Silent Run

always thought that changing your names, or pretending to be someone else, would make a difference,” Catherine said. “It was a stupid game you played. You can’t hide from yourself. Don’t you get that?"
    Sarah glanced over at Teresa and saw the same sheepish expression in her eyes. “We get it,” Sarah said. “It just took us a while."
    â€œA long while,” Teresa agreed. “So what am I going to call you now?"
    She thought for a moment. “Sarah. I’m going to be Sarah, because that’s who I am to Caitlyn and to Jake, and with any luck I can keep them both in my life."
    â€œYou will,” Teresa said with confidence.
    â€œAnd you’re keeping us, too,” Catherine said firmly. “We’re family. And now that we’re back together it’s going to stay that way. Besides, someone needs to keep you two out of trouble.” Catherine stood up and opened her arms, sending them both an expectant look.
    Teresa groaned. “We are not doing a group hug."
    â€œYes, we are,” Catherine insisted. She went over to Teresa and threw her arms around her. Teresa squealed in protest.
    Sarah moved to join them. For the first time in a long time, everything was right in her world. She wondered how long it would last.
    * * *
    Sarah’s optimism faltered with the dawn of a new day. She’d received a call earlier that morning from a police detective in Los Angeles who wanted to talk to her in regard to Shane Hollis’s murder and the fire at her apartment building. He’d insisted that she come down to Los Angeles for an interview. She’d had no choice but to agree. The more crimes she could pin on Victor, the easier it would be to keep the police from being interested in prosecuting Jake for Victor’s murder. So far Jake seemed to be in the clear -- so much in the clear that the local cops had said he could return to San Francisco. And, of course, Jake wanted to take Caitlyn with him.
    He hadn’t asked her permission. He’d just started making a list of what he would need to take care of Caitlyn once he got home. Then he’d headed out to the store to pick up supplies. Those supplies were now packed in his car, and he was waiting on the sidewalk for Sarah to bring Caitlyn to him.
    Everything was changing. One chapter of her life was over and another was beginning. She’d done this before, started over, but she hated having to do it again. This time she really had no choice. She wasn’t the only one making the decisions.
    She moved slowly down the porch steps, dread and worry weighting each step. She knew she had to let Jake take Caitlyn home. He deserved time alone with his daughter, and Caitlyn needed to be somewhere settled and safe. Sarah also knew she had to go to LA and finish cleaning up the mess she’d made eight years ago. Those were the facts. The facts sucked.
    How on earth could she let Caitlyn go?
    Aside from the past few days, they’d never been apart. And having been apart had only made Sarah want to keep her daughter at her side for every second of the rest of her life.
    Caitlyn played with Sarah’s hair as she walked down the path to the sidewalk. She liked to twist her fingers in the curls, a happy little game that always made her smile.
    Sarah paused by the car and turned back around so Caitlyn could see Teresa and Catherine on the porch. “Say bye-bye,” she told Caitlyn.
    â€œBye-bye,” Caitlyn said with a cheery smile, mimicking her mother’s wave.
    Sarah would have liked to play the moment out, but Jake was waiting. As she turned to him, he held out his arms.
    â€œI’ll take her now.” His tone was quiet and determined, as if he were afraid she was going to make a scene.
    She hesitated for a long moment, her arms instinctively tightening around Caitlyn’s small body. For seven months it had been her and Caitlyn against the world. But for those same months Jake had sweated out the nights alone in fear and worry.
    She had to let him take Caitlyn. He was a good man. He was a good father.
    She was the one who had screwed up. She was the one who had brought danger to their lives. She’d made one mistake after another. And now it was time to do the right thing -- the only thing. Still, she stalled. “She likes to sleep with her blanket at night, and if she’s fussy, you can read her a story. She likes the butterfly book or the book with the pink