The man just stares at me. When our eyes lock, the stony expression on his face seems to soften. But maybe that’s wishful thinking. I have no idea what he’s thinking anymore. A few short days ago, I always knew exactly what was going through his mind when that dark stare fell over me. But today? Nothing. He’s completely boarded up.
He clears his throat. “The clock is ticking, Jessa.”
My heart soars optimistically. I brave a step closer. “The papers you found that day…I’m sure you’re wondering what those are about? I want you to understand…”
“Oh, the fact that you’ve been spying on me? Building a goddamned dossier on everything about me? Yes, please do tell.”
My chest falls under the weight of his words. Okay, I’m clearly getting Sarcastic Eli today. If that’s all he’s giving me, I can work with that, I guess.
I take a deep breath and blurt everything out. “The minute I met Callie, after I started working with her, I fell in love with her. She was so sweet and intelligent and precocious…It made me curious about her parents. About you. She’s such an amazing kid, and it broke my heart that she didn’t have her mom and dad.” I pull my fingers through my hair and take a breath. “Crescent Harbor is a small town…and I’d heard things, y’know?”
He’s standing close to the door. Probably ready to make a run for it, if I say something he doesn’t like.
I can’t meet his eyes right now. I don’t want him to see me cry. I don’t deserve his sympathy after what I’ve done. I give him my back and turn to face the river, half-wishing for his arms to suddenly come around me. But I soldier on with my confession. “So I began to look into you. I searched for you on the internet and when I saw on the prison website that you were interested in communicating with a penpal, I reached out to you. I didn’t want it getting back to my new bosses, so I used a fake name.” I spin around to face him, my eyelashes heavy with tears. I plead with him to understand. “I never thought it would lead to anything, I promise, Eli. But we started writing to each other. And I…I liked you. And you seemed to like me. And one thing led to another. So, I started researching everything about your case. I guess at first, it felt like this fascinating mystery to unravel. But then, through your letters, I got to know you. The real Eli Kingston was still just as fascinating, but there was so much more to you.”
I don’t bother to stop the tears now. Thinking back to what—for me—was the start of our relationship. A ‘peculiar’ relationship, sure. But a real relationship, nonetheless.
Those early letters were the start of our flirting, the sharing of our first secrets, the undeniable trust that developed between us for some reason that defied logic.
“Then why hide it all?” he says in a growl. “Why lie about being Monica after I got home? You could have said something right then and there. The day you moved into my house. You could have come clean.”
I give a feeble shrug, lifting only one shoulder, feeling weak and pathetic. “I thought I’d lose my job. I thought my friends would be pissed at me and…I knew I wasn’t the type of woman you’d want.” It’s a lame excuse, but it’s coming from an honest place. I wanted Eli’s love. More than anything.
There’s something more important I want to say to him, and I need to do it before I lose my nerve. I have to understand. I have to get answers.
“I know you didn't do it,” I say quietly, pinning him with my stare. “I know you didn’t commit those crimes.”
Eli’s entire body goes tense. His eyes, his jaw, his fists. He turns and stalks across the porch. And that, right there, is my answer.
He’s standing near the railing on the opposite side of the porch, staring out over the picturesque view.
When he doesn’t comment or ask what I’m talking about, I keep going anyway, desperate for the truth. “I know you didn’t steal that money, Eli. Gabby did. She stole it, and you took the fall for her. I just want to know why.”
He scoffs. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Tell me the truth,” I demand with a stomp.
“Let it go, Jessa.” He sounds less than impressed.
“I can’t. Don’t you see that I’ve tried? This isn’t right. You owe it to your daughter to clear your name. To fix this.”
“You don’t get a say where my family is concerned. This is my business. My life.”
His words cut deep, but I keep at it. “I’m just trying to help, Eli.” Now that it’s all out in the open, I have nothing left to lose. I throw myself on the metaphorical sword. “I did a heck of a lot of research into your case. You saw it for yourself. I know I’m right about this. You do, too. I just don’t see why you’re fighting so hard to deny it.” I venture closer and dare to lay a hand on his bicep. “I can help. I can find a lawyer. I can go to the newspaper. To the police. I don’t know exactly how it works, but I’m all in.”
I have been since the day I started working here. I’m not giving in on this. I don’t care if it’s not any of my business. The Kingston family made it my business when they hired me to care for Callie. And it sure as shit became my business when I fell head over heels for Eli. Yes, this may stretch my job description past the fucking limit of reason, but all I care about is Callie’s best interest. Eli’s best interest. The two of them will have a much better life if the whole world knows
