Chapter Two
Wren
Iinhaleddeeply,filling my lungs with the scent of freshwater and pine, as I carefully shuffled down the steep ramp to the docks of the marina below. The warm, balmy air was made bearable by the breeze wafting off the water, riffling the branches of the evergreens surrounding the shoreline. Bright rays of sunlight sent a million flashing sparks dancing across the surface of the river.
This place was beautiful. Calm, like the water surrounding it. I wasn’t sure what had made me get off that bus after all the miles I’d ridden it, but if I was going to be anywhere, I might as well be someplace that was beautiful.
I gazed up at the quaint, two-story restaurant floating on top of the water in the middle of the marina. “The Riverfront Grill” was spelled out in blue neon words against a black sign that hung near the top of the building. Two stories of back decks jetted out toward the river. Round, large string lights hung above the deck seating that I’m sure created a perfect romantic mood in the evenings. The smoky scent of a fired-up grill met my nostrils and my mouth watered.
It had been awhile since I’d had a good meal.
I swallowed hard, ignoring the empty twisting in my stomach as I approached the restaurant. The dock bounced slightly beneath my feet.
I turned toward a window near the front door, hoping to catch a brief glimpse of the atmosphere inside before I walked in, but only my reflection stared back at me. I grimaced.
My hair was a ridiculous, frizzy mess around my face. The humidity of this new place, so far away from my old home, had my natural curls in a tizzy. The hasty brunette dye job I’d done myself was splotchy and already starting to fade back to my natural blonde.
I scooped my unruly hair up into a large bun, the zealous movements of my arms causing the wound on my chest to pull and twinge in pain. I hissed through my teeth, quickly securing my hair with an elastic, and dropped my arms back to my sides.
Tenderly, I rubbed a hand over the painful spot, right above my heart, waiting for the pain to recede. It had been healing well, but still bled on and off. All I could do was take care of it and pray it didn’t get infected. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, studying my pallid face. I wished I’d had some makeup to cover the shadows beneath my eyes, but there hadn’t been time for that. My bare face had to be enough.
Before I turned away from the window, a dark, tall shadow loomed behind me. My heart dropped, and I spun around with a gasp. My feet retreated, scuttling back until I bumped against the side of the building, almost falling in the process.
An older man eyed me, holding the hand of a woman who I assumed was his wife.
“Whoa, there. Are you all right, honey?” the man asked, his tone slow and sweet with his Southern accent. The woman at his side looked at me, a crease in her brow.
They were headed into the restaurant to eat.
My chest heaved as the rush of adrenaline waned. It had been the reflection of the man I’d seen behind me. Nothing but a shadow. Harmless.
I needed to get it together.
Pushing off the wall, I straightened my shaking legs and forced my face into the widest, friendliest smile I could muster.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine!” I said, voice high and loud and nothing like my own. “I’m so sorry. I saw a wasp. I’m...I’m embarrassingly afraid of them.” A nervous laugh bubbled up my throat. My cheeks hurt against the foreign, fake grin.
The man chuckled. “Nasty lil’ things, ain’t they?” His friendly, gray eyes danced around me quickly. “I think it’s gone. But you be careful, now.”
I nodded, and his wife gave me a sweet smile before they walked inside the restaurant.
When the couple was out of sight, my weak legs buckled, and I collapsed back against the building with a long breath. My hand flew to my chest, where my heart still hammered. I shook my head, forcing myself to swallow down the traces of fear and panic, chiding myself for being so ridiculous.
I was hundreds of miles away from the danger I’d run from. There was no one here to hurt me.
I brushed my damp palms over my thighs, gathering myself together. When my limbs had stopped trembling, I walked to the entrance of the restaurant. I considered leaving and coming back a different day. A day where I might have a better handle of my nerves and look more presentable.
But I didn’t have the luxury of time. The little money I’d brought with me wouldn’t last much longer, and I needed a means of income.
I puffed up my chest and lifted my head high, plastering on what I hoped was a warm, friendly smile. Then I pushed open the glass door and stepped inside.
Exactly four hours later, I walked back to the Riverfront Grill in uniform, ready for my first shift. I’d gotten lucky, it seemed. The manager, a sweet lady named Wanda, had hired me on the spot. She’d been desperate for servers and the moment she heard I had prior experience, she’d given me a couple of work shirts and asked if I was available for the dinner shift.
I’d gotten a small motel room for the next few nights. It wasn’t anything fancy, but the location appeared safe, and it was fairly clean. Most of the town of Cypress Falls seemed that way: Nice. Clean. Welcoming. The room had taken a large chunk of my stashed money, but I hoped to replenish it soon. I’d bought a pair of jean shorts and work shoes (along with a few cheap makeup necessities), but I still had a decent amount of cash left.
The lobby of the restaurant was small but comfortable, with long benches built into the back walls and a couple of couches facing a TV. The hostess stand sat a few feet in front of the entrance, and the girl behind it smiled at me sweetly.
“Hi!” she said with a wave. “You must be the new server.” She stepped out from behind the podium, her legs tanned and smooth. She had the clearest, bright-blue eyes I’d ever seen. Her makeup was flawless, as if she’d had it professionally done. “I’m Ellie Liles.”