CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
DANI
It was silent in the car as Dani drove Whitney home. It bothered Dani. Usually, people were talkative after a shocking incident. Whitney sat staring out the window of the car with such a somber expression that Dani ached to stop the car and hug her.
“What can I do to help you?” Dani asked Whitney.
Whitney faced her. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love Nick. I really do. But I don’t think I can live this way. All the violence, the danger. My life is filled with threats against me. And now, because of me Nick was almost killed. How can I handle all that?”
“Hold on,” said Dani, shocked to the core. “You’re blaming yourself for Nick being shot? Don’t go there, Whitney. What you and Nick have is special.”
“So special that he’d die protecting me?” snapped Whitney, her green eyes flashing. “I can’t do that to him. Don’t you see?”
“What I do see is that you’ve had a terrible shock, and that you foolishly are blaming yourself for what happened,” said Dani, growing more and more concerned. She pulled the car into the driveway of their house and faced Whitney.
“If I hadn’t pushed for Jamie to be involved with the play maybe none of this would’ve happened,” said Whitney.
“Jamie’s helping with the play is such a small part of the problem with Bud. You know from your experiences with Zane how alcohol can affect someone’s brain. He’s a bully, and he’s had some bad luck recently, I heard. It all adds up to a firestorm of emotions. It’s not your fault, not Nick’s, nor his family’s.”
“I can see how it has all played out, but he’s been angry with me from the moment we met. Surely that has added to the situation,” protested Whitney.
“Who knows what was going on in Bud’s alcohol-addled mind? But it’s wrong to blame yourself for the incident with Nick.”
“But he was at the cottage,” said Whitney. She stopped. “We need to talk about that. When I’ve had more time to think about it, I want to tell you and Taylor about something that happened there. I’m not sure, but I think our ghost might’ve helped us.”
“What? Don’t wait to tell me. What happened?”
“As Bud was aiming for Nick, I saw a shadow. I blinked and it was gone. But I think it might’ve knocked Bud off his feet. Of course, he was very drunk, and it could’ve happened anyway. But it was very strange.” Whitney felt a shudder go through her.
Dani reached over to squeeze Whitney’s hand and found it ice cold.
“Let’s get you inside,” said Dani. “You need some rest.” Whitney’s face was white.
Dani helped her sister inside and got her settled on the couch with a light blanket. Mindy jumped up and nestled close to Whitney as if she knew how much Whitney needed comfort.
“How about a cup of coffee or hot tea?” Dani asked.
Whitney shook her head. “Nothing thanks. I just need to rest.”
While Whitney slept, Dani called Taylor.