Chapter 4
4
Jeremy pulled into his driveway, killing the engine as he let out a long sigh. Thoughts of Cora Wadsworth replayed like a broken record in his mind. Why can’t I get anything right around her? He knew the answer—he kept saying the wrong damn thing.
Climbing out of the car, he shook his head. He wasn’t used to this feeling of frustration. Women typically noticed and responded to him. He’d receive compliments on his blue eyes, the charm of his crooked smile, or the way his hair seemed just tousled enough were par for the course. And in his younger years, that attention had been enough to get his blood pumping and fire him up for a night of fun.
But now? He couldn’t even remember his last casual fling. His thoughts were consumed by the one woman who didn’t give him the time of day unless it was to call him out or brush him off.
He couldn’t shake the image of her, though. Cora’s natural beauty stopped him in his tracks every time. Her shiny dark hair was always pulled into a tight bun, not a strand out of place, and he wondered how soft it would be hanging down her back. She didn’t wear much makeup, but her smooth complexion, the faint flush of her cheeks, and her naturally rosy lips didn’t need any enhancement. Even her glasses, which changed frames from black to red to clear, caught his attention.
Why doesn’t she wear contacts? he mused as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. Maybe the glasses were her way of asserting individuality when her scrubs and PPE left no room for personal expression. He made a mental note to see if she ever switched up the colors again.
Walking into his house, he looked down at the gray cat circling between his legs. Bending, he scratched her head. “Hey, Tommy Girl, did you miss me?”
Her typical response was a loud meow, and he scooped her up, holding her close as he ran his hand along her soft fur. “Let’s get some food.”
In the kitchen, he placed her food dish on the floor, then pulled out his phone. Punching in the number, he grinned as it was almost immediately answered. “Hey, darlin’.”
“Hey, big bro. How’s it going?”
Before he could answer, he heard the shouts of kids in the background. His sister must have lifted the phone away from her face as she yelled, “You two had better behave! I’m on the phone with Uncle Jeremy. Behave for the next ten minutes, or I’ll make you eat all the broccoli!”
He laughed, hearing his sister threaten her children with the exact words their mother had used many years before when he and his sister were fighting.
“Okay, I’m back. Sorry about that. How are you?” she asked, her voice calmer now.
“I’m good. I just thought I’d call to check in with you. I talked to Mom last weekend, but I knew you were busy running the kids to sports and activities.”
“I swear, it seems like all I ever do is run these kids around. I don’t know if I’m a mom or a taxi driver!”
Laughing, he said, “You love it.”
“Yep, I do,” she agreed. “Anyway, I’m going to have to wrangle these kids into dinner as soon as Chase gets home from work.”
“There’s nothing new going on with me. I just wanted to check in.”
“I’m looking forward to the day you tell me you have something new going on, such as meeting somebody special. I hate thinking of you all alone.”
“I don’t know, Sis. I’m not sure my sparkling personality works for anything long-term.”
“You are so full of…” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Shit.”
He laughed, imagining her glancing around to ensure her kids weren’t listening, but she wasn’t finished. “Don’t tell me you’ve met someone immune to your charm?”
“Actually, I have,” he said as Cora’s face came to mind.
“You know what, Jeremy? As your younger sister, I had to sit back and watch as you charmed the pants off almost every girl in high school.”
“Whoa! You make it sound like I was a horndog!”
“No, I don’t mean it that way. It has nothing to do with sex. It has to do with you thinking that everybody would respond to a joke, a flirt, a wink from your blue eyes, and a big smile or smirk. That’s all you’d have to do, and I swear even the teachers would go gaga. If you’ve met someone who doesn’t fall for that charm, I’d be thrilled!”
“Well, then you can be thrilled,” he grumbled. “I don’t think she likes me at all.”
“Tell me about her.”
“She’s really smart… a doctor… our medical examiner. She’s the kind of person who works behind the scenes. She never tries to get anyone to notice her. She does her job and does it brilliantly. Everyone likes her, but she’s so serious all the time.”
“And that makes you nervous,” his sister said.
“Nervous?” he scoffed, then sat down on the kitchen barstool. As he cast his mind back, he realized his palms did sweat when he was around Cora. “It seems like every time I’m around this person, I screw things up.”
“I bet that’s because you don’t talk to her like a real person. I’ve seen you with friends and family, and you’re such a good listener. You take the time to play with the kids down on their level, listen to my crap when I’m just complaining, or fly here the instant you heard Dad was in the hospital last year. You didn’t leave his side until he was out of danger. And don’t get me started about your loyalty to your friends. You’d give the shirt off your back if needed.”
“Watch out, Sis. You’ll give me a big head,” he joked, then immediately winced. “Sorry… that was a quip, wasn’t it?”
She snorted. “There’s a time for a joke and a time to just shut up, ask the right questions, and show interest in someone.”
He thought back to last month when he and Pete had come across Cora after a drug dealing suspect had been killed. The young man was high with drugs in his system, and Cora had been called to the county attorney’s office to give her a statement. Jeremy was present and listened as she thoroughly and succinctly presented evidence supporting the deputies’ words.
But once again, her robotic mannerisms made him want to just bring a smile to her face. As she walked out of the room, he maneuvered around the chairs so he could walk out at the same time.
“I can’t imagine your job is a lot of fun,” he’d said, falling into step beside her. “If you ever want to grab drinks and let loose, let me know.”
Cora had looked up at him, blinking behind her gray-framed glasses. “I’m afraid going out to drink and let loose isn’t how I would define fun.”
“Then you haven’t been doing it right,” he’d quipped, flashing his signature grin. “Or with the right person.”
“And you think you’re the right person?” she’d asked, arching a brow.
“Dr. Wadsworth,” he’d replied smoothly, “you spend your days standing over the deceased. I think I’d be just the right person to show you a good time.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “I’m sorry, Detective Pickett, but I require more of the company I keep than just a pulse. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my job.”
And with that, she’d walked away, leaving Jeremy staring after her, wondering if he’d ever get her to crack a smile. Then her words hit him… I require more of the company I keep than just a pulse . A grin passed his lips as he realized she’d cracked a joke. A morbid joke, but a joke, nonetheless.
When his sister called her kids to dinner, he realized he still held the phone, and she’d been talking to him, but he’d tuned her out as his mind had once more drifted to Cora. “Okay… um, tell the kids and Chase I said hello.”
“Jeremy, before you go, just remember… you’re a wonderful guy. You’re funny, smart, and caring. But sometimes you just need to keep your mouth shut and listen. Really listen. You spend so much time getting people to pay attention to you that you forget to know the real person you’re talking to. And give them a chance to get to know the real you. That’s the way to a woman’s heart.”
She disconnected before he could say he wasn’t after the woman’s heart. Sighing heavily, he tossed his phone onto the counter. Looking down at Tommy Girl licking her paws, he muttered, “I don’t need her to fall in love with me. It would be nice if she didn’t hate me so much.”
Lying in bed that night, he decided that Cora Wadsworth could live in her little clinical world, and since the drug task force detectives didn’t often have to be with the medical examiner, it would be easy to relegate her to the background of his thoughts.
* * *
As he climbed into his vehicle to head to the sheriff’s station the following day, Pete called.
“What’s up?” Jeremy asked.
“I heard Mr. Rudolph’s son was coming to the Shore today. Could you stop by the hospital since it’s closer to you? You could just hang around until Cora is finished and talk to the son before he leaves. I would do it, but I have a meeting in thirty minutes.”
“It’s not a problem,” he said, inwardly sighing. So much for keeping my distance.
It didn’t take long to drive to the Shore’s only hospital. Jeremy walked into the building, flashing a smile at the receptionist when he showed his badge. Heading down the quiet hall toward the morgue, he felt a faint unease. He had only visited this area of the hospital once before. He pressed the intercom button on the wall next to the door.
“Can I help you?” a male voice called from inside.
“This is Detective Jeremy Pickett from the drug task force. I’m here to speak with Mr. Rudolph’s relatives. I understand they’re coming in today.”
“I’ll buzz you through.”
The door lock disengaged with a soft click, and Jeremy pulled it open. Inside, a man in scrubs and a white lab coat greeted him with a polite smile. A hospital ID hung from his pocket, and his demeanor was calm but professional.
“I’ll need to see your badge, please.”
Jeremy nodded, opened his badge, and handed it over. The man scrutinized it, logging the information into a computer before returning it.
“Dr. Wadsworth is with Shirley Adams’s family right now,” the man said. “Mr. Rudolph’s family should be here shortly.”
Jeremy’s brow furrowed in surprise. “Dr. Wadsworth scheduled both families so close together? I’d think it might be a little... sensitive, considering Mr. Rudolph caused the accident that killed Ms. Adams.”
The lab tech’s expression shifted, his brows snapping together as he glared at Jeremy. “I assure you, Dr. Wadsworth handles the identification of remains with skill, tact, and a great deal of compassion. She has everything under control.”
Jeremy opened his mouth to respond but decided against it. Instead, he nodded, offering a quiet, “Of course.”
He was directed down a short hallway lined with closed doors. As he approached an open doorway, the faint sound of crying reached his ears. A female hospital employee stood nearby, peering into the room, but she didn’t seem startled by his presence. Offering her a slight nod, Jeremy stepped closer, positioning himself so he could see inside.
What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
Cora sat at a small table with several photographs spread before her, each showing the face of the deceased woman. Unlike the dramatized scenes from TV or movies where grieving families were shown the body under a sheet, this hospital used images for identification. But it wasn’t the photos that caught Jeremy’s attention—it was Cora herself.
Instead of sitting across from the grieving woman, Cora was seated beside her. Her hand rested gently on the woman’s back, rubbing in slow, soothing circles as she spoke softly. The compassion in her voice was palpable, the words low but comforting.
“I know how hard this has been for you,” Cora said. “I promise we’ve taken great care of your mother, treating her with dignity. Everyone who works here respects all those who come through our doors.”
The woman sniffed, dabbing at her nose with a tissue, and turned to Cora with tear-filled eyes. “Thank you, Dr. Wadsworth. That means so much to us.”
Cora replied gently, “A hospital social worker is waiting outside to help with anything you need. She can guide you through making funeral arrangements or transferring your mother to a funeral home.”
Jeremy stared, unblinking, as Cora’s words drew a slight but grateful nod from the woman. There was nothing robotic or clinical about her now. Her face radiated care and understanding, and Jeremy couldn’t help but wonder if Cora had once been in this grieving woman’s shoes.
The woman leaned into Cora, who wrapped her arms around her in a brief but warm embrace, whispering something Jeremy couldn’t hear. Whatever she said brought a small, tearful smile to the woman’s lips before she stood and exited the room to meet the social worker.
Cora’s shoulders slumped as she let out a long sigh. She meticulously gathered the photographs, placing them into a folder before rubbing her temples. Jeremy could see the weight of her work pressing down on her, a burden she carried with quiet strength.
For the first time, he honestly considered what her job entailed—not just working with the deceased but also shouldering the grief of the living. He winced, remembering his flippant remarks in the past and how he’d reduced her role to clinical detachment. It hadn’t even occurred to him that she met personally with grieving families instead of delegating the task to someone else.
Maybe her need for control, her rigid professionalism, wasn’t about being aloof or robotic. Perhaps it was about navigating a job where so much was beyond her control.
Still lost in thought, he blinked as she straightened her spine, smoothing her hand over her hair—still in its perfect bun—and stood. When she turned to leave the room, her gaze caught his, her brown eyes widening slightly in surprise before narrowing in confusion.
“Detective Pickett. Did we have an appointment that I forgot about?”
“No, Dr. Wadsworth. We didn’t,” Jeremy said, his voice steady and measured. “I’m very sorry to intrude, but I was told you’d meet with Mr. Rudolph’s family today. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to them, but I can see this isn’t a good time. I’ll leave and call them after they’ve finished here.”
Cora blinked, her lips pressing into a tight line as she studied him. For the first time since they’d met, she seemed momentarily thrown off balance, as though unsure how to respond. Behind her gray-framed glasses, her warm brown eyes flickered with surprise, and the usual edge in her expression softened. She swallowed, visibly composing herself, and Jeremy waited, his face carefully neutral, his mouth firmly shut.
Finally, she nodded, her voice calm but precise. “Mr. Rudolph’s son is expected in about fifteen minutes. I wanted to ensure the social worker was here so there wouldn’t be any overlap with Mrs. Adams’s daughter.” She glanced briefly at the room behind her before turning back to him. “After the identification, you’re welcome to meet with him here, Detective Pickett.”
“Thank you,” Jeremy replied, his tone polite, almost deferential.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as though trying to gauge his intentions. Jeremy held her gaze, resisting the itch to make a lighthearted comment. His sister’s words echoed in his mind. “Sometimes you just need to keep your mouth shut and listen.” For once, he followed that advice.
As the silence stretched, he noticed something he hadn’t before—her eyes. They weren’t just brown. In the fluorescent light, tiny flecks of gold shimmered in their depths, adding a richness to her expression that caught him off guard. It wasn’t anger or irritation now, but something softer. Curiosity, maybe. Or consideration.
Cora tilted her head slightly, her bun shifting but holding its shape. “I’ll leave you to it, then,” she said after a moment, stepping back toward the doorway.
“Dr. Wadsworth,” Jeremy said before he could stop himself. She paused, turning back to him with a raised brow. “I just wanted to say... I appreciate the work you do here. It can’t be easy.”
For the briefest moment, he thought he saw her lips twitch as though she might actually smile. But then she nodded curtly, her professionalism reasserting itself. “Thank you, Detective. If you need anything while you wait, let me know.”
She disappeared down the hall, her steps measured and precise, leaving Jeremy standing in the doorway. He exhaled slowly, a faint grin tugging at his lips. He hadn’t cracked her armor yet, but this was the first time she hadn’t seemed ready to snap at him—or dismiss him outright.
As he leaned against the wall to wait, the image of her gold-flecked eyes lingered in his mind. For once, he’d followed his sister’s advice, and maybe he’d taken the first step toward proving he wasn’t just a quip and a grin.