Page 35 of Found in Wild Sage

I don’t like talking through this, even though I’ve worked through my own feelings of it all to some degree, but the evidence of his disgust for Trevor spurs me on.

“He was never nice, but he had this magnetic energy. I’d known him a long time and I thought he was a hard worker, and his best friend was a police officer. He was protective of me, he seemed to really want me, and he was faithful to me.” What a laugh. “Until he wasn’t. And I had the audacity to question him about it. That was the first time he hurt me.”

I’ve never seen Declan so much as ruffled, but right now, he looks far from composed. I don’t want this to drag on, so I rush through the rest. “Once he got started, he didn’t stop. Even when I got pregnant. I was able to stay away from him better, worked a ton, and finally told a nurse at the OB clinic. But I was afraid to get the police involved because he’d made a point of telling me they’d never believe me. I wish I hadn’t believed him.”

“You trusted him.” He speaks through gritted teeth.

“I did. And right when I would’ve pulled away, he promised he’d be different, he proposed, and that was the night I got pregnant. Then I felt trapped. But that nurse helped me. She talked me through who in my life might be able to help, and finally, I went to Louisa, Jack’s housekeeper. I had no idea she’d go right to Jack.” I chuckle, thinking back on the absolute horror that doused me when she asked me to join her and Jack in a meeting.

“I was mortified, but do you know what Jack did?” Sometimes, I can’t believe it myself.

“What?”

“He apologized to me. Said he was sorry for not being more observant, for not asking me how I was. And of course, I wouldn’t have confessed to my celebrity employer that I was being hurt, but…” Emotion clogs my throat for a moment. “It helped that he didn’t make it my fault, you know?”

“Of course he didn’t. It’s not your fault. You know that, right?”

“I do. It took a while to accept it, but I do.” Counseling. Reading. Crying. But also looking at my son and knowing I needed to be healthy for him. That I couldn’t fall to pieces. I had to rebuild and start fresh, and thanks to Jack’s help and the people of Juniper View, I have.

“Good. Because you’re amazing.”

I can’t stifle a smile. He’s said something like this before, but it’s a thrill nonetheless. “Thanks.”

“What made you choose Juniper View instead of Silver Ridge?”

I take a drink of water to wash down another delicious bite of the dinner he made before answering. “I wanted small. I’d been in LA forever and I loved Silver Ridge, but Jack took me around to a few places on the outskirts, and Juniper View had what we need. A good family practice place for Charlie and more than one childcare option, cute businesses where I could see myself working, and…”

“You can say whatever you want, Evie. I’m not going to judge you.”

I believe him. “Your brother made me feel safe. I mean, you know this better than most I guess, but having a baby in the middle of nowhere is an incredibly vulnerable situation. He was so steady and certain and encouraging. And I just thought, if that’s the way he was in a crisis, he must be a really good sheriff in other ways.”

“He is. You’re right about that.”

I can’t read his expression or tone now, but I’m almost finished. “I found an apartment, and then I lucked out because Tammy wanted to retire early. I had been doing house cleaning for years, but I had also done some admin stuff for the company, and… Well, here I am.”

His gaze is steady on me. “Here you are.”

We stay locked in a stare for a beat. Then another.

“I’m glad I ended up here.”

“I am, too.”

I press my lips together so my face doesn’t explode in a smile.

“And now, Evie Hansen, I need to ask you something very serious.”

“Okay.” He’s so straight-faced, I honestly can’t tell if he’s joking, or if there’s more to discuss. Of course there is, but I’m ready for lighter fare for a bit.

“Do you like ice cream?”

A giggle escapes me. I am elated to report I do, and his response to this is to clear the plates, then pull out a container of very clearly homemade vanilla ice cream. With it, he has more fresh peaches and a homemade raspberry sauce. I am now certain his claim that he’s good at a few dishes is total fiction. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he grew these peaches, too.

We take bowls of the ice cream out to eat on his back patio. It’s adorable, just like the rest of his home. There is a small stretch of grass where the playground sits, and the rest is graveled, or planted with what I’d just bet are sustainable water-saving plants.

“This is beautiful.” And despite being fairly close to downtown, quite peaceful. Though I guess that’s what happens when your downtown is Juniper View’s historic downtown and not inner-city LA.

“I spend a lot of time out here.”