the way small towns are, especially since you never came with me and the children to visit Mom. You’re a mystery to them.”
“My past is just that, in the past.”
Realizing the people of Sweetwater had truly met their match in Dane, Zoey grabbed a box from the shelf. “I need a few cleaning supplies and some cat litter. Then we can get your things and get out of here.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“What?”
“People wanting to know your private affairs.”
“Sure, but you get used to it. There are some good things about small towns.”
“What?”
“I’m not alone. If I have a problem, there’s always someone around to help me.”
“Is that why you moved back here?”
“Yes. It wasn’t easy, but like you, I’d just as soon not discuss it. We can both have our secrets.” Which she knew wasn’t a good basis for a marriage, but she was determined to protect herself. Being the only one opening up in a relationship wasn’t good. She’d lived through that kind of relationship once before, and she wouldn’t do it again.
They quickly finished shopping and checked out. Walking to the car, Zoey was aware of people watching them, a few whispering to the person next to them. The people of Sweetwater meant well and cared about her and her family, but their interest was making the situation even more awkward than it already was.
At the car she said, “I forgot to ask earlier. You can drive if you want.”
His eyes clouded. “No, I’m not familiar with the town yet, and it has been a while since I was behind the wheel of a car.”
Dane had always insisted on driving before. He didn’t like anyone else driving when he was in the car. This change surprised Zoey, but she kept her thoughts to herself as she backed out of the parking space and headed toward the coffee shop on Second Street.
“You can wait in the car. I’ll get this,” Dane said as though he needed to show his independence.
Zoey watched her husband walk into the shop, say a few words to the lady behind the counter, then wait for her to fill his order. Zoey took deep breaths, but her chest still felt tight. Again, the feeling they were only polite strangers assailed her. How did they get past that? She couldn’t see going through the rest of her life skirting certain issues, pretending nothing was wrong when everything was.
Please, Lord, I feel so lost. I need Your help. What do I do now?
Nothing came to mind. Her shoulders slumped, and she rested her forehead on the steering wheel. She felt like the Hebrews wandering in the desert looking for their home. Lost. Alone. Miles and miles of barren land before her.
The sound of the door opening jolted her, and she straightened. Dane slid into the front seat, his expression unreadable.
“Dane, before we get to the soccer fields, I want you to know there will be a lot of people there and they’ll be curious about you and what happened. A few may even ask questions.”
“I can’t stop them from asking.” A half grin slipped across his mouth. “Thanks for warning me.”
“They’ll mean well.”
“I know.”
“They’ll just be concerned about me.”
“And they don’t think I am?”
Her grip on the steering wheel strengthened until pain shot up her arms. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know what you think anymore. Everything has changed.” She started the car and pulled out onto the road.
A heavy silence greeted that declaration. Tension mounted in the car, and it took all Zoey’s concentration to keep herself focused enough to drive to the soccer fields. She felt as though she were in an intense struggle—for her marriage, for her future—all in the span of fifteen hours.
“I know, but—” He couldn’t complete his sentence, his words dissolving into that uncomfortable silence.
She parked the car. “It looks like Blake’s game is about to start. We’d better hurry.”
“I’ll be along in a sec,” came Dane’s clipped response.
She climbed from the car and strode toward the bleachers, feeling the drill of Dane’s gaze into her back. A shiver flashed up her spine, and she rubbed her arms. Still the cold embedded itself deep in her bones. She sat next to Jesse Blackburn and offered her friend a smile that died instantly.
“Your mother called me and told me everything.” Jesse took her hand and squeezed it.
Zoey pictured her mom on the phone all morning before they had dropped off the girls, spreading the news to Zoey’s circle of friends that Dane had returned from the dead.
“I know it can’t be easy for you. Anytime you want to talk I’m here for you. We all are—Darcy, Beth, Tanya.”
“I know.” Zoey gulped, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat that made speaking difficult.
“I’ll try to fend off these vultures.” Jesse glanced around her.
“Shh,” Zoey said with a shaky laugh. “Don’t say that too loud.”
“It’s true. They’ve all been waiting for you to come. Your mom said it didn’t go well with Blake.”
Zoey found her son on the field with Alex Stone, the high school principal, who coached her son’s team. “No, it didn’t.”
“Honey, I’m sorry. I wish I could do something to make it all better.”
Alex clasped Blake on the shoulder and leaned down to say something to her son. Zoey dragged her gaze away from the pair, praying one day that Dane and Blake would regain the close relationship they’d once had. “My problem now is how do I make this all better for my son.”
“Be there for him. Like you were when you thought he’d lost his father.”
A deep sigh escaped Zoey’s lips. She remembered the long struggle after Dane’s disappearance with Blake resisting any attempt at help. A bone-tired weariness blanketed her as she thought of the path ahead of her—and Dane.
Her husband was back, but for how long? It had taken her a long time to learn to stand on her own two feet after he’d disappeared. She’d married Dane right after college and had never really been on her own until she’d been forced to with his disappearance. Over the past few years she had slowly learned to depend only on herself. She would hold this family together somehow, but she would keep her heart guarded.
Dane eased down next to her. She wanted to take his hand and hold it, to convey her support, to begin to forge a future for them, but his closed expression stopped her. She trained her gaze on the field to watch the start of the game, the tension between her and Dane razor sharp. He had pulled into himself even further. She suspected to protect himself.
