She’d thought that getting away from the city would help, but now she was doubting that decision. She could leave the media behind, but not her emotions.

Silver Point? Really, Joanna?

She was gripped by a moment of extreme doubt and had an uncharacteristic urge to seek reassurance from someone. Anyone. She opened her mouth, glanced at Ashley and then closed it again. She’d climbed into Cliff’s car, which didn’t say much for her judgment.

Technically she should hate this girl. Her presence was yet another slap in the face, a reminder of Cliff’s transgressions. There was a child. What were you thinking, Cliff?

And what was she thinking? Cliff’s mistakes weren’t hers. Even if they were still married—even thinking of that made her clench her jaw—his mistake wouldn’t have been hers. She was not responsible for his actions.

But a child didn’t deserve to suffer because of Cliff. And she had the means to offer support. Financially, she could help.

Emotionally?

She felt something tear open inside her. She thought back to the baby she’d lost. She’d wanted a child so badly, and to think that Cliff—

She closed her mind down. She wasn’t going to think about that now. She didn’t need another assault on her emotional resources. She needed to hold it together.

Ashley turned her head. “Do you think they’re looking for me? Those reporters?”

“Yes.” She saw no reason to lie or soften the truth.

“You were smart to tell me to wait by the entrance to the ER. That place was heaving with people. No one was paying any attention to me. And there were no photographers or anything, I checked. It helped that the staff kept moving me. I didn’t know where I was half the time, so why would anyone else? I still don’t know why you’re doing this for me—” Ashley glanced at her “—but I figured even if you’re kidnapping me, at least it’s a place to stay, right?”

Joanna’s head started to throb. “I’m not kidnapping you, Ashley.”

“You think I’m being dramatic, but from where I’m sitting you’re helping the woman who was in the car with your man. And that’s kind of...unexpected. People don’t do things like that.”

She gripped the wheel tightly. “He wasn’t my man. He hadn’t been my man in a long time.”

She kept her eyes forward.

It had been years since she’d traveled this road. Years since she’d ventured north.

She’d spent most of her adult life moving forward, but now she was going back.