The taller of the two smiled at Chloe. “Those are absolutely lovely, dear. I’m impressed that you could focus on picking the perfect flowers after such a harrowing experience.”
“Thank you.” What else could she say? “I try to keep my mind on the job.”
“But aren’t you terrified?” The shorter, more rotund woman shuddered, her owl-eyed gaze filled with both fear and anticipation, as if she were hoping for a juicy tidbit of information to pass along.
“Not really.” At least no more than she’d been before she’d come to Lakeview. “The sheriff assured me he’d do everything he could to find the person responsible.”
Though Chloe wondered if he’d be saying the same after he talked to the police in D.C. She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation they were going to have when he found out about her recent hospitalization and its supposed cause.
She refused to worry about it and tried to focus on her job instead, shoving the carnations into a vase and scowling when two stems broke.
“Keep it up and I’ll be out of business in no time.” Opal took the flowers and vase from her hands, smiling at the women who were watching wide-eyed and interested. “I’ll finish this up. Aren’t you supposed to go to the police station today?”
“Yes, but it can wait.”
“You know how I feel about procrastination. It only makes more work for everyone. Go punch out and head over there. Since we don’t know how long it’s going to take, I think you should just take the rest of the day off.”
“We’ve had a lot of business so far, Opal. Are you sure you want to handle the rest of the afternoon alone?”
“I handled it alone for two years before I hired help. Besides, I’ve hired a kid from church to come in after school until Jenna gets back. Laura’s her name. She’s a senior trying to save money for college. It should work out well for all of us. Now, go ahead and do what needs doing. Then go have some fun.”
“Fun?” Fun was puppies and kittens, laughter and friendship. Relaxation. Fun was something Chloe wasn’t even sure she knew how to do anymore.
“Yes, fun. Go shopping. Get your nails done. Better yet, go to Becky’s Diner and have a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of ice cream on it. That’s fun.”
“It does sound good.” But being at home sounded better. Safe behind closed doors and locked in tight.
“But you won’t do it.”
“I might.”
“Hmph. We’ll see, I guess. Now, get out of here. I’ve got work to do and you’re distracting me.”
“Destroying flowers and distracting you. I don’t know why you keep me on.”
“Because you bring in so much business. Now, shoo.”
Chloe laughed as she stepped through the doorway that led to the back of the shop.
It didn’t take long to punch out and gather her jacket and purse. Outside, the day was misty and cold, the thick clouds and steely sky ominous. Several cars were parked in the employee parking lot behind the building, but Chloe was the only person there. In the watery afternoon light, the stillness seemed unnatural, the quiet, sinister, and she was sure she felt the weight of someone’s stare as she hurried toward her car.
She shivered, fumbling for her keys, the feeling that she was being watched so real, so powerful, that she was sure she’d be attacked at any moment. Finally, the key slid into the lock, the door opened and she scrambled in, slamming the door shut, locking it.
Against nothing. The parking lot was still empty of life. The day still and silent.
“You’re being silly and paranoid.” She muttered the words as she put the car into gear. “Being afraid because an intruder is in the house is one thing. Being afraid to cross a parking lot in the middle of the day is ridiculous.”
But she was afraid.
No amount of self-talk, no amount of rationalization could change that.
She sighed, steering her vintage Mustang toward the parking lot exit. Opal was right. She needed to do something fun, something to get her mind off the tension and anxiety she’d been feeling since Saturday night, but she hadn’t had time to make friends since she’d come to Lakeview and she had no intention of going anywhere or doing anything by herself. The fact was, despite what the D.C. police had told her, despite what her friends, doctors and psychologist had said, she couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was following her. That the accident hadn’t been the end of the violence against her. That eventually the past would catch up to her. And when it did, she just might not survive.
No, she definitely didn’t want to go anywhere by herself, but she didn’t want to go with someone, either. Look what had happened to Adam because he was with her when a murderer struck.
Hot tears stung her eyes, but she forced them away. Tears wouldn’t help. Only answers could do that and Chloe didn’t have any. She’d been living her life, doing what she thought was right, trying her best to be the person God wanted her to be. Then the rug had been pulled out from under her, the stability she’d worked so hard for destroyed. All her childhood fears had come to pass—death, heartache, pain, faceless monsters stalking her through the darkness. Now, it seemed that God was far away, that her life had taken a taken a path that He wasn’t on and that no matter how hard she tried to get back on course, she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to believe differently, as much as she knew that God would never abandon His children, abandoned was exactly how she felt.
Abandoned and alone, her mind filled with nightmare images and dark shadows that reflected the hollow ache of her soul.
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