Chapter 28 Caden
CADEN
I watched Grae as she poured cereal into a bowl. There was no off-key singing along to a song playing on her phone. No dancing around the kitchen while she made an elaborate breakfast. She moved slowly, and I didn’t miss the dark circles rimming her eyes.
It was no wonder. We’d been up a dozen different times last night with her glucose monitor.
“Do you need to call your doctor today?” I asked.
She shook her head. “If it happens again this week, I will. But this kind of thing happens every so often.”
My gut twisted as if some prize fighter were going ten rounds with it. While Grae had gotten a short burst of sleep last night, I’d made the mistake of googling what could happen if a diabetic’s blood sugar got too low. They were at risk for seizures, a coma, and even death in some cases.
My palms started to sweat, and I gripped my coffee mug harder. “I can call off work today, and we can rest.”
“No. You’ve got retreat stuff, and I need to go to work.”
I stiffened. “You’ve had almost no sleep, and you look like crap.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know what I mean. It’s obvious you don’t feel well.”
Grae turned on her stool so she faced me. “I’ve dealt with this before. I know my limits. I won’t take a group out today, but I can sit at a desk and do admin work. I’ll make sure I’m eating what I need to, and I’ll go to bed early tonight.”
My back teeth ground together.
She reached up and pressed a palm to my cheek. “Trust me to know my limits. Please.”
There was a desperation in her voice that had me giving in. I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on her head. “This isn’t easy for me.”
“I know.” Grief laced each word. “Am I hurting you?”
I held her tighter. “No. This isn’t on you. I just can’t take the idea of something happening to you.”
Grae pulled back. “But something is going to happen to me. That’s life. You can’t protect me from everything that might come my way.”
I struggled to keep my grip on her gentle.
“But you can walk with me through it. Just like I’ll walk with you.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and squeezed her neck. “Okay.”
Grae leaned forward, resting her head on my chest. “Thank you.”
I forced myself to release her and turn the conversation to lighter things.
We talked about Grae’s plan to take Aspen and her daughter, Cady, on a kayaking trip.
And then I suggested we could take Cady and Charlie camping overnight with the horses.
We lost ourselves in that planning for a while.
It was easy and normal, but I felt the shadows at the edges of my mind taunting me.
The ride into town was mostly quiet, and each mile that passed twisted my insides tighter. The idea of just dropping Grae off and leaving her killed me.
I pulled into a parking spot outside the Vacation Adventures cottage and slid out of my SUV. I rounded the vehicle and opened Grae’s door.
She took my hand. “You don’t have to come in.”
I dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “Let me be a gentleman.”
Grae’s brow rose. “Gentleman, huh?”
I grinned. “In public, at least.”
She snorted but took my hand anyway.
I’d never been one for public displays of affection like this, but Grae was different. I wanted to touch her anytime I could. Wanted the world to know that she was mine and I was hers. I led us toward the building and held open the screen door for her.
“G!” Eddie greeted around a mouthful of breakfast burrito.
Noel lifted his chin at her, but his eyes narrowed on me.
Jordan looked up from pouring a mug of coffee, concern filling his eyes. “You okay? You don’t look so hot.”
“Long night,” Grae mumbled.
“You need to take it easy today?” he pressed.
“Probably not a bad idea.” She glanced at Noel. “Can you take my hike today?”
He nodded. “Of course.” His gaze shifted to me. “Need to take better care of her.”
I stiffened.
“Noel,” Grae snapped. “It’s not his job. And there’s not much I can do when my blood sugar alarms are going off all night.”
Noel snapped his mouth closed.
“Awkward,” Eddie singsonged.
Jordan cleared his throat. “You can work the books with me today.”
“Sure,” she muttered.
I pulled Grae into my arms, brushing the hair from her face. “Call me if you need anything. If you get tired, I can come and pick you up.”
“Okay.”
I took her mouth in a long, slow kiss. “See you tonight.”
Grae’s eyes were just a little hazy. “Tonight.”
As I released her, I noticed everyone’s focus was on us. Jordan looked annoyed, Noel appeared pissed the hell off, and Eddie looked like he’d just tasted something bad. But I didn’t give a damn. They needed to get used to me being around because I was here to stay.
I gave Grae one more quick kiss and headed outside toward my vehicle. Just as I reached it, my phone dinged.
Nash
Saw your SUV at Vacation Adventures. Time for a coffee?
I glanced at my watch.
Me
A quick one. The Brew?
Nash
I’m already here.
I hopped behind the wheel and drove the three blocks to the coffee shop. Since it was early, parking wasn’t too bad, but there was already a decent crowd inside.
Nash flagged me down from a table in the corner, and I headed his way.
“I already ordered you an Americano.”
“Thanks, man.” I slid into the empty chair. “Any updates from forensics?”
He shook his head. “So far, nothing. It’s starting to look like the perp wore gloves.”
I slid my hand into my pocket, my fingers working over the worn charm. “That means premeditation.”
“At least to a certain degree. Or this guy is just always prepared.”
“You think he travels with a kit?”
Nash shrugged. “Could be the case. And if so—”
“He’s done this before,” I finished for him.
Nash nodded.
I cursed. “How the hell are we supposed to find this creep?”
“We have to hope he starts to get sloppy.”
But what harm could he do before that happened?
Aspen’s red hair caught my eye as she made her way through the tables with a tray of drinks. She stopped at the table next to ours, setting down two mugs and a couple of scones for the couple there. “Here you go,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you.” The woman stared at her for a moment. “It’s crazy. You look just like that woman who got murdered in Mississippi. The one whose husband went down for it. But lots of folks think he didn’t really do it—”
“Sally,” her husband clipped.
“What? She does.”
Aspen had gone an unnatural shade of white.
“Sorry,” the man said. “She’s got a crazy true crime obsession. She thinks everyone could be a serial killer.”
Sally glared at her husband. “They could be anywhere.”
Aspen forced a laugh. “It’s okay.”
But I didn’t miss the tremble in the tray as she moved to our table. “Hey, Caden.”
“You okay?” I asked.
That unnatural smile widened. “Of course. Here are your coffees. Just flag me down if you need something else.”
She was gone before Nash or I could get out another word.
“Caden?”
I turned at Nash’s voice. “Sorry. What’d you say?”
“How was Grae last night?”
Memories of those alarms going off and Grae’s pale face filled my mind.
Nash straightened. “That bad?”
I shook my head. “She had low blood sugar for a lot of the night.”
Nash cursed. “Those nights are rough.”
I gripped my coffee mug. “They happen a lot?”
“I don’t know about now since she keeps that stuff pretty close to the vest, but growing up, they would happen every so often. Scared the hell out of our parents.”
“Scared the hell out of me,” I admitted.
Nash studied me for a moment. “You dealing with this okay?”
I glanced out the window to the water across the street. “I’m dealing.”
I had to. Because I wouldn’t lose Grae. Not again.