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Mrs Jepson seemed pleased with herself as I placed the milk on the table.
“Help yourself, dear; I love to see a child eat,” Mrs Jepson urged.
A brief smile crossed my face. Mrs Jepson meant well, even if she saw too much for my liking. As we talked, I saw Faelea blossom under the older woman’s attention, and an idea crept into my head.
I sent Faelea to the back garden. I’d learned she liked to grow things. So, we’d been digging up a patch for her to grow her own fruit and vegetables in. It had been backbreaking work, but Faelea loved it.
“Could you babysit for me tomorrow, please?” I sought, taking the bull by the horns.
Mrs Jepson looked startled and then pleased I’d asked.
“Of course! Faelea is such a delight. And so industrious, she’s really into her gardening. I would love to help her with that. We can have such fun. Do you have an interview or a date, Julie dear?” Mrs Jepson questioned slyly.
“No, Faelea’s birthday is coming up, and I want to be able to shop without her discovering what I’m getting her. I could have something delivered, but…” I broke off before the last words escaped my mouth. Mrs Jepson would have known something was wrong if I told her it was the first year I got to buy anything for my baby.
“Oh, when is it? Are you having a party? Will she have some friends coming?” Mrs Jepson inquired, delighted.
“It’ll probably be Faelea and me, as we’ve just moved here, and we don’t know anyone,” I replied.
“That’s quite sad. Every little girl deserves a birthday party,” Mrs Jepson responded, shaking her head.
A wave of guilt hit me. I couldn’t provide Faelea with that this year.
“Yeah, well, next year will be different when she starts school,” I bit out and saw Mrs Jepson send me a shocked look.
“Oh dear, sorry, I wasn’t criticising you; I don’t always think before I speak,” Mrs Jepson said guiltily. “But by all means, go shopping, and I’ll watch Faelea. She’s such a sweet little thing. And she looks like you apart from her hair. Faelea must have inherited that colour from her father.”
“She did,” I replied shortly and hoped Mrs Jepson wouldn’t push. To my gratitude, she didn’t and instead discussed a time to arrive tomorrow and look after Faelea.
???
I walked down the street, carrying several bags already. In discussions with Faelea last night, I managed to get some idea of what she wanted. Despite having bought a lot of stuff since she’d moved in, it had all been mainly practical items. Furniture and bedding, clothing and shoes, and some books and other stuff. But I knew there were two sets of books she liked and a pair of boots that had been out of stock when we’d ordered everything.
Faelea also wanted some gardening books and lots of seeds to plant in her vegetable garden and a flower bed. I’d bought her some jewellery and a set of headphones that all the kids seemed to want nowadays.
I was strolling along, seeing what else caught my eye, when I heard bike pipes, and I looked up to see a biker pulling in opposite me. He didn’t notice me, but I noticed Gauntlet as he swung his leg over and went into a shop. Damn, he was handsome and most certainly fit. Gauntlet was a highly attractive male, and if I were inclined, I’d jump his bones without hesitation, despite his arrogant attitude and suspicious nature.
As I strolled, my attention half on the bike, I noticed a flash of black hair. It was momentary but gave me pause to look again. I felt the blood drain from my face as I saw the figure before me. Jax hadn’t noticed me yet, but it was only a matter of time. What was Jax doing here in RC? I ducked into a shop and hid behind some clothing racks. From my standpoint, I could see Jax as he glanced up and down the road. How the hell had Jax found me? And where was Arlo?
The sales assistant kept sending me worried looks as I watched the street. Maybe she believed I was there to steal something. Surreptitiously, I beckoned her over, and she came across warily.
“My ex-boyfriend is stalking me. Do you have a rear exit?” I whispered. The girl’s face cleared, and she shook her head sadly.
“No, but we have a staff room you can stay in,” she replied softly.
“Please,” I almost begged. I had to hide and then get home to Faelea and run.
“Is it the guy with black hair and wearing the white shirt and jeans?” she asked as she hustled me away.
“Yes!”
“Okay, stay here until he’s gone,” she responded kindly.
“Thank you so much. He frightens me,” I informed her, and she patted my hand and went back to the sales floor. Ten minutes later, she came and told me Jax had left, and she’d even checked the street for him.
Thanking her, I headed out and kept to the shadows as I walked towards the Harley, which was still parked up and to where I parked my car. As I approached my car, a figure walked out of a door four shops in front of me, and I froze. His gaze focused on me, and I knew it was over.
Arlo had found me.
