Читать книгу Nowhere To Hide - Debby Giusti - Страница 11

Lydia pressed her foot down on the accelerator while her hands clutched the steering wheel white-knuckle. She wished she could drive until there were no more men who could steal Tyler away.

And she never wanted to see another black Mercedes again.

Of course, that might be tough on an island full of wealthy home owners. The car could have belonged to an island resident merely out for a drive.

Just like that, she felt foolish for running away. Foolish, tired, scared—the same feelings that had plagued her over these last seven months.

Tyler sat forlornly next to her. His blond hair hung damp with perspiration, the smell of a little boy who’d been hard at play filling the car.

Lydia forced in a deep breath, hoping to quiet her pounding heart and the pulse of blood running rampant through her veins. Would she react this way every time she saw a black Mercedes?

Checking her speed, Lydia eased her foot from the gas pedal. “Tyler?”

The boy stared straight ahead.

“I’m sorry we had to leave.”

Tyler’s fingers twisted around the buckle of his seatbelt. “Was he wearing an Action-Pac watch?”

“Who, honey?”

“The man in the black car.”

A chill ran down Lydia’s spine. “Did the man in the school yard wear one?”

Tyler nodded, his eyes wide, his forehead wrinkled with worry. “An A.P. digital. I didn’t see his face, but I saw his watch when he tried to grab me.”

Lydia’s stomach roiled at the memory of that frightful afternoon. Before this, Tyler had never mentioned a watch. Another clue, but would it help her find the man who tried to grab her son?

“You know, honey, sometimes I overreact. Now that I think about it, that wasn’t the same car as in Atlanta. And the driver wasn’t wearing a watch.”

No way she could have seen the man’s wrist, but she needed to reassure her son.

Tyler’s lower lip inched forward in a pout. “Then why’d we have to leave?”

Lydia sighed. How could she explain her immediate panic? Seeing the car had made her heart pound with fear. Her only thought had been to protect Tyler. So she’d pulled him from the beach activity.

Now, the look on her son’s face made Lydia realize her mistake. From here on, she needed to remain calm. Sanctuary Island was far from Atlanta. She and Tyler were safe here. At least for a while.

“I know you wanted to stay longer.”

He scrubbed a sandy hand across his face and captured the tear trailing down his cheek. “Bobby and Chase said we did the best. We could’ve won.”

Tyler needed stability and security, not a mother who ran scared. She smiled reassuringly. “I’m glad you had a good time.”

“Can I see Bobby again?”

“Maybe later.” A normal life, that’s what Tyler deserved, filled with friends and fun.

“Bobby said he’s having some of the guys over next Saturday. He invited me.”

Lydia’s throat constricted. She swallowed the lump threatening to shut off her airway. She wasn’t ready to let Tyler out of her sight for an hour, let alone a whole night. “We’ll see,” was all she could promise.

Turning into Katherine’s driveway, Lydia felt an unexpected sense of coming home. The house that loomed ominously two nights ago seemed like a safe refuge in the light of day.

Birds flittered in the trees, chirping a welcome song as a rambunctious squirrel dug for nuts at the foot of the live oak tree. At the far edge of the lawn, brick-red begonias nestled next to azalea bushes, thick with blooms, while purple periwinkles fluttered in the breeze.

“Get the library books from the backseat,” Lydia told Tyler as she pulled the key from the ignition.

“Bobby doesn’t have schoolwork. He’s on vacation.”

Lydia smiled. “But you’re not. Your school is still in session. At least for another two weeks. You’re on…” She thought for a minute. “A sabbatical.”

Tyler scrunched up his face. “What’s that?”

“It’s time away from your regular work so you can concentrate on special projects.”

“Was that what you were doing on the computer at the library?”

Lydia sighed. She hated lying, but she never wanted her child to know about his father’s nefarious activities.

“I’ve got an idea for a project I think you should do.”

Tyler’s shoulders slumped as he grabbed the books from the backseat, slammed the door and sighed. “More work.”

“Would a PB&J make it better?”

His face brightened. “Yum!”

Lydia had just handed Tyler his sandwich when the phone rang. She tensed. Who would be calling?

Slowly, she raised the phone to her ear and smiled with relief when she heard Katherine’s hello.

“How’s your sister-in-law?” Lydia asked immediately.

“Feisty and stubborn. The doctor said her progress is remarkable.”

“Because you’re there to help. You’ve been so thoughtful to us, as well, Katherine. Clothing and toys for Tyler, groceries—”

“Enough of that. I knew you’d never use my credit card. I decided to take the situation into my own hands. Besides, we’re family. And that’s what families do. Help one another.”

“How can I ever thank you?”

“By taking care of yourself and Tyler. You’ve been through so much. Use this time to heal.”

Tears stung Lydia’s eyes. She blinked to keep them from spilling down her cheeks, grateful Tyler had gone into the living room to play.

“I know what you had to put up with when it came to Sonny,” Katherine said.

“He tried to be a good father. It was the husband role that seemed to be the problem.”

“I blame his upbringing. And that sister of mine who ran off and left him as a child. Then his father thought he could raise him and wouldn’t ask for my help. Without God in his life, Sonny never learned about sacrifice and commitment. Tell me, dear, were you ever happy?”

The question caught Lydia off guard.

“At first everything seemed good. Maybe I was naive. We were young and poor.”

Despite their differences, she and Sonny had made the best of a bad situation. Until the day she had walked into his office and discovered the vile pictures on his computer screen.

Change of subject. “You know, Katherine, I saw some photos on a bulletin board in the Community Center.”

“Joel Cowan’s work. He’s the island photo bug.”

“Funny, but a man in one of the pictures looked like Sonny.”

“Why that’s odd. Sonny always said he was too busy to visit the island.”

“But he encouraged you to move here.”

“That’s right, dear. After Patrick died. Sonny said a man he worked with knew about the gated community. Although Sonny never implied he’d been to Sanctuary.”

If Sonny hadn’t visited Katherine, then what had he been doing on the island? And who was the other man in the photo?

“My mistake, no doubt,” Lydia said. “I hope you can relax a bit while you’re in Ireland. See some of the sights.”

“Actually, one of the neighbors took me for a nice ride today. A gentleman about my age. He’s been so thoughtful. I invited him to join us for dinner. I must say I’m enjoying his company.”

Lydia smiled, happy for the woman who seemed more like her aunt than Sonny’s.

“Wouldn’t hurt you to look around, Lydia. Find someone to make your days a little brighter. In due time, of course.”

Matt Lawson’s smiling face as he worked with the children on the beach came to mind. Lydia shook off the thought and concentrated on what Katherine was saying.

“Tell that sweet grandnephew of mine to go next door and meet Bobby Jackson. They’re about the same age. Sarah and Rob are good folks.”

“The boys are already friends.” Lydia told Katherine about the contest and the fun on the beach.

“I’m glad he had a good time. By the way, the Community Church is on the mainland, just off the Bay Road. Nice congregation. When you’re ready.”

“Matt mentioned it.”

Katherine gave Lydia her phone number in Ireland. “Your cell won’t work transatlantic.”

“Stupid of me, but I forgot it in Atlanta,” Lydia admitted. Really stupid. In her rush to pick up Tyler, she’d left the phone at the police station.

“No problem, just call direct. And hug Tyler for me.”

Lydia hung up, wondering about the Community Church Katherine mentioned. Matt said he helped with the youth program. Not what she expected from a former cop. But then, she had a jaded view of law enforcement.