And as the water soothed and caressed her, Sarah thought of other blessings that had come her way. Surviving the deranged madman on Solace Island who had thought she was his sister. Meeting Mick, who, for all his gruffness, had an inner core of such generosity and kindness that it humbled her. Prior to Kevin, would I have gone out of my way to help a stranger in need? Would I have even noticed? Been aware? She didn’t bother digging through her memory bank. She knew the answer. And Zelia was another blessing the universe had gifted her. Zelia had known Sarah was lying when she’d applied for work and yet had given Sarah the job at the gallery anyway. Befriended her. Helped Sarah when she had needed to run again, gave her money, no questions asked. “I miss her,” Sarah whispered in the empty bathroom. She missed Zelia’s laugh, her joie de vivre, the sound of her voice. And on the heels of all that, a wonderful idea began to form. It’s nighttime. Zelia won’t be at the gallery. She’ll be home. Tucked in bed, cozy and warm in Gabe’s arms. You could call the office and listen to her voice on the message machine. It wouldn’t endanger either of us because even if Kevin has managed to bug Zelia’s phone, I won’t leave a message, so he won’t know it’s me. And if he’s tracing calls, who cares. We’re checking out tomorrow morning.

*   *   *

Mick was nursing his second whiskey on the rocks when Sarah blew into the common living room like a summer storm, wrapped in one of the hotel’s thick white terry-cloth robes, barefoot. He had been mulling over their conversation from the Mexican restaurant. She had mentioned a baby right before she fell apart. Where was her child now? Had she run and left the baby with her violent ex? Who would do that? And on the heels of that thought, My mother would. He felt bile rise up in his throat. He couldn’t imagine Sarah doing something like that; but then, what did he truly know about her? She had said everything she’d told him was a lie. Ask her. If she did, it’s yet another reason to keep your distance. Mick opened his mouth. “I thought you were going to stay in your room,” he said. Good going. Way to tackle the subject head-on.

“Don’t worry.” She smiled like a siren luring him to the rocks. “Your precious virtue is safe with me.” She was rubbing her wet hair with a towel.