At lunch, Rachel went across the street to the diner, bringing back burgers and fries, which they demolished. As they were getting up from the table, Lily reached out and touched Rachel’s hand.
“I want to thank you for what you did.”
Rachel’s own hand covered hers. “If you want to talk, I’m always here for you.”
“I know you are. You’ve been a good friend to me. I remember everything now,” she continued, turning away from Rachel’s compassionate gaze. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t know if I ever will, but at least now I’m not hiding from the memories.”
“Don’t lock them away again, Lily. Sooner or later, you need to talk to someone.”
“I will, eventually. Just not today.” Lily smiled, repeating Rachel’s own words.
“Not today,” Rachel said. “I can agree to that.” She raised her face to the sun.
“What are you doing?” Lily asked, stunned by the serene peace on Rachel’s face.
“I was saying a prayer, Lily.”
“What about?” Lily got up from the table in the backyard of the church, ready to go back to work inside.
“That God gives us the strength to face that basement again.” Rachel smiled at her. Lily turned to go into the basement, missing the words she spoke beneath her breath. “And to grant you the peace you deserve.”
*
Pastor Dean came down just as they were finishing for the day.
“Shade called and said he was still tied up at the factory. I offered to give you a ride home.”
“That’s all right; Rachel can give me a ride. She won’t mind and I need to make a stop on the way.” Lily sent Rachel a pleading glance.
“That’s right. I can take care of it and make sure she gets home safe,” Rachel agreed, giving Lily a questioning glance.
“I don’t know. I told Shade that I would.” Pastor Dean seemed uncertain.
Lily kept organizing the boxes, keeping her face averted from Pastor Dean.
“We need to take care of some girl things,” Rachel confided, earning Lily’s gratitude.
Pastor Dean kept his eyes on Lily, yet she refused to look at him. Her fingers whitened on the box she was holding.
“That will be fine then. I’ll see you two Saturday”
Lily let out a sigh of relief when Pastor Dean left.
“What was that about?” Rachel asked.
“I need to make a stop at my house on the way home. I didn’t want to inconvenience Pastor Dean. Do you mind?”
“No.”
“Thanks.” The women finished for the day, shutting and locking the door behind them.
Rachel drove Lily to her house where Lily went inside while Rachel sat in the car. Lily hastily gathered her toiletries and her favorite pajamas. She then rushed back outside, not wanting to keep Rachel waiting any longer than necessary.
The ride to The Last Riders’ house was spent with Rachel talking about Logan’s adventures since his moving in with them. They were laughing when she described Logan showing his dad his new pet kitten when it had actually been a baby skunk he had found in the bushes.
Their laughter died when they pulled into the lot and found Shade waiting.
Chapter 27
Shade opened the car door as soon as the vehicle stopped, taking the bag out of Lily’s hand.
“Thanks, Rachel,” Shade said. Before the stunned woman could say anything, Shade shut the car door, ushering Lily up the steps to the house and straight to the bedroom they were sharing, shutting and locking the door behind them.
“What’s the matter with you?” Lily asked at his pushy behavior.
“Didn’t Dean tell you I asked him to give you a ride home?”
“Yes, but—”
“But what? Someone almost killed you the other day! I asked Dean to bring you home because I knew he would be able to handle anything that could happen. If I had wanted you to ride with Rachel, I would have called Rachel.”
Lily twisted her hands together as he continued in his rant.
“Not only did you not come straight here, you went by your house and Rachel sat in the car. Someone could have been waiting and killed you inside the house and Rachel wouldn’t even have known.”
“I didn’t think,” Lily confessed.
“You sure as fuck didn’t. What was so important? Beth and Razer could have picked it up for you.”
“I wanted to get a few of my things,” Lily told him.
“I asked you days ago if there was anything you wanted. What was it?”
Lily felt stupid. “Shampoo.”
“Shampoo?! You got to be fucking kidding me!” His raised voice was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“What?” Shade opened the door to see Beth’s white face.
“Is there a problem? Maybe I—” Beth was cut off.
“No, Beth, I don’t need your help. Lily and I are having a discussion. You can see her at dinner.”
“But—”
When Shade opened the door wider, Lily was relieved; she thought he was going to let her in, but her hope was dashed immediately.
“Razer!” His shout could have raised the roof.
Seconds later, Lily heard footsteps running up the steps and saw Razer in the hallway.