Page 13 of Healer’s Betrayal

Kayla

I stare at the closed door a moment as those words continue to ring in my ears. I have no idea who your uncle is or where he lives. If I did, he’d no longer be breathing. Neither will the person be that did that to your arm when I find out who did it. Then there was the way he said my name. Stay safe, Kayla.

“That guy was a nut job.”

Cole’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I spin around. I see Mama May’s stern gaze over his shoulder, and I blow out a breath. I don’t say anything in response to Cole’s statement; I don’t really know what to say. I’m still unnerved by the entire thing. “I’ve got to get back to work,” I manage to say. “Thanks, Cole.” I’m hoping he’ll get the hint and leave. I really don’t want to talk about it, and I really do need to get back to work. I face Noah. “Come on, let’s get you settled.” He walks with me back to the table. “I’ll put your order in, okay?” He nods, and I pause. “Thanks, Noah, for coming to check on me.” He gives me a solemn nod, but I don’t miss the look in his eyes. “They’re not here for Uncle Ben,” I tell him softly.

“Do you believe them?”

I nod. “I do.”

“How do you know?” he asks in a quiet voice.

“I just...do.” I ruffle his hair. “I really need to get back to work.” I frown down at his hair. “You need a haircut.” He ducks away from me. “Tomorrow,” I tell him. “We’ll cut it tomorrow.” I retie my apron. “I’ll bring your burger out as soon as you’re ready.” I’m reluctant to leave him, but if I want to keep my job, I need to keep moving. I head towards the kitchen, and Jessie sees me coming.

“You good?”

“Yeah.” I work on picking up the plates for one of my tables.

“So do you know those guys?”

I shake my head. “No.”

She leans close. “They were hot.”

I huff out a laugh. “Of course that’s what you would notice.”

She grins. “I’m not blind. They were packing some serious muscle. The dark-haired one? Mmmm.”

“The redhead was more muscular.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth and pray that she didn’t hear me. I have no idea what’s wrong with me; I’ve never been into red-haired guys before. Of course, I haven’t really been into a lot of guys at all. When you’re focused on survival, you don’t really have time to date around.

“Kayla,” she says in a shocked voice. “You noticed a man?”

I roll my eyes. “I notice men all the time.”

“I’ve never heard you say anything about any man. Ever. And we’ve worked together for nearly two months.”

I pick up my tray. “Gotta go deliver this.”

“I’m not forgetting this conversation,” she calls out after me.

“I am,” I whisper shout back. Her laugh follows me to the table where I deliver my tray of food. I do my best to put everything behind me, but I’m having a hard time. My shift seems to drag, even though we’re busy. I get Noah’s burger to him but don’t take time to eat with him. I wouldn’t be able to anyway; my stomach is too sick.

When we get near the end of my shift, Butch catches me. “You good?”

“Yeah, Butch. Thanks.” He waves over Jessie. “Sam’s sick and not coming in. Either of you want the extra hours?”

I do. I need the money desperately, but I think of poor Noah and don’t know that I can’t ask him to stay several more hours. “You want them?” I ask Jessie.

“I’ll take them if you don’t want them.”

“Take them; I don’t want to keep Noah here for longer,” I tell her.

“Oh, what about a ride?” she asks.

I wave off her concern. “I’ll get an Uber; I need to check on my car anyway.”

“Are you sure?” she asks in concern.