out quickly it was easier to give in than to try to stall. Besides, there was no harm in telling them the truth if I wasn’t staying long.
“I’ve been receiving threatening gifts and letters for the past six months. I work as a liaison between Child Protective Services and the courts back home. I counsel children in abusive or neglectful environments and help determine who is awarded custody. It’s clear someone out there doesn’t like a decision we made and now they’re threatening me. So, I packed up my life, took a leave of absence from my work, and told my mother I was going on a three-month cruise so she wouldn’t worry. I didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I came here.”
“You came here hoping Shane could help you, didn’t you?”
This woman was too shrewd for my own good.
“Honestly, I’m not sure why I came. But the fact that Emma said he was a good man, one of the bravest men she’d ever met, I guess made me hope he could help me. I see now that was a foolish thought.”
Both women’s faces softened, and I lowered my gaze.
God, I’m an idiot for coming here.
“What do the police say?” Mia finally asked.
“Their hands are tied until this person makes a move against me,” I answered with a shrug.
Maxine scoffed in disgust.
“Well, fear not, young lady. We take care of our own here in Trails End. Once I tell Maximilian what’s what, he’ll make sure Chester keeps a close eye on you. My boy is on the city council and a leader in this community. When he bellows, people listen,” she stated proudly. “Now then, let’s get Mia home and check you out of that high-priced cabin so you can relax. I’ve got a hot tub on my deck if you brought a bathing suit, and Mia can tell you from personal experience it does the trick when you’re stressed.”
“Um, I’m pretty sure staying with you is a bad idea.”