Chapter 33
Hattie
The morning had stretched out lazily, and I’d only managed to be productive enough to talk to Syd as my claim to fame today.
I’d finally fessed up about the status of all the sex I’d been having with my hot landlord and even sent her a picture I’d taken of him while he lounged against the porch rails, having an iced tea.
“Holy fuckballs, Hattie!” she’d said.
The conversation had devolved from there as she’d demanded a detailed blow-by-blow explanation of how he was in bed. Sydney knew me better than anyone, and when I declined to share, she had my number immediately.
“Ah, I see. You have it bad for him.” She nodded sagely.
“Maybe,” I hedged. “We fucked up and didn’t use a condom the other night.” Her eyes widened. “I’m not sure I’d mind if I were pregnant.” Admitting that wasn’t that hard, but Sydney was still surprised. “I’d keep the baby if it happened.”
Her face softened immediately. Pregnancy and motherhood were topics she knew Jane and I had talked about often. One night over drinks, Syd and I talked about this very subject.
“I know that at one point you were really excited about the idea of being a mom. You would make a great one, Hats. Would you be raising this baby on your own, or would he help?” Her tone shifted to something more judgmental, and she looked concerned, though I didn’t blame her.
I knew she saw all kinds of messed-up parenting at her school.
People sucked, especially when it comes to using kids to hurt each other.
Even when they didn’t mean to, it still happened all the time.
Kids got caught in the crossfire when adults start hating each other.
“I think he would help. He seemed almost …” I thought about it a little. “Excited. We haven’t talked much about it.”
“Babe, I believe in you no matter what. You know that. You’d be an awesome mom. If now is the time, then that’s amazing. I can’t wait to be an auntie.”
I swallowed hard and forced the words out. “You’d make an amazing aunt, and my kid would be lucky to have you.”
It still bit into me that Jane wouldn’t be here if I had a baby.
Syd gave me another worried look. I wasn’t sorry I’d told her, and she was coming from a loving place.
It was a heavy topic, and Kipp and I didn’t know each other.
Hell, I didn’t even live here. Everything seemed uncertain right now, especially from Syd’s perspective.
We switched to lighter topics, focusing more on her co-workers’ antics and playdough mishaps rather than accidental pregnancies. She’d listened to the last podcast, so we discussed theories and where I’d go next.
“What do you think?” she nibbled the corner of her thumb. “You still think it’s all suspicious, right? Or do you still think it was the husband?”
“Everything seems to point toward the husband, but the fact that Chief Galloway didn’t handle the scene properly makes me think he was involved somehow.
Poppy and Nova won’t let that go. Could be the son.
Then again, it could be someone entirely different from her online work that we haven’t even considered.
The most important part is that now that we’ve got CID looking into it, things will move forward through proper channels.
” I gave her a sly look. “For the most part.”
“I know you guys. You’ll dig a little harder until you’re satisfied. Are you looking at other cases? I’ve seen some of the comments on your channel.”
There were a few links to cases that were potential options.
People were always driving cases that they wanted me to look at, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at another one right now.
Not just because I finished with Allison’s case, but also because there was this gorgeous hunk that was starting to tie me here into Wildwood Meadows in so many ways that I hadn’t expected.
“No, I’m not looking at anything else just yet ... I’m just …” I shrugged, but Syd nodded. “OSP probably has this, but they haven’t committed just yet. Casper is coming up today. He’s supposed to be here any minute, actually. I’m hoping to hear something.”
“You want them to take it on? Maybe they’ll work with you on it, and you’ll still be able to pod, just have to put stuff out a few days late. I know your audience prefers a more renegade approach sometimes …”
That was true. A lot of my audience thrived on the idea that we were coloring outside the lines, but it wasn’t my goal to please that one section of my listeners.
My only focus when we were investigating something was always to solve a case as efficiently as possible.
Hopefully, we could get justice for the victim through what we did.
“Hattie, I haven’t mentioned it for a while because you’ve been so focused, but maybe it’s time to take a break from the pod.” My gut churned. “Just think about it, okay? I’ve got to run, but I just want you to really think about it this time. I love you.”
“I love you too, Syd. Always. And, I have been thinking about it. I’ll catch you later, bestie. Have a good one.”
“Be safe.” She gave me a little wave.
I gave her a quick smile just as she clicked off the call. She’d brought it up before. A lot. The idea had been percolating for a while, and this was the first time it felt right.