Chapter 24 #2
I didn’t say a word, simply looked from his hand to his face with eyes full of pain. He instantly released me with a wince, and then I stomped out, trying with all my might to hold my head high when all I wanted to do was break down. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
The hits just kept coming. Every time I thought I might have something good in this shitty life, I was knocked down and reminded that good wasn’t for me.
This was just the latest in a long line of blows I’d suffered.
I’d made it through each one of those, and I’d make it through this one too.
After all, maybe the hits would stop being so painful once enough scar tissue built up.
I made it outside the precinct and waited the few seconds it took for Detective Wanderly to catch up.
He led me around the side of the building to a dark silver Ram truck and beeped the locks.
I climbed into the passenger seat and stared out the side window as he jumped in, waiting for the engine to start up.
When it didn’t and I heard the pop of the center console opening, my curiosity got the best of me and I turned to see what he was doing.
I was shocked to find him pulling a simple gold band from inside and slipping it onto his left ring finger.
“You’re married?” I asked before I could catch myself.
He looked my way and offered a smile that only expanded on his handsomeness. “Yeah. For twelve years now.”
Letting out a noncommittal hum, I crossed my arms over my chest and resumed staring out the window as he started the truck up and pulled out of the station parking lot.
I’d been content to take the drive in silence when he started speaking and shattered that hope. “Miss Brenner, I just want to apologize for how things went down back there. I didn’t—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I cut in, my gaze pointed at the dark streets passing by outside my window. “I get it. If I were in your shoes and saw my family history, I probably would’ve come to the same conclusion, so it’s cool.”
“No it’s not,” he replied, the tone of his voice pulling my attention his way.
I saw his deep frown in the lights of the dash.
“I handled it poorly. We haven’t had a murder here in over twenty years, and I screwed up.
I went in there without clearing my head, and I took it out on you. For that, I’m sorry.”
I wanted to hold on to my anger, but it was impossible in the face of his obvious regret. “Look, Detective Wanderly—”
“Call me Patrick, or Trick for short. Everyone else does.”
“Okay, Trick. Well, you can cut yourself some slack. I accept your apology.”
“Linc warned us to go in easy, but I didn’t listen. If I’d known—”
I stopped him right there, not wanting to rehash the ugliness that had already been stirred up and brought to the surface. “No offense, but I really don’t want to talk about that again, or Lincoln, if it’s all the same to you.”
His mouth clamped shut and he let it drop. We made the rest of the drive in blessed silence, and I pulled in my first full breath when he turned onto Rosewood Lane and into my driveway.
“You don’t have to walk me up,” I insisted when he shut the truck off and pushed his door open a minute later.
Hopping out and turning back to me, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring that I recognized immediately as mine. “You left with us in a hurry earlier. Lincoln locked up before heading to the station and handed your keys off to Walker.”
“Oh.”
His face split in a smile, and I had to begrudgingly admit that he wasn’t just handsome, he was gorgeous. “Come on, sweetheart.”
As I climbed down and slammed my door closed, my name carried from across the street like a shot through the night air. “Eden, oh my God! Are you okay?”
I spun just in time for Nona to hit me at near full speed. Returning her hug, I asked, “Nona, it’s nearly midnight. What are you doing up?”
“Are you kidding?” She jerked back, keeping her hands on my arms. “I’ve been goin’ outta my mind.
I saw the cop cars earlier and you climbing into the back of one.
I’ve been fielding calls from neighbors all damn night.
” My stomach sank at hearing that. I thought I’d finally found happiness in Hope Valley, but because of my goddamn family, I was once again fodder for the masses, the subject of gossip.
Christ, I’d cut them out years ago, and they were still ruining my life.
“I’ve been calling and calling to make sure you were all right, but your phone keeps going to voice mail. ”
I pulled from her grip and reached up to shove the hair out of my face. “I’m sorry. I forgot my phone, but I’m fine. I just need some sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Her concerned gaze bounced from me to Trick. “Are you sure? Honey, I can come in and pour you a big glass of wine if—”
“Tomorrow. It’s been a long night. You should get back to the kids.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but thankfully didn’t. “Okay, doll. Tomorrow. But you need anything between now and then, you call, hear me?”
“I hear you.” I offered her a smile that barely lifted my cheeks then turned, waving Trick on so he’d unlock the door.
He stepped to the side and held the door open for me to precede him. I flicked the switch on the wall just inside the door, and the lamps around my living room offered a warm glow as I disabled the chirping alarm system.
“You gonna be okay?” he asked from inside the doorway.
“I’m always okay… eventually,” I replied. “This time’ll be no different.” And it wouldn’t, I’d make sure of that. I’d gotten pretty damn good at picking up the pieces of my shattered pride and confidence over the years.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a card and extended it my way, holding it between his index and middle fingers. “I believe you, sweetheart. But you find you’re struggling with it a little more this time around, that’s my number.”
“Thanks,” I replied, taking the card I had no intention of ever using. After what happened tonight, I probably wouldn’t be in Hope Valley much longer, anyway.
“Get some rest, Eden. If there’s anything else we need to talk to you about, we’ll be in touch.” He must have caught the way my body tensed, because he quickly added, “In a much more delicate way. You have my word.”
Then a question popped in my head that I needed an answer to before he had a chance to leave.
“Do I need to stay in town?” He gave me a look I couldn’t get a read on, so I continued, “Just a hypothetical. You know, like in all those cop shows, they tell the perp not to leave town. Is that the case here?”
“Eden, you aren’t a perp. And no, we aren’t gonna order you to stay in town… hypothetically. As long as we can reach you on the phone if we have any questions, it’s all good.”
My shoulders sagged in relief.
With that done, he watched me for a few more seconds before turning and walking out of the house, and I moved quickly to lock the door. I found my phone on the kitchen counter, and sure enough, I had a ton of missed calls from Nona, but also from Gypsy.
Powering it down without checking any of the million messages they’d left, I headed for my room, pulled off my dress, and slipped on the first nightgown I touched in my drawer. Then I climbed into bed, killed the lamp on my bedside table, and curled into a ball, praying sleep would find me.
Just like always, I wasn’t so lucky.