Page 4 of Haven
Thankfully, the motel they were staying at had a small restaurant that shared the same parking lot. Heading that way, she flipped her raincoat hood up, keeping dry from the misty rain that was falling as well as shielding her identity the best she could. Sadie kept her head down but her eyes up as she scanned the area for danger. She only felt somewhat safe at night under the cover of darkness, which is when she did most of her investigation into finding a safe place for her sister.
A car sped into the parking lot freezing Sadie to the spot. Her heart stopped, as did her breathing. She prepared herself to run—run where she didn’t know, but it definitely would not be back to the motel where her sister remained safe for now. The car swung into a parking space. A young couple got out laughing as they met behind the car, clasping hands, and then headed toward the restaurant.
The breath she held whooshed out of her mouth, making her feel lightheaded. Her heart didn’t just resume beating again but pounded inside her chest like a battering ram. With weak knees, she started to walk again, trying to get her breathing under control. She wondered suddenly if she would ever be the same again after this ordeal. She was terrified and paranoid, with a certain foresight that she would have PTSD after this.
She reached the door and slowly opened it, scanning the small crowd of customers with her eyes. Relief coursed through her as she did not see a familiar face. Walking to the counter, she kept her hood up as she sat down on one of the stools.
“You’re back.” The older waitress said with a friendly smile.
“I am.” Sadie managed to smile back, realizing how suspicious it was that she was getting all this food for herself. Thinking quickly, she blurted the only thing that came to her mind. “Eating for two is no joke.”
The woman’s eyes widened slightly as she lowered them, but Sadie knew she couldn’t tell whether she was or was not pregnant because of the counter and raincoat she was wearing.
“Congratulations.” She finally smiled and then looked around. “Why isn’t your man coming to get you food?”
She knew the waitress was prying without being totally obvious. Sadie understood, coming from a small town herself. Gossip was undoubtedly the most entertaining thing places like this could muster up. She was a stranger, alone and pregnant. So, without straight out asking if she was married, the waitress formed a question that would tell her what she wanted to know.
No one knew Lily was in the motel across the parking lot. They arrived four days ago in the very early hours before daybreak, and she hadn’t left the room, which Sadie felt guilty about. Sadie hated to lie to anyone, but to keep Lily safe, she would lie her ass off. If Colton or anyone from that pack came hunting for them there, they wouldn’t be looking for a lone pregnant woman waiting for her husband at a little rundown motel.
“My husband is meeting me here,” Sadie smiled, hoping her lying vibe was on point. “I’m visiting family; unfortunately, he got caught up at work. So I came without him, and once he gets here, we are off on a vacation before the baby arrives.” Man, she hoped that sounded logical.
“How nice.” The waitress finally said, still eyeing her, then a smile slid across her face. “So, where are you going on your vacation.”
“Darn it, Bess.” A man came out from the kitchen with a huge frown. “You don’t need to get everyone’s life story. Take the poor girl's order, and then get this food that’s been sitting in the window before it gets cold.”
Sadie had never wanted to kiss someone more than she did at that moment. The man, obviously the cook with his greasy apron, saved her from making up more lies. She just wanted to get the food and get back to Lily. The longer she was away from her sister, the more her nerves frayed.
“I’m just being friendly, Buck.” The woman rolled her eyes and then took out her small pad of paper and pencil.
“No, you’re being nosey,” he responded, pointing a spatula at her. “I pay you to take orders, not write customers' life stories.” He then looked at Sadie and gave her a wink before heading back to the kitchen.
“One of these days, I’m going to quit on him, and then where will he be?” Bess murmured under her breath. “Okay, what will it be today?”
Sadie tried to hide her grin, liking these two, and wondered if this was an everyday occurrence between them. She gave her the order, noticing Bess’s mouth turning into a huge frown.
“Honey, raw meat isn’t good for you, and I’m sure it isn’t good for that baby.” Bess stopped writing to stare at her.
Dammit, think fast, Sadie told herself. “Not raw. Just rare, and I’m having difficulty holding anything down.” She lied again,wondering if she was getting better at it. That thought made her a little sad. She didn’t want to be a liar. “This is the only thing that seems to stay down. Not to mention the crazy cravings I’m getting.”
Bess stared at her for another minute before grinning. “When I was pregnant with my Benny, I craved pickles dipped in chocolate pudding.” Bess chuckled at the grimace Sadie couldn’t hide. “Sounds disgusting, but it got me through. It’s all I wanted. My poor husband gagged every time and left the room. Don’t knock it till you try it. I got some pickles and pudding in the back.”
“I think I’ll stick to rare hamburgers,” Sadie replied, trying not to gag herself. “But thank you.”
“Don’t know what you’re missing.” She replied before walking toward the kitchen with her order. Letting out a breath, Sadie leaned back in her chair, letting her body slump in relief. Even something so simple as ordering a meal was turning out to be almost too much. She honestly didn’t know how much longer they would be able to run, and that terrified her.
CHAPTER 3
Kile walked into the restaurant, nodding to the waitress before heading toward one of the booths. Sitting down, he pulled out his phone to check the time and his messages. He had ten minutes before Brad Lawson from Lawson Meats was due for their meeting. Flipping through his messages, he answered a few, not paying attention to his surroundings until the pungent aroma of strawberries filled his senses.
Looking up from his phone as a woman passed his booth, Kile frowned. She was wearing a yellow raincoat. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out what Cole had found in the woods. It was a color match, and as he rubbed it between his fingers, realizing that the fabric was, incidentally, that of a raincoat.
Hitting Eric’s number, he watched the woman as she made her way into the parking lot.
“Meeting over already?” His brother answered on the second ring.
“I think I found our trespasser,” Kile replied, standing when he lost sight of the woman. She came back into view, but he remained standing.
“Have you approached?” Eric asked, his voice serious. Ever since his older brother killed Foster Manning, they had been on high alert. They weren’t sure if any other family members were coming to avenge his death. It was the Shifters' way, and none took that threat for granted.