Page 26 of Running to You

“Hey!”

They turned at the voice.

The seventy-something neighbor across the street raised a hand to block the sun. “Eliza?”

Sam and Eliza met her in the driveway. “Hey, Mrs. Jensen,” Eliza said. “How are you?”

“Confused.” She looked from Eliza to Sam and back. “Not that I’m not glad to see you. What’s it been? Five years? What are you doing here?”

“Uh…” The gray-haired woman’s words had Eliza stumbling over her own. Five years since she’d been to her mother’s house? That couldn’t be right. “I came to see Mom. You know where she is?”

“What happened to you?” The woman’s sharp gaze hit Sam. “He do that?” She grabbed Eliza’s arm and tugged. “You come home with me. You don’t need that piece of garbage.”

Eliza pried herself away, then rubbed her wrist. She’d taken the bandage off earlier, not wanting to alarm Mom, but it still ached. “What’s going on?”

“You’re asking me that? You’re the one with the bruises. The one who hasn’t been home in ages. You’re supposed to be with your mother.”

“I am?”

“What do you mean?” The woman’s gaze flicked to Sam as if it were all his fault. “He keep you from going?”

“Going where, exactly?” she asked.

“Florida, of course.”

Florida?

“I don’t remember…” Eliza started over. “I was in an accident.” Seemed easier to say that than explain what she didn’t know.

“Is that what you call it when some guy roughs you up?” Again, the woman glared at Sam.

“Hold up, now.” Sam lifted his hands. “I had nothing to do with what happened to Eliza. I’m just trying to help.”

The woman opened her mouth to retort.

“Sam’s a friend,” Eliza said quickly. “My memory’s got a few holes in it. Why is Mom in Florida?”

Mrs. Jensen’s head tilted to the side. “She said she was going with you. She asked me to keep an eye on her place, which is why I came over. Saw you two on the stoop.”

If Eliza was supposed to be in Florida with Mom, then how had she ended up in Shadow Cove?

“For how long?” Sam asked. “Did she say when she’d be back?”

“Just said her daughter needed her.”

“Huh. That’s…” Eliza turned to Sam. “It doesn’t make sense.” Fear and confusion pitched her words high.

“We’ll figure it out. It’s okay.” To Mrs. Jensen, he said, “Thanks for your help.”

The woman turned to leave, but Sam asked, “Do you have a key? Eliza lost hers, and we need to get inside.”

The older woman fished a set of keys from her pocket. She took her time removing one, then handed it to Eliza. “Leave it under the mat at the back door when you’re finished. I’ll pick it up later. Unless you plan to stay, in which case—”

“No.” Just being here swirled anxiety in her stomach. “I’ll leave it for you. Thanks.”

“Mmm-hmm. You let me know if you need anything.” She marched across the street toward her split-level.

“I’ve still got my charm, obviously.”