Free Daffodils in March by Clare Revell Page A

threatening. “Yes, it’s a gun, and I’m not afraid to use it. Now if you know what’s good for you, you’ll forget you ever saw me here.”
    Eden caught her breath, abject terror running through her. Had he just threatened her?
    Myriad thoughts ran amok in her mind. What had she gotten herself into? She didn’t move as David vanished into the distance. Only when he was out of sight, did she realize she was shaking. Glancing down at the pram, she noted Marc was sleeping.
    She didn’t want to go home. If she were alone, David might carry out his threat. She should go somewhere public; somewhere she’d be safe, at least for now. And the safest place was the High Street. There’d be lots of people around there.
    Eden was still shaking when she reached the Three Sixteen café. And still trembling as she tried to drink the double shot expresso she’d ordered. Her shuddering hands spilled the coffee on the table. As she mopped it up, a dark haired man appeared beside her.
    Eden jumped, thinking it was David. Then, as she looked again she realized it was one of the church elders, Detective Sgt. Nate Holmes.
    Nate set his two take out cups down on the table and sat opposite her. “Hello, Eden. Are you all right?”
    “Been better,” she said quietly, wadding the tissue into a ball and dropping it onto the tray.
    His dark eyes studied her. “What’s up?”
    “I don’t want to hold you up if you’re busy.” She jerked her head at the cups.
    “I have a few minutes,” Nate said. “What’s wrong?”
    “Really confused,” she whispered, running her finger around the rim of her cup. “And scared.”
    Nate picked up one of the coffees, sipping it, nodding for her to continue.
    “See, I have this friend, and I think he’s in some kind of trouble. No, make that he is in trouble, and I don’t know what to do.”
    “What kind of trouble? Financial, drinking too much, gambling?”
    She glanced up, then down. “I think it’s the illegal kind.”
    Nate’s whole posture changed. “Think?”
    “He’s different now,” Eden said. “He carries a gun for one thing and…” She broke off, catching sight of David turning away from the counter, coffee in hand. How could she not have seen him come in? Had he overheard her? She shuddered and changed the subject. “Lack of sleep is a major problem. Marc’s pretty easy to look after, just wish he’d sleep all night.”
    Nate’s expression was almost comical as he struggled to keep up with her. “I’m sorry?”
    “At least you weren’t up with him all night,” David said, his tone still rough. “I was.” He nodded to Nate. “Sgt. Holmes.”
    “David.” Nate stood. “I should go. Nice talking to you. We’ll have to catch up properly at some point.”
    Eden nodded. “OK.”
    “Don’t leave on my account.” David put his coffee on the table.
    Nate waved the cups and his congenial smile faded. “My partner will be wondering where this is.”
    David dropped into the seat next to Eden, and waited until Nate had left before speaking. “Well?”
    Eden dug her nails into her palms. “He sat here. Asked how things were going.”
    “Were you talking about me?”
    Heat flamed her cheeks and gnawed at the pit of her stomach. But she hadn’t mentioned his name, so technically, no, she wasn’t. She shifted in her seat and pushed her coffee away. “Contrary to what you might like to think, David, the whole world does not revolve around you.” She started to stand.
    David grabbed her hands. “Good. Eden, I know how this looks, but there are things going on, big things, things you couldn’t possibly understand. All I ask is that you trust—”
    Eden scoffed. “How? How can I do that after what just happened and the way you’ve been acting recently? Give me a reason.”
    His intense gaze burned through her. “This is big, and my whole career rides on it.”
    Eden scowled. “You are even more self-centered than I remember.” She pulled free. “In which