Run, Hide - By Carol Ericson Page 0,65
operate. We’re always working on resettlement locations—and the safe houses. These things happen on the spur of the moment. You can’t expect us to come up with places within a few days.”
“I’m impressed.” Cade waved the check at the waitress. “So you already had some locations lined up.”
“Exactly, so no hotels for us tonight. We have a little house rented and ready to go. Oh—” a blush stole over her cheeks “—I hope you don’t mind if I crash with you one more night. I’ll be on my way the following day.”
“Of course not. Where would you stay at eleven o’clock at night?”
Cade grabbed a napkin and wiped the syrup off Gavin’s hands. “We keep talking about eleven o’clock, but if we don’t get moving that’s going to be eleven o’clock a.m.”
He gave up on Gavin’s hands and hauled him to the bathroom to wash with soap and water.
Beth tilted her chin toward them—father and son. “Looks like he’s taken to parenting.”
“I had no doubt about it.” Actually, she’d had lots of doubts after what he’d gone through with Kevin, but with every minute Cade spent with Gavin, his confidence as a father grew.
She just hoped their stint in Grenfield, Texas, wouldn’t make Cade long for bachelor life again.
On the fifteen-hour drive to Texas, the three of them switched off driving duties, took turns entertaining Gavin and even caught a nap or two.
The little car, which had seen Cade and Jenna through five states in fewer than five days, rolled onto the dark streets of Grenfield.
Beth punched up the directions on her smartphone and called out the turns to Cade in the driver’s seat. When he turned on a street lit with old-fashioned streetlights, she said, “It’s on the left—five eighty-two.”
“This looks nice.” Jenna rolled down the window. “Not too cold, either.”
“Texas is known for its extremes in temperatures. Eighty degrees one day and forty-eight the next.” He peered out the window and pulled up to the curb in front of a light-colored house with a big tree in the front. “I think this is five eighty-two.”
He cut the engine and sat for several moments with his hands on the steering wheel.
Was he regretting this already?
“Well, let’s take a look at our new—temporary—home.” Jenna reached for her door handle first in the backseat.
It seemed to drag Cade out of the spell the house had seemed to cast over him. “I’ll get Gavin. He’ll be ready to burn some energy tomorrow.”
“Just hope he stays asleep tonight or we’ll never get him down.”
Beth magically produced the key to the house and stepped inside first, flicking on the nearest light switch.
Homey. The furnished living room exuded an air of normalcy. This could be any room in any house in any city in America. She and Cade and Gavin would blend in. Nothing dangerous here. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“Is it okay?” Beth nibbled on her fingernail, and Jenna realized how hard her job had to be and how seriously she took it.
“It’s perfect. Cade?” She turned to Cade disappearing down a short hallway with Gavin in his arms.
“Shh.”
Jenna took a turn around the room and punched a button on the wall to turn on some recessed lights in the kitchen.
Cade returned to the living room, brushing his hands together. “The kid didn’t make a peep.”
“H-how’s the house?” Beth had edged to the window and peeked through the blinds.
“It’s fine. Thanks, Beth. You’re a miracle worker.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the hallway. “And there are three bedrooms back there, so you can have your own room tonight.”
“That’s good, not that I don’t like you guys.”
“And you even have a toothbrush. I could give you a change of clothes for tomorrow. I know how hard it is running around the country in the same outfit with nothing to change into.”
Beth cocked her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m a little bigger than you. I’ll be heading back to my hotel in Arizona tomorrow, anyway.”
Cade sidled next to Jenna and slipped an arm around her waist. “We still need to figure out the transportation, unless you have a car for us here, too.”
“No such luck, but I can take a bus back.”
“Or you can take our car, or rather Prospero’s car, and we can find something else while we’re here.”
“You shouldn’t be without transportation, Cade.”
He yawned. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. You don’t have to leave first thing in the morning. Rest, give us some tips for surviving with our new