Free Finding the Way Back (Book 1 in the Forgiving Hearts Trilogy) by Erin Landy Page A

among the tables refilling water glasses. When she got close to him, she asked in a low voice, “Can you meet me in the lobby at nine? I need to talk to you.”
    Knowing he had no practical answer to her housing problem, Colton nodded. “I’ll be there.”
    Taryn had moved to the next table when Jacob slid into the chair beside him. “Flirting again? What would Laurel say?”
    “She’d ask where you were yesterday.”
    Jacob threw back his head and laughed. “My aunt and uncle live an hour from here. I haven’t seen them in years so I took a side trip to Clarksville and spent the day with them.”
    “You didn’t miss much. Most of what I heard, I already knew.”
    “That doesn’t surprise me; you were top of your class.”
    “You could have been, too, if you hadn’t spent every waking moment with Juliet.”
    “I have no regrets about that. Are you going to Dr. McMillian’s presentation? His research on the long-term effects of vitamin supplements and athletic performance looks promising.”
    Colton looked at the conference program in his hand. “That’s scheduled for after lunch, isn’t it?”
    “It’s at one-thirty. My flight leaves at seven.”
    “You won’t get in until midnight.”
    “Just in time to kiss my lovely wife goodnight.” Jacob stood up and pushed in his chair. “See you bright and early tomorrow morning.”
    * * * *
    When Colton arrived in the lobby a little before nine, Taryn was nowhere in sight. He sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace to wait. He hoped this meeting wasn’t going to take long. It had been a tiring day; he wanted to unwind and nothing could help him do that more quickly than talking to Laurel.
    He was flipping through a magazine when Taryn strolled through the hotel entrance. Her look of elation should have reassured him; instead it sent warning bells ringing in his head.
    “I’ve got fantastic news. I called Laurel and explained everything. You’ll never guess what she said.”
    Colton smiled faintly. “Without knowing exactly what you told her, I can’t begin to guess what she said.”
    “I told her about getting kicked out of my house and losing my job.”
    “You lost your job here at the hotel?”
    “The creep who tried to molest me went to the manager and complained. Anyway, Laurel suggested I come back to Charleston. She said she’d help me find a job and a place to live.”
    His eyebrows rose. “Are you sure you understood her correctly?”
    Taryn nodded. “She said she’ll talk to you about it tonight.”
    Colton wasn’t sure what to make of this. “In that case, I better go have this talk with Laurel.”
    Taryn looked at him, the joy fading from her face. “Did I do wrong to call her?”
    “No, Taryn. I’m just tired and grumpy.”
    “Should I wait for you here?”
    “No need for that. Let’s go ahead and get you a room for tonight.”
    “Oh, that’s okay. One of the other girls heard about me getting fired, and she offered to let me sleep on her couch.”
    “Can you meet me here tomorrow around eleven? I’ll know more what we’re doing after I talk to Laurel.”
    She threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Dr. Samuels.”
    “No problem. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    * * * *
    Colton had to laugh as he pushed the elevator button for the fourth floor. Taryn couldn’t have turned to a better person than Laurel. She possessed the kindest heart of anyone he’d ever met. Nothing was too much trouble when she knew someone needed help. He just hoped that with Taryn, his intrepid wife hadn’t taken on more than she could handle.
    When she answered the phone, he said, “Sweetheart, about this situation with Taryn...” He got no further.
    “Can you believe that man tried to attack her? Thank goodness you were there. Did she tell you about her father? He’s an alcoholic and very abusive. If I’d known that before, I wouldn’t have encouraged her to go back home. At least in Charleston, she has people that are willing