Page 20 of Finding Forever
“Did you go back to your job with the police?”
Relief replaced the sadness in Eric’s eyes. “No. While I was on leave, I submitted my first manuscript to an agent. They loved it and sent it to one of the largest publishing houses in New York City. Two weeks later, I signed a contract and started writing my second novel.”
“Is your life heading in the right direction now?”
He looked away. “Until five months ago, I thought it was.”
I didn’t know what had happened, but Eric didn’t seem happy. “Can you fix what’s happened?”
“I thought coming here would have helped, but it hasn’t. Someone’s stalking me.”
That was the last thing I expected to hear. “I didn’t think people did that anymore.”
“You’d be surprised. It started with emails, then escalated to letters and photos. I ignored most of what the person said until the photos started arriving. I heard about your cottage from a friend of your mom’s. After what was happening, it seemed like the perfect place to lay low. Unfortunately, it hasn’t stopped the letters.”
“Does the person know you’re here?”
“I don’t think so. The letters are still being sent to my agent.”
I frowned. “Is that why you don’t want anyone to know you’re a writer?”
“If the person who’s stalking me knows I’m here, they could make everyone’s life difficult. If you want me to move out, I will. It was hard enough dealing with what’s happening myself. I don’t expect you to get caught up in my mess.”
I looked at Sherlock. He was curled in a ball, sound asleep on his rug. They’d both been through so much. “I don’t mind you living beside me, but I think we should get a security system. It wouldn’t hurt to replace the locks on the doors, either.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. The chance of anyone finding you here must be a million to one.”
Eric didn’t seem so confident. “If anything changes, I’ll leave right away.”
“If that makes you feel better, then okay. But for now, let’s enjoy dessert. Would you like some chocolate cake with the ice cream you brought?”
“That would be great. I’ll get the ice cream.”
I was still thinking about what Eric had said when he placed the carton of ice cream beside me.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
I looked at him and frowned. “It’s Jonathan you should be thanking. He dropped the cake off this afternoon.”
Eric touched my hand. “I don’t mean about the cake. I was thanking you for letting Sherlock and me stay here.”
I moved my hand. The tingles rushing along my arm weren’t the kind that bode well for a platonic friendship. Eric intrigued me. He made me wish I could let go of the past and jump into a new life. But I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t know when I would be.
“We’re both making changes in our lives,” I murmured. “If we can’t rely on each other, who can we trust?”
“I wish it were that simple.”
“So do I.” I found a knife and cut two slices off the cake. When my apartment was broken into, I’d felt violated. Knowing someone had gone through my belongings and trashed the one place where I should have felt safe was devastating.
No one’s ever stalked me, but it must be awful. No matter where you go or who you see, you’d feel as though someone was watching you. That kind of stress could break a person’s confidence and their ability to live a normal life.
If I could make Eric’s life easier by giving him somewhere safe to live, then that’s what I’d do. Even if he made me wish our lives could be different.
fifteen
RILEY