Page 210

Grace wasn’t going to reach out to the grant more than she had to, so I knew that I had to be careful with this.

I didn’t know Dean, but I did know that Grace had always been kind. I knew that she had inherited her mom’s house, and many of the townspeople had talked about how it was falling apart under her care. They all wanted to help, but she didn’t seem to want to accept it.

Alice had brought the grant idea to me and had always helped me with it. I could send money for legal fees, saying that I somehow knew about it. All I had to do was approve the check, and I did. But right before Alice mailed it off, I wondered if Grace would ever cash it.

That was when I’d written the note.

I’d been nervous as hell, worried I would be caught. Worried that the town would turn away from help, knowing it was me. Or worse, that they would figure out just how much I cared and how much I’d messed things up before leaving.

But Jade would know my handwriting. We had passed notes back and forth through class many times. She always made fun of how I wrote my A’s and D’s in uppercase and how it looked like an old man’s scrawl.

Of course, that had been years ago, back when we were in school.

“You don’t recognize this handwriting, do you?” She turned to me with raised eyebrows. “I feel like it’s familiar, but I can’t place it.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

I could say yes, but the idea was terrifying. Admitting it meant I’d have to come to terms with all I’d done for her and this town, and all I’d do for the future.

The mystery of who ran the STM grant had to stay a secret.

But being here made it so difficult.

“Who am I kidding,” she muttered. “I really need to let this go.”

“Let what go?”

“Hunting down the grant owner.” She shook her head. “I highly doubt they wanna be found anyway.”

“You were hunting them down?”

“I was, but I shouldn’t be. Why would I mess up a good thing?” She checked her phone and stood. “I need to get my mind off this and school’s gonna let out soon. Can I go with you to get Agnes and Beatrice?”

I was too busy processing what she’d said to answer. If Jade was looking into this, then I was in trouble. I’d already revealed far too much, even if I hadn’t said directly who I was. When I started this whole thing, I thought that I would never return to Strawberry Springs. No one would ever know it was me, nor would they need to.

Obviously, the town didn’t have the same thought. They wanted to know who I was, and I’d never considered telling them.

“Gabriel?” Jade asked. “Are you okay?”

I forced myself out of my thoughts. Continuing to stare wouldn’t help. “I’m fine,” I said. “Of course you can join.”

With the way my heart was beating, I was worried that I would need her help anyway.

I was determined not to let anything show, but Jade knew something was wrong as we drove to the school. She was far smarter than anyone ever gave her credit for. If I gave any sort of hint of what I’d done, she would figure it out.

We had a few minutes to wait before the girls were out, and we sat in a somewhat uncomfortable silence. I had no idea what to say.

Jade didn’t share that sentiment. “Are you going back soon?”

“What?”

“You’re quiet, and you’ve not sat still, which means you’re probably guilty of something. You can tell me if you’ve got an update on the apartment. I’ll be able to handle it.”

I hadn’t given any thought to my old place, nor had I been given any updates.

“It’s not that. And I’m not guilty about anything.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know you.” Her voice went tight, and I knew that continuing to deny it would only lead us to an argument.