Free Covert Christmas by Marilyn Pappano Page A

shopping or home to prepare for the festivities. The cabdriver would be wanting to head that way soon to get in as much time as he could with his six kids and seventeen grandkids. She and Josh needed a plan, and the only one coming to mind was the one he’d rejected: turning themselves in. It was rational. Sane. Relatively safe.
    But would he ever forgive her for betraying him a second time?
    They were stopped at a red light when she saw a fast-food restaurant ahead, its neon light flashing Open. Her stomach clenching, she looked at Josh, mouthed, Bathroom break, then leaned over the seat. “Excuse me, sir, could you pull in there just for a minute?”
    The driver grinned. “It’s your meter, hon. You can take as long as you want.”
    When Josh started to open the passenger door, she stopped him. “I’ll be right back. Watch my bag, will you?”
    Hesitation crossed his face, but finally he closed the door again. “If you need anything—”
    â€œI’ll fire three times in the air.”
    â€œHell, don’t waste the ammo.”
    She flashed him a smile before climbing out, hustling the few feet to the restaurant door and disappearing inside. It wasn’t much warmer inside than out, leaving condensation thick on the windows. She got change from the counter girl, then did go to the bathroom—one of the few pieces of intelligent advice Mickey Davison had ever given her: never miss a chance to take a leak. But her real goal was the pay phone in the bathroom hallway.
    Her hands trembled when she picked up the receiver and dropped in a coin. It took courage to dial the numbers, and she almost hung up with every ring. Josh would be furious with her for going against him, and even more so for involving others, but she had no idea where else to turn late on Christmas Eve afternoon.
    â€œHi, you’ve reached Liz at A Cuppa Joe. Merry Christmas, and why aren’t you here at the shop celebrating our first and hereafter annual Christmas Eve coffee klatch?”
    Natalia wasn’t sure whether the faint feeling came from hunger, dread, stress or simply hearing Liz’s voice again, all bright and happy, but she braced herself against the wall. “Hey, Liz. It’s Natalia. I—I need your help.”
    Â 
    Josh didn’t realize he was holding his breath until the glass door swung open and Natalia came out. She looked fine, unharmed, beautiful and troubled—and that last part came from him. He was tired of putting those expressions on the faces of people he loved.
    â€œI guess our tour’s lasted long enough,” she announced, giving the driver an address.
    Josh wondered where they were going, but in minutes theywere at their destination: a waterfront park called Riverwalk. He paid off the cabbie, traded Christmas well-wishes with him, then shouldered the duffel as the car drove away. “This is it?”
    â€œNo, we’re headed a few blocks away. But this is my favorite place in Augusta. I come here on pretty days. I just want to see it…”
    One last time? Before something happened, before she had to flee again?
    She took his hand and they walked past the statue of James Oglethorpe and through an opening in the levee. The Savannah River looked dark and cold. His parents were a couple hours down that river, but he’d never felt farther from them.
    Natalia didn’t linger long staring at the river. After a moment, she gazed around the early winter darkness with a shiver, then smiled tautly. “We should go.”
    It took a few minutes of brisk walking to reach a squat, square building. In earlier days, it might have been a department or furniture store, but now it was home to a shelter. He gazed in the plate-glass windows and saw bright lights, Christmas decorations, lots of tables and chairs and people milling about. Most of them looked happy to have someplace to be on Christmas Eve, out of the cold and with the promise