class and wait with a pounding heart for Lacey. I hope she didn’t see that note! I’m going to put Hayden in hospital for that. It had to be him!
The class fills and when the teacher comes in and there’s still no Lacey, I grab my stuff and without any excuse I run.
When I get to Lacey’s RV the door is open. I peek inside and see Sophia sitting on the couch. Her shoulders are slumped. She looks beaten down. I know she doesn’t approve of my friendship with Lacey, but I push past the bite of fear. “Morning Sophia,” I keep my voice down so I don’t scare her. “Is Lacey here?” I get a bitter pang in my gut as I remember that morning I found out she was missing.
Sophia looks up and for a second her glassy eyes don’t register. She gives me a bitter smirk and then holds something out to me.
I take a tentative step into the RV and take the piece of paper from her.
I recognize Lacey’s handwriting and a cold fear grabs hold of my heart as I start to read.
The words blur on the paper until I can’t see any of it. Everything stops around me, the background noise, my breaths, my heart … and then I hear Sophia say, “Lacey’s gone.”
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lacey~
The car pulls up next to me and when I see that it’s only a woman, I sign with relief.
She rolls down her window and smiles at me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you there. What are you doing out here so late?”
I swallow on the thick lump in my throat. “I’m heading to the city.” My voice is not as strong as I’d like it to be.
“Let me give you a ride.” When she sees me hesitate she adds, “You’ll walk the whole night and it’s not safe.”
She’s right and she’s not much bigger than me. I can take her on if she wants to hurt me. I glance up and down the road. I’m scared my parents will come looking for me. The thought alone is enough to make me jog around the car. The woman leans over and unlocks the passenger door. I get in before I can change my mind. The car is nice and warm and for a moment a light illuminates the inside, and I get a clear look at the woman. She has brown hair and blue eyes, and they remind me of Seth. A pang of sorrow clings to my heart, knowing that I’ll never see Seth again. He’ll always be a dream to me.
“I’m Jan,” the woman says.
I smile hesitantly. “I’m Lacey.” Once I say my name I regret it. I should have given her a fake name. Now she knows my real name!
She gives me a warm smile. “Hi, Lacey. Do you have a specific place I can drop you in the city?”
I didn’t think that far. Where will I sleep? I don’t even know how much money I took and if it will be enough for a night in a motel. Jan must see the panic on my face. She reaches over and pats my hands. I have them clinging to my dress. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything. I have an apartment in a nice building, close to my café. If you want you can stay there?”
Tears flood my eyes. I don’t know why I want to cry just because she’s nice to me. “I can’t just stay in your apartment. I have no money to pay give you for rent.” It physically hurts to admit that to her.
Her brow furrows and she bites her lip before she says. “You can help me in the coffee shop. I’ve been meaning to get someone. We can talk finances tomorrow. First things first, and that’s to get you to the apartment.”
I choke on the thick tears clogging up my throat. “Why?” She gives me a puzzled look. “Why are you being nice to me?” I clarify.
Her smile is warm when she says, “Because it could’ve been someone I love sitting in your position, and I would want that stranger to help them. It takes nothing to be kind and to help someone in need.”
I cover my mouth as the first tear rolls down my cheek. I don’t know if I can trust her but I sure hope so. I’m all out of fight. I pray she’s the real thing, my own personal angel sent to help me.
~*~
Chapter