After making a quick bathroom stop inside, they placed their order in the drive-through lane. Shelby fastened Cody back into his toddler seat, and watched him munch on his breakfast sandwich through the rearview mirror. She wasn’t sure how much of Trina’s conversation about him being in danger he’d picked up on, so she tried to distract him. “Guess what? We’re heading into the north woods.”
Cody’s eyes widened, his interest piqued as she’d hoped. “Are we gonna see bears?”
“Nah, they’re hibernating for the winter. But we might see deer.” She took a sip of her coffee, hoping the caffeine would jump start her system now that the adrenaline rush had worn off.
“What about wolves? Or coyotes?”
Shelby shook her head, grinning wryly at Cody’s fascination with wild animals. “I don’t know, maybe.”
Cody loudly slurped his chocolate milk through a straw. Steady green eyes regarded her in the mirror. “Aunt Shelby?”
“Hmm?”
“Am I gonna live with you now, forever?”
Shelby sucked in a harsh breath and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Yes, she wanted to shout. Yes, you’ll stay with me forever. But the words clogged her throat. Did Cody sense the truth about his mother’s death? Did he know he was in danger? What was the best way to have this conversation?
Lord, give me some guidance here. How should I tell him? Please, Lord, help me find the best way to explain this.
“I don’t know, Cody. Maybe.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “First we’re going to visit your other dad.”
“My other dad?” Confusion wrinkled his brow.
“Yes. You’re a very special boy, Cody, because you have two dads. The dad you’ve been living with and your other dad.”
“After the visit, then I’m gonna live with you?” he persisted.
She wanted him to. Very much. Not right after the visit, as Cody had said, since they were still in danger. But once all of this was over… Still, she had no way of knowing if Alex, his biological father, would have other plans. Stephan wasn’t listed as Cody’s father and he’d married Trina after Cody’s birth, which meant Alex would have the edge, if he wanted custody. The idea made her stomach hitch. She didn’t know anything about Alex. Would he be a good father? Maybe she should find a way to disappear, keeping Cody with her forever.
As much as she wanted to do just that, her conscience wouldn’t let her. The thought of the bad man knowing Cody saw him scared her to death. Would the man know Cody was with her? Was that why Trina had told her not to go back to her apartment over the day care center? She couldn’t take a chance. No matter what the future held, Cody’s safety had to be her first concern.
And regardless of who Alex was, he had a right to know about his son.
“I don’t know, Cody. I hope so. We’ll see.”
Instantly his face crumpled. “I don’t wanna go back to the marina! I don’t like it there. I wanna stay with you.”
“Shh. Hey now.” Shelby reached her arm back around the seat to rub his leg. Trina and Stephan had lived near the marina. It didn’t make sense that he was so afraid of going back there. “Cody, don’t cry. I love you. I’ll stay with you no matter what. I promise.” She wished she could pull him into her arms, inhaling the sweet scent of his baby shampoo. But they needed to get to the truck stop as soon as possible. “I love you,” she repeated. “I’ll stay with you always. Okay?”
Cody swiped at his eyes and nodded, stifling his tears.
It was a rash promise but she didn’t care. Because even if Alex claimed custody of his son, she wasn’t leaving Cody. Alex would just have to deal with her being an important part of Cody’s life, whether he liked it or not. She was not letting this boy go without a fight.
At the truck stop, she called Alex again on Trina’s phone.
“I’m sure I wasn’t followed,” she told him. “No cars stayed behind me and I passed the exit, before doubling back.”
“I’m sure you weren’t followed, either.”
She frowned, wondering how he could be so certain, but listened intently as he gave her specific instructions on how to get to the bed-and-breakfast where he was staying.
“I’ll see you soon.” Shelby snapped Trina’s phone shut.
The sun was high in the sky when she turned onto Oakdale Road. Covered with freshly fallen snow, there were no recent signs of a snowplow. She hoped her lightweight, fuel-efficient car wouldn’t get stuck.
She pulled into the bed-and-breakfast driveway, winding through the trees until she saw the house. She gaped in surprise at a huge log home lined with numerous windows. A massive deck encircled the house giving rooms on the second floor access to the outside. The grandness of the place intimidated her. This was a bed-and-breakfast in the north woods? She’d expected something smaller. Quaint. Cozy.
With a sigh, Shelby hefted Cody into her arms since he was without snow boots. Her jeans were quickly covered in snow up to her knees as she trudged up to the house.
A tall, rugged, dark-haired man answered her knock and seemed surprised to see her standing there with a child. His piercing green eyes weren’t at all welcoming.
“Alex McCade?” She shifted Cody’s weight on her hip.
“Yes.” A deep frown furrowed his brow.
“I’m Shelby.”
He hesitated, his eyes darting to the boy before he opened the door wider. “Come in.”
A welcoming scent of pine surrounded her as she stepped into a warm great room with a huge stone fireplace lining one wall. Through an arched doorway to the right, Shelby saw several tables draped with bright red and white checkered tablecloths. For a bed-and-breakfast, the place was notably vacant.
She stomped her feet on the braided rug, trying to dislodge as much snow as possible. Cody wiggled impatiently in her arms, so she set him on his feet beside her. Now that she was face-to-face with Alex McCade, she couldn’t seem to find the right words to tell him about his son. Especially since his tall, broad presence was more than a little intimidating. She cleared her throat. “My name is Shelby,” she said again. “And this is Cody.”
Cody suddenly clutched her leg, hiding his face against her jeans as he wailed. “No! I don’t wanna visit my other dad!”
She winced and tried to untangle Cody from her leg, casting Alex an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”
For a heart-stopping moment, the man stared at Cody. Then his cold, furious gaze cut to hers. “Is this some sort of sick joke?”
Swallowing hard, she thrust her jaw defiantly. “No, this isn’t a joke. Cody is your son and I need your help to keep him safe.”
TWO
